Sapote, a South and Central American fruit, is a popular fruit tree in those regions, and known for its sweet, dessert like flesh that contains anywhere from one to four seeds. Reaching up to 60 feet in height, this sapote tree can be grown in South and Central America as well as USDA zones 10 to 12. If you live in any of these areas, or are fortunate enough to have a greenhouse, you can grow sapote from seed, although it does take about 7 years for the tree to bear fruit. Keep reading to learn more about how to grow sapote from seed.
How to Grow Sapote
Planting Sapote:
- Get a sapote seed either from a fruit or you can also order one online.
- Wash the sapote seed thoroughly of all pulp.
- Crack the coat of each seed before planting – this will help speed up germination. Simply place the seed between two wooden boards and apply light pressure to the top board. The coat of the seed should have a hairline fracture.
- Plant the sapote seeds in soil-free medium, no more than 14 days after harvesting the seed. Sapote seeds do not do well in storage.
- Place the seed with the pointed side up 1/2 inch from the surface of the soil and water deeply.
- Water thoroughly and deeply while germination occurs, which will be in 2-4 weeks.
- Once seedlings outgrow their pot, transplant them to a bigger pot.
- Once the sapote trees reach 2-4 feet in height, transplant them outdoors in well draining soil.
- Make sure the site has full sun.
- Plant each sapote seed about 30 feet apart and dig a hole about the height of the container they were in. Make sure that the hole is wide enough, about 3-4 times wider than the root ball.
- Mulch the sapote trees with 2-6 inches of wood chip mulch.
Caring for Sapote Trees:
- While they're growing, make sure your sapote trees get about 1-2 inches of water per week.
- Make sure soil is always moist.
- Fertilize young trees each year for the first 3 years.
- Use a fertilizer that's high in nitrogen.
Happy Planting!
