Sapodilla, Chiku Plant

Manilkara zapota
Aka Indian Sapote, Chikoo, Soapapple, Marmalade Plum. The sapodilla fruit is sweet, reminiscent of brown sugar, with a gritty, pear-like texture and shiny black seeds. This hardy, slow-growing tree thrives in subtropical regions, though seedlings may take longer to fruit, resulting in variable sizes and qualities. However, seedlings are more resilient and adaptable to marginal climates. Cincturing can encourage flowering in mature trees.

Sapodilla trees bear fruit 4-6 months after flowering and can produce multiple harvests each year. Once mature, they tolerate temperatures as low as -1°C and thrive in full sun, adapting well to both dry and wet climates while demonstrating excellent drought resistance. They flourish in various soils, including sandy, rich organic, light clay, or gravel, provided there is good drainage since they do not tolerate waterlogged conditions. Increased watering during the flowering and fruiting seasons is recommended for optimal growth.

Current stock: 1.5+ yrs old seedlings