Sapodilla Not Growing (Much)-Any Ideas?

14 years ago

"...all varieties begin to bear at one to two years of age." In addition to the description of the delicious fruit, that was the comment on the Pine Island website that encouraged me to order a sapodilla two summers ago. Okay, I thought, two years from now I will be hip-deep in fruit. My neighbors will be lining up to ooh and ahh over my garden. The tree arrived, about 24 inches tall and was immediately planted. It was given the "el primo" spot in my backyard. Now, two years into growing, it is well, barely 36 inches tall, thin and spindly like when it was first planted and no evidence of fruit. I have watered and fertilized, fertilized and watered, with good drainage, to the point that it gets more attention than I give to my kids. And still no significant growth, or fruit. Is there anyone out there that has had success with the sapodilla and can give me some idea on what a reasonable growth expectation is and how to encourage additional growth? I'm about ready to abandon it and put in another avocado or mango.

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Comments (14)

imagardener2
14 years ago
My story is similar. My sapodilla is a year in the ground and hasn't put on much height. It has added branches and leaves and doubled in width, no signs of blooms/fruit.

After agonizing what fruit tree to plant due to lack of space for trees in general I chose sapodilla because it reminded me of a pear in taste. I have no answers about growth butI'm gonna give it another year.

Denise
gcmastiffs
14 years ago
How odd! I have 3 different varieties, and all are good growers.

They like full sun, water when they wilt, and get no other care. I have not even fetilized mine. Mine started fruiting at about 3' tall. My biggest one is on Fruit Tree Hill,is nearly 15' tall and at least 10' wide.

I have found them much easier to grow than Avocado, Mango and Lychees. Sapodillas need no spraying or pruning, at least mine don't!

Your tree looks newly planted, not two years old. Why it is not growing is a mystery. Have you called Pine island to ask why? Is it a grafted plant or a seedling?

Lisa
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Good Morning! Wildcat...my 2 big brugs are in the ground.They are about 6 ft+.They get most of the attention and the above is their feeding schedule. I'm thinking that maybe I'm over-doing it. I know that you Northeners have to push your plants more to get blooms before winter.I'm in Florida with a longer growing season....so do you think I'm over-doing it? All my cuttings have already been potted up and they get 1/2 strength ferts with a small amount of manure tea about once a week.They seem to be growing by leaps and bounds too.I just potted them up a few weeks ago and now they have roots coming out the bottom drainage holes.I think I'm going to repot them in larger pots and then they will have to make due in that until spring.What do you think? LucyGoose, I've always heard NOT to give them a high middle number ferts.Someone else will have to elaborate or correct me if I'm wrong though. I do give mine deep waterings about every 2-3 days. Right now,were still in the 80's during the day and 70's in the evenings.We are supposed to get a bit cooler around Oct.17th. I've already got about 5 buds that will be opening soon and many more forming now.I think I should get a pretty good flush soon. Of course,I will post pics when I get my other computer. Wildcat...is that 15 gallons per plant or for all your plants? Here is a pic I had on file of one of my big brug in the ground.It's a pink,un-named variety. Here is a link that might be useful: Pink brug bloom
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billbrandi
Original Author
14 years ago
Denise and Lisa - thanks for responding. Denise, it seems your tree has performed about like mine while Lisa, your experience has been much more favorable. Grafted or seedling? I'm not sure but I will ask Pine Island.....Bill
tampaart
14 years ago
Sounds to me like it may have issues with root development. How good is the ground underneath it? Hard ground? It appears to me like it's stunted. I'd be on the phone/email with PI asking questions.
whgille
14 years ago
Hi Billbrandy

My story is similar to yours and Denise. I bought the sapodilla from Excalibur with fruits on it. At least, I put it in a pot. It has not grown much since last year that I got it. And it was protected from the freeze, being in a container it is easy to move to the porch.

Maybe we just have a bad variety, mine was choosed by Excalibur and it is Malik. Now that I know what happens in the ground, I will not plant mine.

Silvia
imagardener2
14 years ago
I believe mine is Malik also.
They said it was one of the better selections and they had a couple different ones to choose from.
whgille
14 years ago
We are doing a good detective work Denise! They told me exactly the same thing. I actually had a list that Lisa recommended, and I kept telling him " this is my list" and he said Malik is the best.

At least this is the only "lemon" that I got, all the other fruit trees that I bought there are doing well.

Silvia
imagardener2
14 years ago
OK I went outside to read the label and it's actually "Makok". I remember they also had "Malik". So now we can say both Malik and Mako are sloooooow growers, lol.

Mine came from ECHO in Ft Myers

Denise
goldenpond
14 years ago
I thought mine werent fruiting til I noticed the squirrels interest the tiny berry size fruits were being eaten before they have a chance, I got mine at the St Lucie Plant sale a few years back and have No idea what kind it is. Also have a teeny one from small fern.
billbrandi
Original Author
14 years ago
Well, the PI folks advised I give it a dose of Miracle Gro along with the citrus fertilizer I have been using. Will give it a try. Perhaps what Moliere said is true:

"The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit."

(But what did a 17th century French actor know about tropical fruit anyhow). Thanks to all for your comments. When I am hip-deep in sapodilla fruit I'll invite all to my party.
jb_fla
14 years ago
billbrandi- your growth seems extra slow to me. I have a Makok variety and it only grows a few inches a year. Bill Whitman actually wrote an article way back when about the Makok Sapodilla and that he found it very easy to keep at 6' or under due to its slow growth.

This is actually the reason why I bought this variety. I believe the Hasya variety grows faster, but is not as good tasting as the makok or alano.
happy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
14 years ago
tampaart --- Your tree is still looking very nice.

billbrandi --- In your title you asked for ideas so I am going to say what I would do if it was my tree. BTW, I did plant a young sapodilla tree this spring and it is growing nicely.

I am going to assume that the tree is in full sun. In your pic it looks like you have some kind of rock at the base of the tree. I would remove all of that and some of the dirt. I would top dress with some quality compost (thick layer). Then I would put a 3 (THREE!)inch layer of mulch. Wood chips would be an excellent choice. Be sure not to build up any of these materials on the trunk of the tree. Water regularly. Since you have been giving it a lot of fertilizer I would not add more. The tree will get some from the compost. Best of luck.

Christine
billbrandi
Original Author
14 years ago
I started this post about a week ago. In it I complained about slow growth and suggested (threatened?) taking the sapodilla out and putting in a mango or avocado. I checked on the tree this weekend and, lo and behold, there was new growth from several branches, more growth than I have seen in a year. I am not a believer in talking to plants but can they read internet messages?
Cevan Triplett
3 years ago
My Sapodillas started growing when I stopped watering them 😂

Sapodilla Not Growing (Much)-Any Ideas?

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