Sapodilla Growing in the Florida Home Landscape - Orange County ...
Sapodilla Growing in the Florida Home Landscape - Orange County ...
Sapodilla Growing in the Florida Home Landscape - Orange County ...
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<strong>Sapodilla</strong> <strong>Grow<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>Home</strong> <strong>Landscape</strong> 3<br />
Salt Stress<br />
<strong>Sapodilla</strong>s grow well near <strong>the</strong> seashore,<br />
<strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g a good tolerance to sea salt spray. Their<br />
tolerance to sal<strong>in</strong>e soils and irrigation water is not<br />
known. Typical symptoms of salt stress <strong>in</strong>clude<br />
marg<strong>in</strong>al and tip necrosis of leaves, leaf brown<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
drop, stem dieback, and tree death.<br />
Propagation<br />
Although seeds can be used for propagation and<br />
are used for selection of superior types, <strong>the</strong>y should<br />
not be used for home plant<strong>in</strong>gs. Marcottage (air<br />
layer<strong>in</strong>g) has not been an effective propagation<br />
method. Side veneer and cleft graft<strong>in</strong>g on to seedl<strong>in</strong>g<br />
sapodilla rootstock are <strong>the</strong> most common graft<strong>in</strong>g<br />
methods. Chip budd<strong>in</strong>g can also be used. Scions or<br />
bud sticks are chosen from young term<strong>in</strong>al shoots.<br />
Cover <strong>the</strong> grafted scions completely with graft<strong>in</strong>g<br />
tape. The best time to graft is late summer and early<br />
fall.<br />
Top work<strong>in</strong>g undesirable mature sapodilla trees<br />
may be accomplished by cutt<strong>in</strong>g trees back to a<br />
3-ft-height (1-m) stump, white wash<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> entire<br />
stump and <strong>the</strong>n veneer-graft<strong>in</strong>g several new shoots<br />
when <strong>the</strong>y reach 1/2 <strong>in</strong>ch (13 mm) <strong>in</strong> diameter or<br />
larger.<br />
Production<br />
Seedl<strong>in</strong>g trees usually beg<strong>in</strong> bear<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 6 to 7<br />
years or more. Grafted trees may beg<strong>in</strong> to bear <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
second to fourth year after plant<strong>in</strong>g. After 10 years, a<br />
good cultivar may bear 150 to 400 pounds (45-180<br />
kg) of fruit per year. This yield may keep <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g<br />
until about <strong>the</strong> twelfth to fifteenth year after plant<strong>in</strong>g<br />
depend<strong>in</strong>g on plant size and cultural practices.<br />
Isolated sapodilla trees may not be productive<br />
because some sapodilla cultivars are<br />
self-<strong>in</strong>compatible. In self-<strong>in</strong>compatible cultivars, <strong>the</strong><br />
flowers require cross-poll<strong>in</strong>ation by ano<strong>the</strong>r sapodilla<br />
seedl<strong>in</strong>g or variety <strong>in</strong> order to produce fruit. O<strong>the</strong>r<br />
varieties may not require cross-poll<strong>in</strong>ation but<br />
produce more fruit when cross-poll<strong>in</strong>ated.<br />
Spac<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Although sapodillas grow slowly, trees that are<br />
not pruned eventually need a lot of space because<br />
<strong>the</strong>y will develop a large canopy. <strong>Sapodilla</strong> trees <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> home landscape should be planted 25 feet (7.6 m)<br />
or more feet away from <strong>the</strong> nearest tree and/or<br />
structure. Trees planted too close to o<strong>the</strong>r trees or<br />
structures may not grow normally or produce much<br />
fruit due to shad<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Soils<br />
<strong>Sapodilla</strong>s are well adapted to a wide range of<br />
soils but grow best <strong>in</strong> well-dra<strong>in</strong>ed, light soils. Trees<br />
are especially well adapted to <strong>the</strong> rocky, highly<br />
calcareous soils of south <strong>Florida</strong>. Although sapodilla<br />
trees are moderately tolerant of occasional flood<strong>in</strong>g<br />
or excessively wet soil conditions, <strong>the</strong>y will not<br />
perform well <strong>in</strong> poorly dra<strong>in</strong>ed soils.<br />
Plant<strong>in</strong>g a <strong>Sapodilla</strong> Tree<br />
Proper plant<strong>in</strong>g is one of <strong>the</strong> most important<br />
steps <strong>in</strong> successfully establish<strong>in</strong>g and grow<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
strong, productive sapodilla tree. The first step is to<br />
choose a healthy nursery tree. Commonly, nursery<br />
sapodilla trees are grown <strong>in</strong> 3-gallon (11-liter)<br />
conta<strong>in</strong>ers, and trees stand 2 to 4 feet (0.9-1.2 m)<br />
from <strong>the</strong> soil media. Large trees <strong>in</strong> smaller conta<strong>in</strong>ers<br />
should be avoided because <strong>the</strong> root system may be<br />
"root bound." This means all <strong>the</strong> available space <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> conta<strong>in</strong>er has been filled with roots to <strong>the</strong> po<strong>in</strong>t<br />
that <strong>the</strong> tap root is grow<strong>in</strong>g along <strong>the</strong> edge of <strong>the</strong><br />
conta<strong>in</strong>er <strong>in</strong> a circular fashion. Root-bound root<br />
systems may not grow properly once planted <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
ground.<br />
Inspect <strong>the</strong> tree for <strong>in</strong>sect pests and diseases and<br />
<strong>in</strong>spect <strong>the</strong> trunk of <strong>the</strong> tree for wounds and<br />
constrictions. Select a healthy tree and water it<br />
regularly <strong>in</strong> preparation for plant<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ground.<br />
Site Selection<br />
In general, sapodilla trees should be planted <strong>in</strong><br />
full sun for best growth and fruit production. Select a<br />
part of <strong>the</strong> landscape away from o<strong>the</strong>r trees, build<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
and structures, and power l<strong>in</strong>es. Remember sapodilla<br />
trees can become very large if not pruned to conta<strong>in</strong>