Author Topic: Black sapote opinions  (Read 2662 times)

AndrewAZ

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 366
    • Scottsdale, AZ zone 9b
    • View Profile
Black sapote opinions
« on: September 08, 2017, 12:00:11 AM »
I have one growing in a pot, but, I am thinking of getting rid of it.  I know it does not taste like chocolate pudding, but, it does grow ok in AZ and I thought it is a cool tree.
Lately, though, I hear that the fruit taste horrible.  That it needs to be blended with other fruit, or, it is nasty.   I have limited space, so, I cannot grow everything.
So what are people's opinions on the fruit?  Would love some advice.

BrianL

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 202
    • Bay Area, California
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2017, 12:29:52 AM »
So I've had some that taste fruity or like unsweetened chocolate.  Some are very good.  At the wrong time or a bad tree can be bad though.

Just grow it up and graft it to something good if you don't like the fruit.

Waterfall

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 101
    • Australia, NSW, Sydney, Zone 10a
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2017, 01:40:28 AM »
They are somewhat polarizing, you either hate them or love them. Personally I love them and could eat them non-stop if I didn't get the runs.

Ulfr

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 336
    • Brisbane Australia
    • View Profile
    • Practical Primate
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2017, 04:46:38 AM »
I like them a lot. I wish I could grow them better than I do. My bernicker tree wants to grow along the ground :/

Maybe this is one of those trees where the scion woods position/growth pattern on the tree matters.

Frog Valley Farm

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 577
  • Messages have been disabled here
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2017, 04:51:37 AM »
🗯
« Last Edit: March 19, 2018, 09:08:39 PM by Frog Valley Farm »

00christian00

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 317
    • Italy, Zone 9a
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2017, 06:57:07 AM »
Is it true that takes almost 1 year to ripen? Are there faster varieties?

Doug

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 255
    • Turrialba Costa Rica
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2017, 08:12:47 AM »

The best I've had were those that ripened on the tree and fell off to the ground. As far as mixing with other stuff....a little honey not only makes it more chocolaty sweet but it makes the "pudding" shiny and attractive. Serve cold! Sometimes I do like to add some finely ground coffee. Gives it more of an acid taste and thus more like chocolate.

AndrewAZ

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 366
    • Scottsdale, AZ zone 9b
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #7 on: September 09, 2017, 12:13:44 AM »
Thanks guys, looks like it is staying!

Future

  • The Future
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2029
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #8 on: September 09, 2017, 05:31:25 PM »
They fruit I have had were good.  My trees are setting fruit for the first time this year from seed.

Lory

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 626
    • Cebu-Philippines 10° N
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #9 on: September 10, 2017, 09:53:39 AM »
They fruit I have had were good.  My trees are setting fruit for the first time this year from seed.


How old are your trees?
Can a tree with only FEMALE flowers set fruits without pollination?
Dyospiros kaki for example can produce fruit for Parthenocarpy i.e. withoud fertilization. Fruits are obviously seedless.
What about the black sapote?
A seedling of mine is 4 years old and flowered for the first time last june but dropped all flowers after a few weeks so i'm wondering if it's a pollination problem or if it's just because the tree is still in its "juvenile" period
Lorenzo

Future

  • The Future
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2029
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #10 on: September 10, 2017, 05:14:44 PM »
They fruit I have had were good.  My trees are setting fruit for the first time this year from seed.


How old are your trees?
Can a tree with only FEMALE flowers set fruits without pollination?
Dyospiros kaki for example can produce fruit for Parthenocarpy i.e. withoud fertilization. Fruits are obviously seedless.
What about the black sapote?
A seedling of mine is 4 years old and flowered for the first time last june but dropped all flowers after a few weeks so i'm wondering if it's a pollination problem or if it's just because the tree is still in its "juvenile" period

4 years old.  flowered for the 2nd time.  Two held fruit.  One held so much I had to thin.  And it is the smallest tree.  The huge tree dropped all flowers.  I could not see any obvious (to me) male vs. female flowers on any tree.  I think they can fruit in isolation with patience.

Lory

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 626
    • Cebu-Philippines 10° N
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #11 on: September 10, 2017, 10:34:22 PM »
Thanks that gives me hope  :)
Lorenzo

BrianL

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 202
    • Bay Area, California
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #12 on: September 11, 2017, 12:34:03 AM »
Actually the best ones I had also were ones that fell off and I immediately got off the ground.

Lory

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 626
    • Cebu-Philippines 10° N
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #13 on: September 11, 2017, 03:42:50 AM »
And they don't get spoiled falling down?
Lorenzo

BrianL

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 202
    • Bay Area, California
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #14 on: September 11, 2017, 02:28:40 PM »
And they don't get spoiled falling down?

You need to get them same day as they fall.  I assume they would spoil.

az_edulis

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 3
    • Arizona Zone 9B
    • View Profile
Re: Black sapote opinions
« Reply #15 on: September 13, 2017, 12:11:06 PM »
Same city as you - I have a seedling tree in a pot, too young to fruit. At least they are pretty trees, right?

I've read a lot about this fruit, and my consensus is that the fruit is not chocolate like but is probably at least "mild and pleasant" - possibly even bordering on bland. It will be a fun experiment and "sweet but bland" with a fruit someday would still be fun. Or graft over with a known variety.

If you are short on space you can bring the tree over to my yard and tell your family it went "upstate to live on a farm, to run and play with another black sapote tree." Only half a lie ;)