White Sapote - cross pollinator required?

[bradflorida]

I have a Suebelle as well as a Redlands White Sapote.

Space is at a premium, and it would help if I could keep just one of these trees instead of both.  However, does anyone know if either of these cultivars requires a cross pollinator, or at least fruits much better with one?

Thanks

Brad

[Guanabanus]

My white-sapote tree fruits well.   I don't know of any other nearby.

[bradflorida]

Thanks Har.  What variety do you have, and how does it taste?  Is the season roughly mid may to mid July for you?

Brad

[fruitlovers]

I have a Suebelle as well as a Redlands White Sapote.

Space is at a premium, and it would help if I could keep just one of these trees instead of both.  However, does anyone know if either of these cultivars requires a cross pollinator, or at least fruits much better with one?

Thanks

Brad

Some varieties of white sapote do require cross pollination, but don't know about those two.

Pollination Requirements:

Mature fruits are sometimes irregular in shape from lack of seed development in one or more carpers, and heavy shed of immature fruit has been reported (Kennard and Winters 1960*). Although the flowers are hermaphrodite, Mustard (1954) showed that there is partial to total pollen sterility within the flower. He concluded that this factor was responsible for failure to set a good crop of fruit. Mortensen and Bullard (1968*) stated that in Florida the 'Dade' cv. must be cross-pollinated because it does not have "normal" pollen. Mustard (1954) reported that partial pollen sterility may be a factor in failure to obtain good sets of fruit. Pollinators The honey bees in visiting the flowers for nectar doubtless serve as pollinators of the plants, particularly if they are sufficiently concentrated in the area of the trees.

http://www.culturaapicola.com.ar/apuntes/libros/Polinizacion/chap9/white.html

[Jackfruitwhisperer69]

There is a huge tree at the research station that produces huge amount of fruits and the seeds are viable. My inarched White sapote's are from the seeds that i harvested from this mother tree

[bradflorida]

Thanks guys.  I guess to truly find the answer, I would have to find someone who has a sole Suebelle or a sole Redlands tree.   

Brad

[fyliu]

I have white sapotes but only Suebelle is mature enough to flower and fruit. So it would appear that it can self set fruits.

A long-time sapote grower told me today that green-skin type sapote are mostly female and need cross pollination.

[fruitlovers]

Thanks guys.  I guess to truly find the answer, I would have to find someone who has a sole Suebelle or a sole Redlands tree.   

Brad

There might be a list somewhere of what varieties of white sapote require pollination. There's been a lot of interest in this fruit in the last few years so more work has been done. Try contacting CRFG white sapote fruit specialist and see if they have an answer for your? California is really white sapote capital right now.

[Guanabanus]

I have heard of a white-sapote collector with more than 20 varieties in the Sarasota area of Florida.  Bob Cannon would probably know who that is.  Bob was the editor of Tropical Fruit News for many years.

[Future]

Thanks guys.  I guess to truly find the answer, I would have to find someone who has a sole Suebelle or a sole Redlands tree.   

Brad

I also just bought a solo Redlands and a interested to hear if it will produce on its own.

[BMc]

I have a Suebelle as well as a Redlands White Sapote.

Space is at a premium, and it would help if I could keep just one of these trees instead of both.  However, does anyone know if either of these cultivars requires a cross pollinator, or at least fruits much better with one?

Thanks

Brad

Why not choose which one you want to keep, then graft scions of the other one onto selected limbs of the tree you will keep? Its dead easy and the WS seems to love being multi grafted. Once the grafts take and the tree looks healthy growing both scions, chop down the second tree. They also seem to be alright duo planted.

[fyliu]

I also just bought a solo Redlands and a interested to hear if it will produce on its own.

The nursery should be able to tell you this information. If not, see the general rule in my previous message.