Sapote in large containers?

[BirdsIView]

I went a little crazy and bought a couple white sapote trees (Campbell and Suebelle) along with a Lorito Mamey Sapote tree. Problem is I’m worried about planting them close to any fences considering their invasive roots  which eliminates any current spots I have available. At best I could transplant a recent fig tree I planted elsewhere which is about 10 feet from a fence.

From what I’ve read, even this could be asking for trouble with how damaging the roots of sapote can be. I’d love to be convinced that this spot would work for one of the trees and that the roots aren’t as problematic as I’ve been led to believe but if not I’m left with trying for pots.

Anyone have experience or an idea of how feasible it would be to put them in say 40 gallon pots? Could I get a decent yield with them in large containers  or is it in the ground or bust?

[Nick C]

Definitely possible to grow and get fruit while in container

This one has been in there for a few years now and flowers almost year round

[xesoteryc]

Definitely possible to grow and get fruit while in container

This one has been in there for a few years now and flowers almost year round

So cool, how many would you say you typically get?

[Nick C]

Nothing crazy but it seems to be increasing in production every year. There’s probably around 9 on there right now with more setting with the new flowers. My biggest problem is this thing explodes with flowers in the dead of winter for me. So unless I go and hand pollinate in the greenhouse my primary source of pollinators is the ants who are pretty much only there due to the scale bugs that infest the tree during that time lol

[BirdsIView]

Definitely possible to grow and get fruit while in container

This one has been in there for a few years now and flowers almost year round

Nice! What size pot do you have there?

[Bush2Beach]

White Sapote’s have invasive roots? Where is that coming from?

Mamey dies in winter in Bay area so there is that to consider as well.

[Nick C]

Definitely possible to grow and get fruit while in container

This one has been in there for a few years now and flowers almost year round

Nice! What size pot do you have there?

Honestly, I have no clue

[FruitForLife]

Definitely possible to grow and get fruit while in container

This one has been in there for a few years now and flowers almost year round

What variety?

[Jaboticaba45]

Mamey is one of those fruits that you must be in a tropical climate to grow just because from flower to fruit is about 18 months or longer.
Green sapote is a better choice.

[Nick C]

Definitely possible to grow and get fruit while in container

This one has been in there for a few years now and flowers almost year round

What variety?

Vernon, just grafted a couple suebelle and YG scions on there recently too

[FruitForLife]

Nice!!! I also have a vernon and looking to graft onto it, YG would be my first choice.

Where did you get your YG scions?

[Jack, Nipomo]

Might suggest using a yellow sapote (Casimiroa tetrameria) as a dwarfing rootstock.  I have several white sapotes (C. edulis) on their own roots and on white sapote rootstock and they become giant trees producing large quantities of fruit.  They are in the ground on 1 1/2 acres.  I also have several white sapotes (C. edulis) grafted on yellow sapote (C. tetrameria) rootstock that are less than 6 ft tall after 25 years in the ground.  C. tetrameria is a small tree on its own roots and substantially dwarfs C. edulis producing normal sized fruit.  No evidence of any incompatibility.

[12Zodiac]

This is my white sapote grown from seed in a 20 gallon pot.  2 summers ago, I left it to die and not water it during summer for over a month. It survived. I then grafted it onto Mary Lane. It flowered last year unfortunately I left it in the shade and none of the flowers bloom. I finally put it out in the full sun and it grew a lot but I missed the flowering season. It definitely needs to be up potted.

[Nick C]

Nice!!! I also have a vernon and looking to graft onto it, YG would be my first choice.

Where did you get your YG scions?

https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=54474.0

[fishie]

Nice!!! I also have a vernon and looking to graft onto it, YG would be my first choice.

Where did you get your YG scions?

I got my YG scions from Mike as well, achetadomestica. Grafted a bunch a few weeks ago 😂

Might suggest using a yellow sapote (Casimiroa tetrameria) as a dwarfing rootstock.  I have several white sapotes (C. edulis) on their own roots and on white sapote rootstock and they become giant trees producing large quantities of fruit.  They are in the ground on 1 1/2 acres.  I also have several white sapotes (C. edulis) grafted on yellow sapote (C. tetrameria) rootstock that are less than 6 ft tall after 25 years in the ground.  C. tetrameria is a small tree on its own roots and substantially dwarfs C. edulis producing normal sized fruit.  No evidence of any incompatibility.

This sounds ideal for me since I grow mostly in pots. Would you have some seeds available when the fruit is ready? Or, is there an issue with graft comparability the other way around? Edulis as rootstock and tetrameria on top? Maybe I can just make a tree 😂

[brian]

White sapote did well in 20gal container for me, made a lot of fruit. 

Ross sapote seedling seems happy in same 20gal size container and has started flowering.

My container green sapotes on mamey rootstock keep dying.  I am trying yet again, and also trying seedling green sapote.

Sapodilla seems happy in container

[fishie]

White sapote did well in 20gal container for me, made a lot of fruit. 

Ross sapote seedling seems happy in same 20gal size container and has started flowering.

My container green sapotes on mamey rootstock keep dying.  I am trying yet again, and also trying seedling green sapote.

Sapodilla seems happy in container

Good to know! Anything past 20g is no longer moveable with my dolly lol

[Jack, Nipomo]

No fruits currently on C. tetrameria, some flowering.  C. tetrameria on C. edulis works and dwarfs the tree also.  Grafts were done many years ago and trees are doing well.  Potentially perhaps an interstock of C. tetrameria could be used.