fruit
The mamey Calocarpum zapota is a fascinating tropic tree with unco sweetened fruit . We explicate step - by - step how to grow this sweet kickshaw !
Contents
Mamey marmalade tree , the home fruit of Cuba , is a tropic fruit that is democratic in Central America and the Caribbean . It is also grown in the United States in temperate areas of South Florida , California , Texas , and Hawaii . Although it is more vulgar in South Florida , mammee apple sapote is hard to get in other areas of the United States . You likely wo n’t be able-bodied to obtain them in the green goods surgical incision at the grocery store .
If you live in USDA zone 9 - 11 and have enough space , you could grow mamey sapote at home ! It is resistant of many soil type and will produce up to 200 - 500 fruits per twelvemonth at maturity . The mamey marmalade tree yield has a smooth , creamy texture and the flavor is compared to scented white potato vine , Cucurbita pepo , and sweetened almond . The fruit can be eaten raw , but it is often used to make smoothies and ice emollient .
Mamey is loaded with vitamin , minerals , and dietetical fiber . It is a great vegetarian author of Fe and it is consider to be a heart level-headed food that promotes cardiovascular health and healthy cholesterol levels .
Once plant , the Mammea americana Pouteria zapota is there to persist as they are bed to live up to 100 eld !
Good Products At Amazon For Growing Mamey Sapote :
Quick Care Guide
All About Mamey Sapote
The mammee tree sapote tree , Pouteria sapota , is also commonly referred to as a mammee tree or sapote tree . Mamey sapote originates from Central America but has become popular in many tropical area especially the Caribbean . The term “ mammee ” originates from the word “ tzapotl ” which signify “ edible fruit ” in Nahuatl , an Aztecan speech .
Pouteria sapotais a with child , evergreen tree with thickset branches and dim leafage . The leave are large , dark-green , lancelike , and concentrated at the peak of the branches . At maturity , the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree will grow around 40 feet in summit and can develop more than 60 animal foot in optimal atmospheric condition . Fortunately , the tree can be rationalise to maintain an appropriate size for its planting location .
The bloom and yield grow in clump on leafless branches . The white to green flowers are small and inconspicuous . The color and physical body of the yield are similar to a coconut palm . However , the inside is very different . The flesh of the mamey fruit is a beautiful orange to red color . The size of the yield varies depending on the diversity but ranges from 4.5 - 8 in in diameter . Each fruit weighs between 0.75 and 6 lb and check one to three orotund seeded player in the middle .
Mamey marmalade plum is a tropical plant , so it requires warm temperature and raft of water . It is large-minded of a wide range of a function of soil type and farm well in areas with an average of 70 inch ( 178 centimeter ) of rainfall . Since the fruit take a foresighted time to grow , it is common to see flowers , formulate yield , and ripe fruit maturate on the tree at the same time .
Planting
genus Pouteria sapotais most commonly planted as a grafted tree . It is possible to plant from seed . However , the seed must be plant shortly after harvest or else viability is lost . Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree implant from seed also take 7 - 10 year before producing fruit versus 3 - 5 years with a grafted tree .
The best time to plant is in the natural spring when there is adequate rain to establish a unseasoned tree . stave off implant in the wintertime sincePouteria sapotais sensitive to cold temperatures . If there is episodic hoar , it ’s recommended to plant in a declamatory pot that can be moved or protect during a freeze result .
opt a gay locating with at least 20 - 30 feet of space between nearby tree and construction . For the tree to thrive , it needs at least eight hours of unmediated sunshine each Clarence Day .
When engraft the mamey mammee , dig a hole that is three times the diam and depth of the radical ball . station the soil around the radical arrangement and mound the soil surrounding the trunk about four column inch higher than ground level .
In many field of Florida , the water table is within seven substructure . If you be in an area with a shallow water table , plant the tree on an elevated mound . Although mamey sapote trees require constant wet , they do not tolerate persistently saturated conditions . These conditions will result in the tree developing beginning rot .
Care
Pouteria sapotais passably comfortable to wish for . Proper maintenance is important to maintain a healthy Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that will return high fruit production year after class .
Sun and Temperature
Pouteria sapotarequires full sunlight for at least 8 + hours per daytime . deficient light will compromise yield payoff .
These Tree are hardy to USDA zones 9 - 11 , so they are not frost - tolerant . Young trees are vulnerable to damage if the temperature throw below 32 ℉ . Mature Tree can wield temperatures below 32 ℉ for several hours with very small damage . Below 22 ℉ , the tree will die . The optimal ordinary temperature is between 77 ℉ and 82 ℉ . These tree are eff to thrive in climates in Central America that also hit 90 - 95 ℉ .
Water and Humidity
The best clip to urine is in the early forenoon . This will forbid pee from vaporise too quick and it allows the plant and the filth to soak up the wet . Watering in the evening sometimes allows for stagnant pee which can promote disease .
untried Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree should be watered immediately after planting and every other day for the first month or two . In universal , matured Tree should be water about every five days with one inch of water supply if there is not sufficient rainfall . However , grunge type will represent a big role in determining how often and how long to pee . For instance , if you haveclay soil , you will need to hold more water less often than you would arenaceous dirt . This is because the H2O keeping capability of Henry Clay grease is smashing than sandlike grime .
deluge hosesandsprinklerscan both be used to irrigate . Typically , it claim 200 minute to apply an in of water using a soaker hose . sprinkler have much more variableness , so a rain gage should be used to determine the appropriate length of time . Irrigation is not require if there is at least one inch of rain throughout the hebdomad . During cooler month , irrigation frequency can also be scaled back to avoid overwatering .
Soil
Pouteria sapotagrows best in clay loam soil with salutary drainage . However , it is tolerant of moist soil case as long as there is equal drainage . idealistic pH is between 6.0 and 7.0 but tolerates a broad compass .
Fertilizing
Fertilize doubly per yr in the spring and former fall using an 8 - 3 - 9 fertiliser formula . bet on the dirt , zinc and manganese want may occur . If there are deficiencies , foliar spray are advocate every 6 weeks between March and September . Iron insufficiency is also uncouth and can be remediated by utilize a chelate atomic number 26 once or twice a year through a soil drench .
Pruning
Pruning should be done during the warm months after fruit harvest . vernal trees can be trim to encourage 3 - 4 heavy branches . Mature trees should be pruned to maintain an appropriate size .
Before pruning , search for flowers and young fruit at the nucleotide of the branches to avoid inadvertent removal of develop yield . If fruits are not pick , they will unload of course after ripening .
Propagation
Mamey plants can be propagated by seminal fluid and graft .
Trees propagated from seed take many days to bring forth fruit . The fruit characteristics are also unknown and there are some cases in which the seed spread Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree will not produce yield . Seed should only be used to develop rootstalk that will later be engraft with a know variety .
Grafted trees are the most reliable source because the characteristic are known and they produce fruit years quicker than trees circularise from seed .
Harvesting and Storing
Now for the best part , harvest and storing the delicious mamey fruit !
Harvesting
Eventually , the ripe fruit will fall off the tree naturally . However , the drop will most likely damage the yield . To pick the fruit , only turn the fruit off the branches . Harvesting season will vary bet on the variety , but most varieties will be ready for harvest between April and September .
The easiest way to determine the right time to blame a mamey marmalade plum is by scratching the skin of the yield and check out the color . If the flesh is fleeceable in colour , the fruit is not ready . If the flesh is orange , carmine or pink , the yield is ready to clean .
The fruit will still feel firm so it ’s important to reveal the fruit to board temperature for a couple of days for it to fully mature . Ripeness is recognized the same elbow room you would an avocado . Squeeze the yield lightly . If there is a slight give , then the fruit is advanced and quick to eat .
Keep in intellect the yield takes 13 calendar month to two year to grow . forbearance is the cay to harvesting good fruit .
Storing
yield can be stored fresh in the electric refrigerator for 1 - 2 hebdomad . For longer storage , cut the yield into lump and freeze it . Frozen yield can subsequently be used in smoothie and crank cream recipes . The fruit can also be freeze - dried to make a crunchy collation with a long shelf life .
Troubleshooting
Even though Pouteria sapota is fairly easy to grow , that does n’t intend you wo n’t run into difficulties . Below are a few problems that you may face and possible solutions !
Growing Problems
Proper irrigationis keystone to growing a healthy tree . Underwatering can cause defoliation and fruit drop . deficiency of water and nutrition will also cause blue fruit production .
temperature below freezingcan also injure or kill Tree . vernal tree are peculiarly susceptible to frigid temperatures .
Pests
TheDiaprepes weevil(Diaprepes abbreviatus ) is a root weevil find in Florida and the Caribbean . adult feed in on the leaves while the larvae feed on the root . grownup range from 3/8 to 3/4 in in length . They are bootleg with red , orangish , or yellow scales on the wing case . Larvae are white grubs that reach a distance of about 1 in . Heavy plague may cause severe decline or death . good nematode worm can be applied to the grime to control larvae . Horticultural oils can be spray to kill egg and prevent females from set eggs on the leaf .
Red wanderer mites(Tetranychus bimaculatus)may infest the leaves cause stippling damage . mite are extremely small , so the wrong may be noticeable before the pest is detected . grave infestations may cause defoliation . mite can be contain biologically using predatory mites such asPhytoseiulus persimilis . Horticultural oils will also in effect control mite population .
There are various type ofscale insectsthat will infest mamey Tree . Scales are most commonly found on branches and twigs . Damage from scale is commonly very minimal . Most ordered series will be controlled by natural piranha as long as ant populations are under control condition . emmet collect honeydew melon from scales , so they will physically protect scurf from predators . Horticultural petroleum are also proven to be effectual in see to it scale insects .
Diseases
The most pregnant disease problem that can occur areroot rotscaused by Pythium and Rhizoctonia . Both diseases can be forbid or resolved with proper irrigation practices . These disease occur when the tree diagram is being overwatered . The first indicant that there is a root issue is a general declivity in vim and yield yield . sustain the diagnosing by dig to chequer the moisture of the soil and the health of the rootage . If the land is saturated and the radical are chocolate-brown and brittle , the tree is suffering from stem rot .
Anthracnosecan also be a job during the rainy season . This disease causes damage to young pinnace tissues like prime and new leaves . Damage usually does not require handling and will go off on its own once conditions ironic .
Frequently Asked Questions
Q : What does a mamey mammee predilection like ?
A : The feel of mamey mammee is compare to sweet spud , autumn pumpkin , and sweetened almonds .
Q : How do you eat mammee tree sapote ?
A : Mamey sapote can be eaten fresh or it can be added to smoothies , chalk cream , and other sweet-flavored formula .
Q : Is mamey fruit concern to avocado ?
A : Even though there are some similarity , mamey sapote is not connect to avocado .
