Growing White Sapote In Phoenix Arizona

Photo
This 3 year old, 5 foot tall, grafted, Suebelle white sapote was photographed in March.

This tree was planted in the fall. During its first two summers, it would start shedding its leaves in June when the weather got hot, so it was protected from the sun underneath a shade cloth structure. The third summer it was not protected from the Sun and suffered no ill affects.

It is located on the West side of the house, in the lawn, on the East side of a cinder block wall. Being located a fair distance, 9 feet, from the Western wall of the house helps the tree avoid the baking reflected heat it would be exposed to if it was located closer. A small basin around the white sapote is kept free of grass, and is lightly composted. Fertilizers are not used on this tree because it burns very easily. It is watered by the sprinklers but it is also occasionally deep soaked.

This tree has flowered but has not set fruit yet.

Overview
Having attractive white bark, a dense canopy, and delicious fruit, makes white sapote a very desirable tree. They struggle a bit with the summer heat but become more resilient when they are established. Frost damage is not a concern in the lower desert. White sapotes are salt sensitive and therefore one must be very careful not to burn them with fertilizer.

Fruit
White sapote fruit is somewhat unusual. It is generally the size, color, and shape of a large green apple. The fruit gets a yellow blush to it when ripe. At this point the fruit should be picked and allowed to ripen at room temperature. It is ready to eat when soft. The flesh is custard like and the taste can be described as similar to vanilla custard or pumpkin pie. Large trees can produce more fruit than a family can eat, so white sapote trees can be somewhat messy. Buy a grafted white sapote tree to insure good quality fruit. One of the best varieties is Suebelle which is available in select nurseries in the Phoenix area.

Heat Tolerance and Sun Exposure
White sapote trees should be protected with shade cloth for the first two summers after planting. Once established they tolerate the heat well as long as they are given sufficient water.

Cold Tolerance
Being hardy to 24 degrees F. white sapotes are as cold tolerant as citrus, so frost damage is not much of a concern in the Phoenix area.

Planting
Dig a hole at least twice the size of the rootball. At a minimum, make the hole 2 feet in diameter and 2 feet deep. Work in a 30/70 mix of compost to soil. Be sure to mix the compost and soil as thoroughly as possible. It also is a good idea to finish with the hole an inch or two recessed so that a watering basin is formed.

Watering frequency
White sapotes do well on a grass watering schedule. An occasional deep soaking will help the tree fend off salt burn and encourage the roots to grow more deeply.

Watering method
Basin and sprinkler irrigation are both suitable for white sapotes.

Fertilizing and Growth Rate
White sapotes are sensitive to soil salinity. Since Phoenix area water is already high in salts, the safest thing to do is to not use any chemical fertilizers. Soil amendments such as compost are still beneficial, and seasonal deep soakings with gypsum will help keep the plant healthier.

Propagation
White sapotes can be grown from seed, but good fruit will only be reliable on grafts.

Pests
Some caterpillars like white sapote trees but do not cause any significant problems, so they can be more or less ignored.

Links to more white sapote information

Julia Morton California Rare Fruit Growers