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CASIMIROA EDULIS LLAVE AND LEX
RUTACEA - White Sapote |
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CULTURE |
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Location: Before planting, consider
the mess made by unpicked fruit. Planting over a patio can be a
big mistake. The ultimate size of the the tree should also be kept
in mind. They prefer full sun.
Soils: White sapotes prefer a well-drained soil with a pH between
5.5 and 7.5, but the tree will grow in almost any soil as long as
it is well-drained.
Irrigation: White sapote trees are
drought tolerant but produce better fruit with regular, deep watering.
Deep watering is also necessary to keep greedy roots deep in the
ground. Shallow watering can encourage surface roots that will break
pavement or ruin lawns. Drip irrigation is suitable for young trees.
They will tolerate some salts, but gradually decline. White sapotes
are often most productive following wet winters.
Fertilization: Fertilizer formulas
should vary with the nature of the soil, but, in general, the grower
is advised to follow procedures suitable for citrus trees. Many
white sapote trees have received little or no care and yet have
been long-lived.
Pruning: Young trees tend to grow vertically without much branching. After planting, remove the flowers and pinch out the terminal bud to encourage branching. Since branches are brittle in wind, and will often break at crotches that are either too narrow or horizontal, it is important to prune to eliminate such weak joints. Too much pruning or heading-back, however, may encourage weak growth.Young trees tend to grow vertically without much branching. After planting, remove the flowers and pinch out the terminal bud to encourage branching. Since branches are brittle in wind, and will often break at crotches that are either too narrow or horizontal, it is important to prune to eliminate such weak joints. Too much pruning or heading-back, however, may encourage weak growth.Young trees tend to grow vertically without much branching. After planting, remove the flowers and pinch out the terminal bud to encourage branching. Since branches are brittle in wind, and will often break at crotches that are either too narrow or horizontal, it is important to prune to eliminate such weak joints. Too much pruning or heading-back, however, may encourage weak growth.
Propagation: Seedlings generally
produce inferior fruit, but there is always a chance of producing
a worthwhile new cultivar. Use fresh seed, washed and cleaned
of flesh. Budding is done in the spring, if possible, on year-old
seedlings. Trees are usually grafted., using stocks grown in place
for three years. Scions should be girdled 1 to 2 months, then
stored until the first sign of new stock growth in spring. Cleft,
splice, or approach grafts are all successful. Seedling trees
usually begin to bear in 7 - 8 years; grafted trees will start
bearing in 3 or 4 years.
Pests and diseases: It is important
to start with virus-free material. During moist spells fungal
diseases can affect the leaves, but this is seldom a problem in
California. Other diseases include powdery mildew and Phytophthoraroot
rot. The major pests affecting the babaco are the two spotted
mite, Tetranychus uraticaeand the strawberry mite,Tetranychus
atlanticus. Control can be difficult since most miticides are
phytotoxic to babaco leaves. Predatory mites do give reasonable
control. Slugs and the California brown snail can damage the fruit
and must be controlled. The plants are attractive to deer who
will consume most of the foliage and young fruits.
Harvest: White sapote fruit ripens
in October (south) to February (north). A few cultivars will have
fruit year-round, but the fruit from later blooms generally ripens
poorly and is of poorer quality. Large trees commonly produce
a ton of fruit per year. The fruits taste best when tree ripened,
but tend to fall first. The fruits must be handled with care even
when unripe as they bruise so easily and any bruised skin will
blacken and the flesh beneath turns bitter. Mature fruits should
be clipped from the branches leaving a short piece of the stem
attached. This stub will fall off when the fruits become eating-ripe.
Some cultivars will ripen to good flavor when picked hard and
kept in a controlled atmosphere, while others become bitter and
inedible. Fruits that have ripened on hand will keep in good conditions
in the home refrigerator for at least 2 weeks.
The fruit is said to be soporific and have an effect upon the
central nervous system, hence the name Matasano, but it is pleasing
and wholesome. It is very high in carbohydrates and low in acids.
A 1922 analysis of flesh by the University of California found:
72.64% water, 0.44% ash, 0.64% protein, 20.64% total sugars (8.44%
invert, 12.20% sucrose), 0.46% fat, 1.26% fiber,and 3.92% starches,
etc. At 30 mg per 100 g of fresh pulp, the fruit is a moderately
good source of vitamin C.
Commercial potential: The white
sapote is an old California fruit and is liked by most people
who taste it. Its best markets are local stands and luxury or
health food stores. Chain stores require a steady source of round,
non-bitter fruit, packed in a single layer. Seasonal production
can be avoided by selecting cultivars that give year-round harvest.
The fruit must be picked hard mature with minimal handling.
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CULTIVARS |
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Chestnut
Origin Vista, Calif. Wesley C. Chestnut, 1935. Seedling of Suebelle.
Tree large, heavy production, fruit has withstood shipping to eastern
states. Spherical, yellow-green when ripe, taste good, skin bitter.
Alternate bearing.
Cuccio
Origin Fallbrook, Calif. Cuccio, 1973. Probable syn. Florida. Very
quick to come into bearing. Green when ripe, taste excellent, keeps
long and well on tree. Fruit sunburns if tree defoliates.
Ecke
Origin Encinitas, Calif., Paul Ecke, Sr., 1963. Single fruits,uniform
in size and shape, Skin becomes bright yellow several months before
maturity.
Fiesta
Origin Yorba Linda, Calif., Ray Vincent, 1973. Reliable,productive
but very late cropper of rather small (1-2 inch) fruit. Pale yellow,
thick skin, endures handling.
Lemon Gold
Origin Escondido, Calif., Martin Reinecke, 1958. A less vigorous
tree, moderate crops, usually in November. Keeps well when ripe,
can be picked immature and ripens well off the tree. Uniform, pleasing
appearance; flesh quite yellow. Flavor excellent, occasional hints
of lemon.
Louise
Origin Chula Vista, Calif., Bill Nelson, 1973. Nearly everbearing,
Jan. - Sept., productive. Fruit yellow, medium size. Suggested for
home gardens, not commercial.
Malibu No. 3
Origin Malibu, Calif., Washington MacIntyre, 1981. Fruit spherical,
yellow, ripens Oct - Nov. Pick when soft. Tree is long coming into
bearing. Most promising new cv.
Maltby
Origin Carlsbad, Calif., Guy Maltby, 1928. syn. Nancy Maltby. Frequently
found in Florida, obsolete in California. Tree large. Fruit to one
pound, irregular in shape, pointed, flesh yellow, flavor varies
by season, can be good. Productive.
McDill
Origin Orange, Calif., McDill, 1968. Precocious, excellent taste,
among the largest. Shape oblate, large, greenish-yellow. Bears early
autumn. Tree large, grafts easy.
Michele
Origin Pasadena, Calif., Michele Montllor, 1940. Tree small, nearly
everbearing. Fruit smallish, yellow, with distinct taste of caramel.
For home culture.
Pike
Origin Santa Barbara, Calif., intro. USDA, 1928. Tree med. size,
heavy cropper, mid-season, Large green fruits. One of three most
popular cultivars of the mid-century, is still found commercially.
Taste fairly good, skin bitter.
Reinecke Commercial
Origin San Diego, Calif., John M. Reinecke. Fruit irregular in shape,
weighing about 5 ounces. Skin attractive golden-orange when ripe.
Flavor good, seeds moderate in number. Has excellent keeping qualities,
and even if picked prematurely will soften and become fairly good
eating. Tree is a relatively poor yielder.
Stickley
Origin La Mesa, Calif., Stickley 1967. Seedling of Vernon,less alternate
in bearing. Broad vigorous tree. Fruit yellow-green, quite sweet,
uniformly large. Ripens very early, sweet even if harvested immature.
Keeps well when soft.
Suebelle
Origin Encinitas, Calif., Susan Hubbell, 1931. Syn. Hubbell. The
best known cv of sapote, still not surpassed in performance by others;
common in nurseries. A distinct cv., Neysa was commonly sold as
Suebelle from 1955-65. True Suebelle fruit is variable in size,
usually small, yellow, asymmetrical, sweet. Pick when soft. Bears
nearly year-round. Tree medium, for home culture.
Vernon
Origin Vista, Calif., Wells Miller, 1953. A mature tree found by
him and may prove to be another, older cv. Tree large, rounded,
vigorous but medium height. Fruit green, round oblate; flesh white,
not becoming bitter when over-ripe. Alternate bearing, over the
winter months. Performs well in northern California. Difficult to
graft.
Wilson
Origin Monrovia, Calif., W. C. Wilson, 1927. Introduced then by
Armstrong Nurseries and still found in collections. Tree productive,
fruit flattened, flavor good, poor keeper.
Mac's Golden
Origin Carlsbad, Calif., Charles Ramsey, 1932 A wooly-leaf sapote
(C. tetrameria). Fruit large, yellow with deeper-colored flesh.
The best, and least yellow, of the matasanos, preferred by some,
with characteristic aroma. Elongated oval, few seeds.
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