How to grow Sapodilla in New Zealand
Sapodilla, also called naseberry or chiku, is a slow-growing tropical evergreen tree with brown, scurfy-skinned fruit and sweet, malty flesh. It needs true tropical warmth to crop, so in New Zealand it is not suited outdoors anywhere and is only an option for a heated glasshouse or conservatory.
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | Not suited | Not suited outdoors in New Zealand. It needs true tropical warmth, so only a heated glasshouse will do. |
| Auckland | Not suited | Not suited outdoors in New Zealand. It needs true tropical warmth, so only a heated glasshouse will do. |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty | Not suited | Not suited outdoors in New Zealand. It needs true tropical warmth, so only a heated glasshouse will do. |
| Central North Island | Not suited | Not suited outdoors in New Zealand. It needs true tropical warmth, so only a heated glasshouse will do. |
| Wellington & Lower North Island | Not suited | Not suited outdoors in New Zealand. It needs true tropical warmth, so only a heated glasshouse will do. |
| Nelson & Marlborough | Not suited | Not suited outdoors in New Zealand. It needs true tropical warmth, so only a heated glasshouse will do. |
| Canterbury | Not suited | Not suited outdoors in New Zealand. It needs true tropical warmth, so only a heated glasshouse will do. |
| Otago & Southland | Not suited | Not suited outdoors in New Zealand. It needs true tropical warmth, so only a heated glasshouse will do. |
| Central Otago | Not suited | Not suited outdoors in New Zealand. It needs true tropical warmth, so only a heated glasshouse will do. |
Not to be confused with: White sapote (casimiroa), an unrelated tree that is far hardier and can be grown outdoors in warm, sheltered parts of New Zealand.
Where to plant
Sapodilla is a tree of the lowland tropics of Central America, grown in places such as Florida, Mexico, India and Southeast Asia. Young trees can be badly damaged or killed at around 0 to minus 1°C, and even where frost is rare, New Zealand summers are too short and cool for it to grow and fruit well.
That is why our regional calendar shows it as unsuitable outdoors in every region, including the Far North. If you want to try one, it needs a heated glasshouse or conservatory that stays warm through winter.
How to plant
- Buy a grafted plant if you can find one. Seedlings take many years to fruit and vary widely in fruit quality.
- Grow it in a large container of free-draining potting mix, in the warmest, brightest spot under glass.
- Keep it frost free and warm all year.
Watering and feeding
Water young plants regularly, as they drop their leaves and decline if they dry out. Older trees tolerate dry soil but crop better with steady water from flowering through to harvest. Feed lightly through the warm months with a balanced fertiliser.
Harvesting
Fruit maturity is hard to judge at first. Pick fruit once it has reached full size for the tree and let it ripen on the bench; fruit picked at the right stage softens in 4 to 10 days. Fruit picked too early may never soften properly and can have lumps of latex in the flesh. Ripe fruit keeps for a short time in the fridge.
Pests and diseases
In a glasshouse, sap-sucking insects are the main problem.
Pests to watch for
- Scale Small brown or white bumps on stems and leaves, often with black sooty mould.
- Mealybug White, cottony insects in leaf joints and on new growth.
Sapodilla is rarely troubled by disease.
Common questions
Can I grow sapodilla in New Zealand?
Not outdoors. Sapodilla needs tropical warmth all year, and young trees can be killed by temperatures around freezing. A heated glasshouse or conservatory is the only realistic option.
Can I grow sapodilla from seed?
You can, but seedlings take a long time to fruit and vary a lot in fruit quality, so grafted plants are recommended. They are hard to find in New Zealand.
How do I know a sapodilla is ready to pick?
Pick fruit once it has reached full size for the tree, then let it soften on the bench. Fruit picked at the right stage ripens in 4 to 10 days. Hard fruit that will not soften was picked too early.
Is sapodilla the same as white sapote?
No. They are unrelated trees. White sapote, sold in New Zealand as casimiroa, is a much hardier highland tree that can grow outdoors in warm, sheltered gardens here.
What is chicle?
Chicle is the milky latex that runs from all parts of the sapodilla tree. It was the original base of chewing gum.
Sources we checked: UF/IFAS EDIS: Sapodilla growing in the Florida home landscape.