Mamey sapote (Pouteria sapota)

Product description

The Mamey sapote is one of the most popular fruits in Central America due to its delicious flavour and graceful tree. The tree blooms at the end of the rainy season, where entire branches can be covered with the small white-yellow flowers. The fruits, which are actually berries, can reach 25 cm in size and weigh up to 3 kg. When ripe, the flesh turns bright pink to red and can be eaten fresh or processed. It is a popular ingredient in drinks and ice cream and has a sweet almond-like flavour. The large seeds contain a lot of oil (45-60%) and are used in the tropics to make a kind of almond flavouring.

In the tropics, the tree can grow up to 45 metres tall and produce up to 1,000 fruits per year. Indoors, the species can be kept a lot smaller by pruning it. The tree is very sensitive to low temperatures and drought, so keep the soil constantly moist above 15 degC.  Furthermore, give the plant a well-drained soil and plenty of light.

Sowing description: The seeds have a short shelf life. First carefully remove the hard shell (by cracking or notching it) and then sow them directly in sowing soil at 25-30grC. Keep the soil constantly slightly moist. Germination usually within a few weeks.