When to Plant Sapodilla in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
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This Sapodilla guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 7.4–8.0
Sapodilla, also called chico or chicoo, is a very hardy, slow growing tropical and subtropical tree (Daleys).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Arid / Semi-Arid
Sapodilla is not recommended for Arid / Semi-Arid.
Not drought hardy and frost kills young trees (Morton). No source shows it in arid regions.
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How to Grow Sapodilla in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Good drainage (Daleys). Bears poorly in low, wet spots and tolerates salinity (Morton).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 7.4-8.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Daleys). A Bardon grower has them in sun and shade (Daleys review).
- Keep away from
- Low wet ground (Morton), Frost pockets (Daleys review)
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Sapodilla
Recommended Varieties
- Sawo Manila (compact, self pollinating)
- Tropical
- Krasuey (all three fruit prolifically in Leschenault WA, Daleys review)
- Seedling (hardier, for marginal climates)
Key Challenges
- Drought
- Frost
Pro Tips
- Not recommended
Pests and problems for Sapodilla in Arid / Semi-Arid
Harvesting Sapodilla
When ready: Brown skin, parts from the stem without latex, and a scratch shows no green under the scurf; cut one to check seeds are black (Morton).
How to harvest: Clip mature fruit and soften a few days at room temperature (Morton).
Storing and preserving sapodilla
How to keep it
- freezing. Halve, scoop, remove seeds, freeze pulp in portions. Keeps: 33 days fully ripe at 0 degrees (Morton); pulp up to 12 months in a sealed container (NCHFP general guidance).
- fresh_storage. Pick at the brown stage when the fruit parts from the stem without latex, soften a few days on the bench, then chill. Keeps: 6 weeks at about 2 degrees for firm ripe fruit (Morton).
- jams_sauces. Skim off the latex scum first (Morton). Keeps: Use a tested jam method.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Sapodilla
When do you plant sapodilla in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Mar, Nov to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Oct to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Nov to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Nov
When should I plant Sapodilla in Alice Springs?
Not drought hardy and frost kills young trees (Morton). No source shows it in arid regions.
How do I know when Sapodilla are ready to harvest?
Brown skin, parts from the stem without latex, and a scratch shows no green under the scurf; cut one to check seeds are black (Morton).
What are the best Sapodilla varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Sawo Manila (compact, self pollinating), Tropical, Krasuey (all three fruit prolifically in Leschenault WA, Daleys review), Seedling (hardier, for marginal climates).
Are sapodilla salt tolerant?
No. Sapodilla are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.