When to Plant Black Sapote in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Subtropical
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.
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This Black Sapote guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Feb
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Black sapote is a persimmon relative whose fruit softens to a chocolate pudding texture.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Subtropical
- Jan P
- Feb P
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Daleys months. A Bororen grower had 4 fruit in the first year and a Bray Park grower a first fruit at 4 years on an espalier. Planting months are our estimate for a nursery tree: plant in the warm, wet months so the roots settle before any dry or cool weather.
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How to Grow Black Sapote in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Good drainage (Daleys). Moist sandy loam; build a mound if the site is swampy (Rob Pyne). Tolerates flooding on alluvial clay in Mexico (Morton).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.6-7.3
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Daleys, Rob Pyne). Summer sun burned the bark of a young tree in Adelaide (Daleys review).
- Keep away from
- Buildings and other trees (Rob Pyne), Windy spots (Daleys review)
Subtropical Growing Tips for Black Sapote
Recommended Varieties
- Colossal (self pollinating, seedless if unpollinated)
- Maher (small tree about 4 m, few seeds)
- Bernicker (1 to 2 seeds, prolific)
- Superb (north Queensland)
Key Challenges
- Pollination
- Scale
Pro Tips
- Plant a pollinator or Colossal
- Keep the trunk clear of mulch
Pests and problems for Black Sapote in Subtropical
Harvesting Black Sapote
When ready: Pick hard when the skin turns from bright green to olive or muddy green (Morton); ripe when the skin indents and the flesh is very soft and dark (Daleys).
How to harvest: Clip hard fruit and ripen on the bench 3 to 6 days (Daleys); bright green fruit takes about 10 days (Morton).
Storing and preserving black sapote
How to keep it
- freezing. Scoop the dark pulp, remove seeds, add lemon or lime juice if you like (Morton), freeze in portions. Keeps: Up to 12 months in a sealed container (NCHFP general guidance).
- fresh_storage. Pick hard, green; ripe when the skin indents (Daleys). Keeps: Softens in 3 to 6 days on the bench (Daleys); a few days in cold storage once ripe (Morton).
- jams_sauces. Pulp goes into pie fillings, ice cream and drinks (Morton). No tested shelf stable recipe found. Keeps: Days in the fridge.
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 Black Sapote
When do you plant black sapote 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, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Black Sapote in Brisbane?
Daleys months. A Bororen grower had 4 fruit in the first year and a Bray Park grower a first fruit at 4 years on an espalier. Planting months are our estimate for a nursery tree: plant in the warm, wet months so the roots settle before any dry or cool weather.
How do I know when Black Sapote are ready to harvest?
Pick hard when the skin turns from bright green to olive or muddy green (Morton); ripe when the skin indents and the flesh is very soft and dark (Daleys).
What are the best Black Sapote varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Colossal (self pollinating, seedless if unpollinated), Maher (small tree about 4 m, few seeds), Bernicker (1 to 2 seeds, prolific), Superb (north Queensland).
Are black sapote salt tolerant?
No. Black sapote 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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.