When to Plant Sapodilla 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 Sapodilla 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
- Oct to Feb
- 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 Subtropical
- Jan P
- Feb P
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Daleys months. A Keperra grower had two trees flowering within months of planting. Not drought hardy in dry spells. 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 Sapodilla in Subtropical 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)
Subtropical 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
- Fruit fly
- Drought stress
Pro Tips
- Water in dry spells
- Cincture seedlings to force flowering
Pests and problems for Sapodilla in Subtropical
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 Brisbane?
Daleys months. A Keperra grower had two trees flowering within months of planting. Not drought hardy in dry spells. 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 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 Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical 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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.