When to Plant White 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 White 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 Dec
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.3
White sapote is not a true sapote but a citrus relative from the Mexican highlands with smooth yellow green fruit and custard flavoured flesh.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Subtropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Ortega fruits February and March. A Nanango grower lost trees to frost and regrew them in a frost free spot. 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 White Sapote in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Any well drained soil (Morton). Deep soil for the voracious roots (Daleys review, Newcastle). Very drought tolerant in shallow clay at Nanango (Daleys review).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 5.5-7.3
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Paths, buildings and drains, the roots are voracious (Daleys review)
Subtropical Growing Tips for White Sapote
Recommended Varieties
- Ortega (Daleys)
- Pike (crops regularly and heavily)
- Lemon Gold (crops even in temperate areas, a pollinator)
- Kampong (self pollinating)
Key Challenges
- Frost on young trees
- Fruit fly
Pro Tips
- Frost free spot while young
- Plant a pollinator
Pests and problems for White Sapote in Subtropical
Harvesting White Sapote
When ready: Pick when softening and turning from green to yellow; too early is astringent (Daleys). Clip with a short stem, the stub drops off when ready to eat (Morton).
How to harvest: Clip a few days before fully ripe and finish ripening indoors (Morton). Handle gently; bruises blacken.
Storing and preserving white sapote
How to keep it
- fresh_storage. Clip with a short stem; the stub drops when the fruit is ready to eat (Morton). Keeps: At least 2 weeks in the fridge once ripe (Morton).
- jams_sauces. Made into marmalade, or added to ice cream and milkshakes (Morton). Keeps: Use a tested marmalade 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 White Sapote
When do you plant white sapote in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan, Nov to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant White Sapote in Brisbane?
Ortega fruits February and March. A Nanango grower lost trees to frost and regrew them in a frost free spot. 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 White Sapote are ready to harvest?
Pick when softening and turning from green to yellow; too early is astringent (Daleys). Clip with a short stem, the stub drops off when ready to eat (Morton).
What are the best White Sapote varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Ortega (Daleys), Pike (crops regularly and heavily), Lemon Gold (crops even in temperate areas, a pollinator), Kampong (self pollinating).
Are white sapote salt tolerant?
No. White 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.