When to Plant Sapodilla in Cairns, Tropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Sapodilla guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Nov to Mar
- 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 Tropical
- Jan P
- Feb P
- Mar P
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Fruits February and March. Very hardy and slow growing. 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 Tropical 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)
Tropical 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
- Slow growth
Pro Tips
- Plant in the wet season
- Lift pH with lime if acid
Pests and problems for Sapodilla in Tropical
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 Cairns?
Fruits February and March. Very hardy and slow growing. 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 Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.