The Sapodilla is one of the most delicious and treasured tropical fruits known, and the Alano Sapodilla is the best of its kind. The Alano Sapodilla is widely thought of as the highest quality, tastiest Sapodilla variety. The fruits are egg-shaped, 3 to 3 ½ inches long, and have smooth, tan skins. Ripe Alano Sapodilla flesh is golden-brown, has the texture of a finely-grained pear, and the remarkable flavor is a mixture of brown sugar, honey, and slight notes of cinnamon. Tasting one for the first time is a gourmet rare fruit experience that people never forget.
Alano Sapodilla Trees are slow growing but long-lived and they only get to be about 6 to 10 feet tall so you can fit one almost anywhere. They do best in USDA Zones 9 to 11 where they bloom in spring and ripen their fine fruits in summer. The compact growth habit of the trees make them a good choice for growing a tropical fruit tree in a pot, which you can do in USDA Zones 4 to 11. Their dark green leaves make a shady canopy and the balanced, upright tree shape is easy to maintain. Plant one or two in your edible landscape and harvest your own exquisite Alano Sapodillas from your own back yard.
Alano Sapodilla Trees are naitive to Thailand and they prefer rich soil that drains well and has a high amount of readily available organic matter. In a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun per day, prepare a hole that is three times the size of the existing tree’s pot. Backfill 1/3 of the hole with a combination of organic compost, rich potting soil, and about 10% perlite for drainage. Position the tree in the hole so that the rootball surface is even with the ground level.
Fill the sides of the hole with the same soil mixture until the hole is filled to about 4 to 5 inches below the rootball top. Water in well and let the hole drain fully, which will compact the soil. Once the hole has drained, add a 4 to 5 inch layer of composted manure or guano, then fill the remaining space with the soil mixture. Mulch the area under the Alano Sapodilla Tree with 4 to 6 inches of woodchips and water every other day for one week. After the first week, water every week or when the soil is dry down to two inches. Fertilize with fruit tree fertilizer every three months and in the amounts indicated on the fertilzer packaging according to tree size and age.
Alano Sapodilla Harvesting and Uses
Alano Sapodillas can be harvested once the fruit is tan, smooth, and about 3 to 3 ½ inches long. Mature fruits will still be hard on the tree. Pick them and let them soften in a cool, dry place such as a bowl on the kitchen counter for several days. They are ready to eat when they suddenly become soft enough to yield to a squeeze. Do not let them become mushy. A perfectly ripe Alano Sapodilla has a narrow window. Learning to judge the fruit’s ideal softenss comes with experience.
Once the Alano Sapodillas are the right softness, slice them in half, remove the shiny brown seeds, and refrigerate until chilled. Eat the chilled flesh by either peeling the skin away and slicing the flesh, or by scooping it out with a spoon. Ripe Alano Sapodillas are best eaten fresh, used in fruit salads, or in tropical desserts and smoothies. Surprise your guests by garnishing a side salad with a few slices of this remarkable tropical fruit and enjoy the smiles when they taste one for their first time.
Advice
In their native habitat, Sapodilla Trees grow in sunny clearings of the tropical Thailand forests. As such, they are used to obtaining their nutrition from the endless supply of decomposing leaves that fall to the forest floor. You can make your Alano Sapodilla Trees happy by constantly alternating layers of finsihed compost with organic mulch. Mulch new trees with a few inches of shredded tree bark, woodchips, or grass clippings. In about three months cover this mulch with about 3 inches of rich compost. Three months later cover this with a new layer of mulch. Continue this process year after year to grow vibrant Alano Sapodilla Trees.
Alano Sapodilla Trees are somewhat self-fertile but they will grow more fruit with a second Alano Sapodilla Tree nearby. Since the trees are small they can also be grown in pots. Use large pots with holes for drainage and water when the soil surface in the pot becomes dry to 2 inches deep. Bring potted Alano Sapodilla Trees inside when frost is possible. When moving potted fruit trees in and out, some leaf drop is normal. Reduce fertilizer for potted Alano Sapodilla Trees to about half of the recommended amounts for in-ground trees.
FAQs
When do Alano Sapodilla Trees bloom?
Alano Sapodilla Trees bloom in early spring and sometimes in early summer. Fruits ripen in summer or fall.
Can I grow an Alano Sapodilla Tree in Texas?
Yes. Alano Sapodilla Trees can be grown in the ground in Zones 9 to 11, which includes much of southern Texas.
Can I buy Alano Sapodilla Fruits in the Grocery Store?
Some markets specializing in Asian cuisine may have Alano Sapodilla fruits, but they are uncommon in most grocery stores. The best way to get this fruit is to grow your own trees.
How big do Alano Sapodilla Trees get?
Alano Sapodilla Trees are small, with mature trees reaching heights of between 6 and 10 feet tall, and about 8 feet wide.
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