Diospyros dignya (Chocolate pudding fruit, Black Sapote)

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Plant description

The Black sapote or chocolate pudding tree is an evergreen tree which is related to the persimmon, and bears edible fruit. It can grow to 20 metres tall, but should grow to 10 metres in a garden situation. It comes from Mexico and Central America, so is best in tropical and subtropical climates. It has glossy, dense foliage, and is a handsome, symmetrical tree. One tree can bear a lot of fruit, when grown well.

It prefers moist, well drained soil in a warm sheltered postion. It is frost sensitive. It is fast growing once established. It has few pests and diseases. It may be troubled by scale, but this is easily fixed by spraying with white oil.

The fruit is around the size of a tomato, is rounded with thin olive green skin, and has brown-black pulp when ripe. The pulp is sweet and rather bland. It is nice when mixed with cream or ice cream. The fruit is harvested in spring to mid summer, when the calyx turns slightly upward and the skin turns yellowish-green. When they are picked, the fruit is hard, and they are then left to ripen. The fruit should be tested daily, and is ready when soft. The skin breaks easily when ripe. It ripens in 3-6 days after picking, if the fruit is mature. Unripe fruit is not edible. 

Additional plant information

Flowers

Flower colour: White
Flowering season: spring

Plant size

Maximum height: 12 metres
Minimum height: 6 metres

Maximum width: not specified
Minimum width: not specified

Sunlight, frost & salt tolerance

This plant will tolerate full sunlight.
Light frost tolerance.
Plant is not salt tolerant.

Fauna attracting?

Not specified.

Climate

This plant species will grow in the following climates: subtropical, tropical.

Soil types & conditions

Loam: moist, well-drained.

Clay: moist, well-drained.

Sand: moist, well-drained.

Pests

Scale

Miscellaneous information

Planting season: Any.

Types of fertiliser: Good general purpose fertiliser applied in spring.

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