Alano is a sweet, high-quality sapodilla (níspero) with smooth, brown-sugar flavored flesh. (Manilkara zapota 'Alano')
Shop this plant: Alano Sapodilla Tree – 3 Gal
Quick Care Summary
- Sun: Full sun, at least 6-8 hours a day, for the best flowering and fruit.
- Soil: Well-drained soil is essential.
- Watering: Water new trees 2-3 times a week, then weekly.
Sun
Full sun, at least 6-8 hours a day, for the best flowering and fruit.
Soil
Well-drained soil is essential. South Florida's sandy and limestone soils work well if water never stands; plant on a slight mound in low areas and mix in compost at planting.
Watering
Water new trees 2-3 times a week, then weekly. Established sapodillas are drought and salt tolerant.
Fertilizer Schedule for South Florida
Young trees: a balanced fertilizer with minor elements (such as 6-6-6 or 8-3-9) every 6-8 weeks from March through September, starting small and increasing as the tree grows. Mature trees: 2-3 applications a year (spring, early summer, late summer). Skip fertilizer from November through February. On alkaline South Florida soil, add chelated iron and manganese if new leaves are pale with green veins.
Pruning
Prune lightly after harvest to shape the tree, remove dead and crossing branches, and keep it at a pickable height.
Cold Protection
Mature trees handle brief dips to about 28°F; young trees should be covered.
Container vs. In-Ground
Sapodilla grows slowly and can live years in a 20-25 gallon container, but is best in the ground long term.
Spacing
Plant 15-20 ft from other trees and at least 10 ft from buildings.
Flowering and Fruiting Timeline
Grafted trees fruit in 3-4 years. Main crop in late winter to spring.
Harvest
Scratch the skin: when it is tan, not green, underneath, the fruit is mature. Ripen on the counter until soft.
Common Pests and Diseases
Start with organic, low-impact fixes: good airflow, clean-up of fallen fruit and leaves, and soaps or oils before anything stronger. Always follow label directions.
Scale and mealybugs
How to identify: Small bumps or white cottony clusters on stems and leaf undersides, often with sticky honeydew and black sooty mold.
Organic-first treatment: Prune heavily infested twigs, spray horticultural oil or insecticidal soap, and control the ants that farm them.
Fruit flies
How to identify: Small punctures in ripening fruit that turn soft and rot from inside.
Organic-first treatment: Harvest on time, pick up dropped fruit daily, and bag developing fruit with mesh or paper bags.
Sapodilla bud and fruit borers
How to identify: Damaged buds or small holes in fruit.
Organic-first treatment: Pick up and destroy affected fruit and prune infested twigs.
Root rot
How to identify: Wilting despite moist soil, yellowing leaves, dark mushy roots.
Organic-first treatment: Prevention is the cure: plant high in fast-draining soil, never let water stand, and cut back watering in cool months.
FAQ
What does sapodilla taste like? Brown sugar and pear.
Is it self-fruitful? Yes.
Related Reading
- Growing Tropical Fruit Trees Near the Ocean: Salt Spray and Salty Water in South Florida
- Why Too Much Fertilizer Can Hurt Your Fruit Tree More Than None
- Cold-Hardy Fruit Trees for Florida Freezes (and How to Protect Tender Ones)
Ready to grow your own? Get the Alano Sapodilla here.
