Growing Dessert

We love black sapote (Diospyros nigra) because how can you not love a plant that fits in a tiny space, is at home in a container and produces a healthy fruit that tastes like chocolate? The fruit is low in fat and is a good source of Vitamin C.

Container grown plants: Prune to maintain size or repot as needed
Zone: 8, but often grown indoors, at least in the winter months
Fruit: Green skin, the size of an apple
Foliage: Evergreen, glossy
Height: Mature trees can reach 82 feet, but will produce fruit when under 4 feet tall.
Germination: 30 days
Fruit production: Seed-grown plants require three to four years to produce fruit.

When grown in a 10-inch pot, black sapote can produce five fruits on a single plant that is about 3 feet in height—ideal for patios, balconies and small indoor spaces. Select a site that receives full sun and maintains a minimum temperature of 60 degrees. Fertilize once a month in the spring and summer and keep the soil moist—black sapote does not tolerate drought.

Photo courtesy of Logee's