Rain Forest Gardener

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From Averrhoa bilimbi

Scientific Name: Averrhoa bilimbi. Common name: ‘bilimbi’.

A pretty little fruit tree that is a close relative of the carambola but quite different in appearance, manner of fruiting, flavor and uses. Native to Indonesia.

From Averrhoa bilimbi

The tree is upright and decorative and will usually grow to be 15 to 20 feet high and bear lots of multi-lobed, oblong fruit with a pale green waxy skin. The fruit turns yellow when ripe and has a crunchy but watery textured flesh. The taste is very similar to the starfruit, although the flesh is more acidic.

Easy to grow from seed; the seeds will germinate in 30 to 60 days and the plants will bloom and produce fruit in about three years. Can be used as a container plant.

The plant can be grown in full sun or light shade.

Temperature zones.
USDA: 11-12

Will grow in Southern Florida and Hawaii as long as it has some protection from the wind and cold.

From Mamey sapote

Scientific Name: Pouteria sapota. Common name: ‘Mamey sapote, mamey apple’. This is a very popular fruit in Florida, the Caribbean Islands, and Central America. Native to the seasonally dry forests of Mexico (including Yucatan), Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador.

It has been cultivated by the native people of Central America for hundreds of years. The tree forms a large spreading canopy and the fruits are borne directly on the thick twigs and branches of the canopy and have an oval or football shape. The fruit are brown in color, and its flesh is red to salmon in color.

From Mamey sapote

From Mamey sapote

Widely grown in the tropical regions and the fruit can be eaten fresh, used in cooking, pies, excellent in ice cream. This tree is easy to grow from seeds and can be used as a landscape tree urban environments.

Like most fruit trees, it is mainly propagated by grafting, which ensures that the new plant has the same characteristics as the parent, especially its fruit. It is also considerably faster than growing trees by seed

From Mamey sapote

This is a grafted tree on the farm.

From Mamey sapote

The trees range from 50-150 feet. Usually takes seedlings 10 years or so to fruit. A popular saying in Belize is “You plant a mamey apple tree for your grandchild to enjoy.”

Germination of Sapote seeds usually happens within 2 to 4 weeks after planting. The seeds need to be planted within a month after harvesting. After that time they will not germinate.

Seedlings need to be spaced about 25 to 35 feet apart.

Grafted trees will produce fruit in 1 to 3 years.

A long dry period will result in leaf loss.

Grows in Southern Florida in the USA. It is sensitive to frost.