White Sapote 'Lemon Gold' at LCG (photo credit: Graham Bond)
White Sapote 'Lemon Gold'
Casimiroa edulis
Grafted
From the citrus family; interestingly, unrelated to the Black Sapote.
This fruit changes from green to light yellow when ripe. The fruit contains large seeds when pollinated which is a good thing as they contain toxins which should not be eaten.
Only eat when perfectly ripe and very soft. Flesh a custard like texture. Flavour from mild to banana-like to peach to pear to vanilla. Generally eaten fresh, but also used in desserts, smoothies or milkshakes, or infused for a calming tea. Very high in sugars and low in acids.
Native to Mexico, and Central America south to Costa Rica.
Tree maintenance
Casimiroa edulis
Grafted
From the citrus family; interestingly, unrelated to the Black Sapote.
This fruit changes from green to light yellow when ripe. The fruit contains large seeds when pollinated which is a good thing as they contain toxins which should not be eaten.
Only eat when perfectly ripe and very soft. Flesh a custard like texture. Flavour from mild to banana-like to peach to pear to vanilla. Generally eaten fresh, but also used in desserts, smoothies or milkshakes, or infused for a calming tea. Very high in sugars and low in acids.
Native to Mexico, and Central America south to Costa Rica.
Tree maintenance
- Pruning - when young, encourage branching by removing flowers and pinching out the terminal bud (the topmost bud). Remove branches that are poorly attached (either too narrow or horizontal). Prune for 2 years and then leave to grow. Once more mature take the top off if too tall - the top branches can shade out the lower branches and it is these branches that we want to bear fruit and are easier to reach and manage.
- Feed with an organic citrus fertiliser in spring and autumn, but not if flowering or setting fruit.
- The tree is drought tolerant but will produce better fruit with regular and deep watering during very prolonged dry periods.
- Mulch - spread to 1.2–1.5 m diameter around the tree, leaving a space between the tree and the mulch.
- Protect new fruit by bagging.
White Sapote 'Lemon Gold' at LCG January 2025 (photo credit: Jacqui Lachmann)
White Sapote 'Lemon Gold' at LCG (photo credit: Graham Bond)
