My story is similar. My sapodilla is a year in the ground and hasn't put on much height. It has added branches and leaves and doubled in width, no signs of blooms/fruit.

After agonizing what fruit tree to plant due to lack of space for trees in general I chose sapodilla because it reminded me of a pear in taste. I have no answers about growth butI'm gonna give it another year.

Denise

How odd! I have 3 different varieties, and all are good growers.

They like full sun, water when they wilt, and get no other care. I have not even fetilized mine. Mine started fruiting at about 3' tall. My biggest one is on Fruit Tree Hill,is nearly 15' tall and at least 10' wide.

I have found them much easier to grow than Avocado, Mango and Lychees. Sapodillas need no spraying or pruning, at least mine don't!

Your tree looks newly planted, not two years old. Why it is not growing is a mystery. Have you called Pine island to ask why? Is it a grafted plant or a seedling?

Lisa

Denise and Lisa - thanks for responding. Denise, it seems your tree has performed about like mine while Lisa, your experience has been much more favorable. Grafted or seedling? I'm not sure but I will ask Pine Island.....Bill

Sounds to me like it may have issues with root development. How good is the ground underneath it? Hard ground? It appears to me like it's stunted. I'd be on the phone/email with PI asking questions.

Hi Billbrandy

My story is similar to yours and Denise. I bought the sapodilla from Excalibur with fruits on it. At least, I put it in a pot. It has not grown much since last year that I got it. And it was protected from the freeze, being in a container it is easy to move to the porch.

Maybe we just have a bad variety, mine was choosed by Excalibur and it is Malik. Now that I know what happens in the ground, I will not plant mine.

Silvia

I believe mine is Malik also.
They said it was one of the better selections and they had a couple different ones to choose from.

We are doing a good detective work Denise! They told me exactly the same thing. I actually had a list that Lisa recommended, and I kept telling him " this is my list" and he said Malik is the best.

At least this is the only "lemon" that I got, all the other fruit trees that I bought there are doing well.

Silvia

OK I went outside to read the label and it's actually "Makok". I remember they also had "Malik". So now we can say both Malik and Mako are sloooooow growers, lol.

Mine came from ECHO in Ft Myers

Denise

I thought mine werent fruiting til I noticed the squirrels interest the tiny berry size fruits were being eaten before they have a chance, I got mine at the St Lucie Plant sale a few years back and have No idea what kind it is. Also have a teeny one from small fern.

Well, the PI folks advised I give it a dose of Miracle Gro along with the citrus fertilizer I have been using. Will give it a try. Perhaps what Moliere said is true:

"The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit."

(But what did a 17th century French actor know about tropical fruit anyhow). Thanks to all for your comments. When I am hip-deep in sapodilla fruit I'll invite all to my party.

billbrandi- your growth seems extra slow to me. I have a Makok variety and it only grows a few inches a year. Bill Whitman actually wrote an article way back when about the Makok Sapodilla and that he found it very easy to keep at 6' or under due to its slow growth.

This is actually the reason why I bought this variety. I believe the Hasya variety grows faster, but is not as good tasting as the makok or alano.

tampaart --- Your tree is still looking very nice.

billbrandi --- In your title you asked for ideas so I am going to say what I would do if it was my tree. BTW, I did plant a young sapodilla tree this spring and it is growing nicely.

I am going to assume that the tree is in full sun. In your pic it looks like you have some kind of rock at the base of the tree. I would remove all of that and some of the dirt. I would top dress with some quality compost (thick layer). Then I would put a 3 (THREE!)inch layer of mulch. Wood chips would be an excellent choice. Be sure not to build up any of these materials on the trunk of the tree. Water regularly. Since you have been giving it a lot of fertilizer I would not add more. The tree will get some from the compost. Best of luck.

Christine

I started this post about a week ago. In it I complained about slow growth and suggested (threatened?) taking the sapodilla out and putting in a mango or avocado. I checked on the tree this weekend and, lo and behold, there was new growth from several branches, more growth than I have seen in a year. I am not a believer in talking to plants but can they read internet messages?

My Sapodillas started growing when I stopped watering them 😂