Chikoo / Sapota (Banana, Grafted) Fruit Plant

Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota), popularly known as Chikoo or Sapota, is a long-lived tropical evergreen fruit tree native to Southern Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. It is widely cultivated across tropical regions for its sweet, nutritious fruits, attractive foliage, and excellent productivity.

In its natural habitat, Sapodilla can grow over 30 meters tall with a strong trunk, while cultivated and grafted varieties generally reach 9–15 meters, making them ideal for home gardens and orchards. The tree develops a dense, rounded canopy with glossy, medium-green leaves, adding ornamental beauty to any landscape.

The fruits are round to oval berries, measuring 4–8 cm in diameter. They contain soft, grainy flesh ranging from pale yellow to earthy brown, with a rich, sweet, malty flavor often compared to brown sugar and ripe pear. Each fruit contains 1–6 glossy black seeds. Unripe fruits contain natural latex and should be allowed to ripen fully before consumption for the best taste and texture.

Benefits of Sapodilla

• Produces sweet, delicious fruits rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and natural antioxidants.

• Ideal for fresh consumption as well as milkshakes, smoothies, desserts, jams, and ice creams.

• Naturally rich in nutrients that support a healthy and balanced diet.

• A long-living, evergreen fruit tree with excellent annual productivity.

Plant Care & Fertilizing

Sapodilla grows best in warm, frost-free tropical climates with fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

• Apply well-decomposed farmyard manure annually to improve soil fertility.

• Feed the tree with a balanced NPK fertilizer based on its age and soil nutrient status.

• Under rainfed conditions, fertilizers are best applied before the onset of the monsoon.

• In irrigated conditions, apply fertilizers in two split doses—one before the monsoon and the second during the post-monsoon season (September–October).

• Regular watering during dry periods encourages healthy growth and improves fruit production.

Harvesting

Sapodilla trees generally begin bearing fruits from the fifth year after planting. Mature fruits are harvested by hand or using a fruit picker fitted with a collection bag. Fruits are ready for harvest when the skin turns light brown, the milky latex reduces, and they can be easily detached from the tree. Under good management, healthy trees produce consistent and abundant yields year after year.

Why Choose Sapodilla?

• Premium tropical fruit with a rich, naturally sweet flavor.

• Long-living evergreen tree with excellent fruit production.

• Attractive ornamental foliage suitable for home gardens.

• Nutritious fruits rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.

• Thrives exceptionally well in Kerala's warm and humid tropical climate.

• Perfect for home gardens, orchards, and commercial cultivation.