Description
The fruit of the Mamey Sapote Tree is actually a giant tropical berry. The trees are long-lived, easy to grow, and can produce hundreds of fruits each year. Not only are the Mamey Sapote Trees durable high producers, but the fruit is considered a delicacy. When ripe, the large 1 to 5 pound football-shaped fruits have beautiful orange and cream colored flesh that looks like a sunset when the fruit is sliced in half, and tastes like a creamy tropical fruit pudding.
Mamey Trees grow to heights of 25-feet and widths of between 20 and 25-feet. They have elongated green leaves that resemble mango tree leaves, but they are more heavily ribbed on their undersides. They can be grown in the ground within USDA Zones 9 to 11, or in pots in Zones 4 to 11. Mamey is the National Fruit of Cuba, and the tropical trees are considered endangered in the US, so growing one or two can even help preserve this treasured gourmet fruit producer.
Mamey Tree Care
Mamey Trees can live for up to 100 years and, once in the ground for a year or two, are capable of producing fruit the entire time. They also resent being transplanted after they begin producing fruit. This combination of longevity and lack of mobility makes the planting decision an important one. Choose a spot where the Mamey Tree has at least 20-feet of growing room on all sides. Do not plant directly under power or utility lines, and be sure the soil drains well.
Mamey Sapote Trees do well in much the same conditions as other tropical fruit trees such as mangoes, avocados, and citrus. All need rich but well drained soil, full sun, and protection from strong winds. They also all require similar watering and fertilization to produce the most fruit. If you have thriving citrus, mangoes, or avocados, then you can easily grow a Mamey Tree with them. Give them room to grow, plenty of water, and be ready to pick large crops of delicious Mamey.
Mamey Fruit Harvesting
A grafted Mamey Tree growing in a suitable location with good care will usually begin producing fruit within 3 to 5 years in the ground. The trees bloom at various times of year depending on conditions, and the fruits mature and ripen over 13 to 24 months. Harvest when the fruits are at least one year old after blooming. Lightly scratch the fruit’s skin. If the scratch reveals the fruit to be green, it is not ready. If the scratch shows orange underneath, it can be picked. Once picked, the Mamey Fruit will slowly soften until it is ready to eat. Check for firmness each day. The light brown, slightly rough-skinned fruits will go from being very hard to yielding to a gentle squeeze. When this happens, wait one day and cut open the fruit.
A perfectly ripe Mamey is one of the most delicious fruit tasting experiences known. The creamy, red and cream colored flesh has the consitency of dense custard, and the flavor is a blend of vanilla, apricot, honey, and nutmeg. The flesh surrounds a single, large, glossy black seed that is never eaten raw. In the Caribbean the fruit is blended into a shake by combining ripe Mamey with ice, sugar cane juice, and cream. The fruit is eaten fresh, in salads, frozen into fruit bars, and made into pies, cakes, and many baked goods.
Advice
Fertilize Mamey Trees twice per year in the spring and fall. Always water fertilizer in well. Mamey Sapote Trees also benefit from thick mulch. Mulch Mamey Trees with 4 to 6 inches of raked leaves, shredded tree bark, woodchips, or banana leaves. Layering banana leaves with compost is a great way to provide slow-release nutrition to your Mamey Trees between fertilizing.
Since Mamey Trees take such a long time to bring their large fruits to maturity, it is impractical to prune them once a year. Wait to prune mamey Trees until the last of the current crop has fallen or been harvested to avoid cutting off mature fruits. Prune into an upright broom shape and prune any lower limbs so they do not touch the ground. Remove all pruned material from the tree base, and do not fertilize again until new growth appears.
