Light. Plant in full sun, 20–30 ft from other trees, buildings and power lines.
Water. Water every other day for the first 4–6 weeks. After that, give about 1 inch once or twice a week when rain is short, less from November through February.
Soil and feeding. It grows in well-drained clay, limestone or sand, but not in wet or flood-prone spots. Feed young trees from mid-March to October with a granular fruit-tree fertilizer such as Citrus and Fruit Tree Fertilizer.
Size. Grows to about 25 ft; unpruned trees can reach 40 ft. Regular pruning keeps it at 12–15 ft.
Pruning. Keep one strong leader and remove narrow V-shaped branches that can split under fruit. Cut out dead wood yearly in warm months.
Problems to watch. Soggy soil leads to root rot, with wilting, yellowing and leaf drop.
Good to know. Young trees are damaged below 32°F. Fruit is mature when a scratch on the skin shows pinkish-brown, orange or red instead of green.
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS FC30/MG331: Mamey Sapote Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
