{"id":1079,"date":"2023-12-17T10:37:45","date_gmt":"2023-12-17T02:37:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.org.au\/wp\/?page_id=1079"},"modified":"2025-03-16T15:11:33","modified_gmt":"2025-03-16T07:11:33","slug":"casimiroa-edulis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/fruit-trees\/casimiroa-edulis\/","title":{"rendered":"Casimiroa edulis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Casimiroa edulis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Casimiroa, white sapote, Aztec fruit<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-1001\" style=\"width: 100%;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-90-1 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-1001 ml-slider ms-theme-default nav-hidden\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"Slideshow\" aria-label=\"Casimiroa edulis\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_1001\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_1001\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-1003 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"slide-1003\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/casimiroa-tree.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/casimiroa-tree-300x200.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"300\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-1001 slide-1003\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-1002 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"slide-1002\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Casimiroa.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Casimiroa-300x200.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"300\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-1001 slide-1002\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-3645 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"slide-3645\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/white-sapote.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/white-sapote-300x200.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"300\" alt=\"white sapote - green-skinned ripe fruit\" class=\"slider-1001 slide-3645\" title=\"green skin in ripe fruit can make harvest timing a challenge\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Origin<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Native to the central highlands of Mexico and Central America and since distributed to most sub-tropical and cool tropical regions of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Climate<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Prefers cooler tropical areas, 600-3000m elevation, and warm sub-tropical climates. They have some resistance to frost and drought conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plant Description<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Casimiroa grows rapidly into a large long-lived tree, 4-10m high with grey-brown bark, and has an extensive root system which may cause damage if planted near buildings or paths. The alternate, mainly evergreen leaves are compound <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3337 classtoolTips3337'>palmate<\/span> with usually 5 <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3296 classtoolTips3296'>lanceolate<\/span> leaflets, 6-12cm long and 2-5cm wide, smooth or hairy on the underside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Relatives<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>It is a member of the Rutaceae Family and is related to bael, wampi and citrus. There are 5-6 species in the genus <em>Casimiroa<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Soils<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Undemanding if well-drained, even when alkaline and <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3166 classtoolTips3166'>calcareous<\/span>, pH 5.5-7.5. May develop nutrient deficiencies in alkaline soil and will not stand waterlogging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Propagation<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>The quality of the fruits of seedling trees is often not very good, so <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3459 classtoolTips3459'>vegetative<\/span> means are preferred. Seed viability declines within a few weeks of being removed from the fruit. Rootstocks for <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3162 classtoolTips3162'>budding<\/span> and <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3774 classtoolTips3774'>grafting<\/span> are usually vigorously growing seedlings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultivars<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many improved <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3199 classtoolTips3199'>cultivars<\/span> that you may be able to source, including Thomson, Ortega, Golden Gold, Reinikie Commercial, Pike, Suebelle, Lemon Gold, Vista and Hawaiian Supreme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flowering and Pollination<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p><span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3288 classtoolTips3288'>Inflorescences<\/span> are <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3145 classtoolTips3145'>axillary<\/span> or terminal <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3338 classtoolTips3338'>panicles<\/span> consisting of 15-80 small greenish-yellow flowers.  Each has 5 <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3405 classtoolTips3405'>sepals<\/span>, petals and 2-3mm long <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3417 classtoolTips3417'>stamens<\/span> with a 3-5 lobed <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3422 classtoolTips3422'>stigma<\/span>.  Although flowers are perfect, they may be functionally unisexual.  The species is facultatively <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3470 classtoolTips3470'>xenogamous<\/span>, meaning yield will be improved with <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3195 classtoolTips3195'>cross-<span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3363 classtoolTips3363'>pollination<\/span><\/span>.  Generally, <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3457 classtoolTips3457'>varieties<\/span> can be of 3 flowering types  &#8211; (i) producing no fertile <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3361 classtoolTips3361'>pollen<\/span> &amp; having a large <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3783 classtoolTips3783'>ovary<\/span> &amp; yellow stigma,(ii) producing abundant pollen with a greenish stigma &amp; poor fruiting quality, &amp; (iii) little pollen &amp; pink, yellow-pink stigmas with good fruiting properties  &amp; response to hand-pollination.  In sub-tropical climates, flowering occurs in autumn and winter.  Pollination is by bees and other insects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultivation<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Casimiroa should be planted in full sun. If there are drought periods during fruit growth and maturation, then irrigation will be necessary to ensure good yields. Mulching is beneficial. Protect young trees from frost for the first year or two. They are nutrient hungry, so NPK with trace elements should be given regularly in small amounts when young and in increasing amounts as they mature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Wind Tolerance<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Limbs of young trees are brittle: protect by staking and windbreaks. They become stronger as they mature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pruning<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Young trees should be trained to 3-4 main scaffold branches and then periodic tipping will stimulate further branching. Restricted annual pruning thereafter will encourage development of more fruiting laterals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Fruit<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Fruit are spherical or <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3330 classtoolTips3330'>oblate<\/span> <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3219 classtoolTips3219'>drupes<\/span>.  They are borne singly or in clusters and may be up to 11cm long and 6-10cm wide. The thin delicate skin is initially green &amp; then turns greenish-yellow with maturity. Fruit have a delicious, soft, sweet, melt-in-your-mouth pulp with a subtle flavour. The flesh is white to yellowish with many small oil glands &amp; there are 1-6 hard, non-edible seeds. The ripe pulp has a reasonable level of vitamin C and contains 13-20% soluble solids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Fruit Production and Harvesting<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Seedling-grown plants may take several years to fruit, <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3774 classtoolTips3774'>grafted<\/span> plants fruit in half the time. Fruit is usually harvested in spring and summer when skin colour becomes yellowish-green. The skin of the fruit is thin, and ripe fruit bruise easily so they should be clipped off rather than simply pulled off to reduce the chance of stem end rot. It is a <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3184 classtoolTips3184'>climacteric<\/span> fruit and will then ripen in the kitchen over several days. As some mature trees produce up to 500kg of fruit each year, <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3125 classtoolTips3125'>alternate bearing<\/span> may be an unwanted outcome that can be minimised by fruit <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3443 classtoolTips3443'>thinning<\/span> in \u2018on\u2019 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cultivars with thicker skins and firmer flesh, having better handling and keeping qualities have been selected. Mature fruit may be picked while still hard. They will ripen very well with practically no loss in quality compared with tree-ripened fruits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Fruit Uses<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>It is mainly eaten fresh but is also used in various processed forms such as ice creams, preserves, beverages and fruit salads. The fruits can be frozen whole or as pulp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pests and Diseases<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Med fly. Susceptible to some insects that spread sooty mould; control with white oil. Anthracnose and birds can also cause problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Comments<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Trees are tough, hardy and drought resistant. They grow quickly and usually produce prolifically for many years. Most people rate the fruit as delicious. Try to ensure you obtain a cv that is reasonably self-fertile if space is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:120px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Casimiroa edulis Casimiroa, white sapote, Aztec fruit Origin Native to the central highlands of Mexico and Central America and since distributed to most sub-tropical and cool tropical regions of the world. Climate Prefers cooler tropical areas, 600-3000m elevation, and warm sub-tropical climates. They have some resistance to frost and drought conditions. Plant Description Casimiroa grows [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":15,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"iawp_total_views":407,"footnotes":""},"folder":[94],"class_list":["post-1079","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1079"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4547,"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1079\/revisions\/4547"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/folder?post=1079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}