Mamey sapote on tree and one cut openMamey Sapote

Gardeners who live in South Florida can grow many unusual tropical fruits, including mamey sapote.

The football-shaped fruits can reach eight inches long. Their red flesh has the texture of an avocado, while the flavor is similar to a sweet potato mixed with a dash of almond.

It takes about two years after the trees flower for a single fruit to mature. You can check whether fruits are ready to pick by scratching their surface. If the scratched area shows red, it means they're ready. After picking, leave fruit at room temperature for five to seven days to ripen.

These tropical trees are native to Mexico and South America and can reach thirty to fifty feet tall, so plant them in a warm, protected location where they'll have room to grow.


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