Black Sapote (Chocolate Pudding Fruit) - Bernicker
Black Sapote (Diospyros nigra)
Black sapote Bernicker is a prolific producer , a medium to large fruit with few seeds, sweet and creamy and excellent quality.
The black sapote is a fantastic fruit and highly sought after. There's a clue as to the reason for the excitement surrounding black sapote in its nickname, 'chocolate pudding fruit'. The ripe flesh of black sapote certainly does look like chocolate mousse and has virtually the same texture too.
Whilst the flavour is not the same as chocolate mousse some people do note subtle chocolate-like flavours amongst other flavours including honey, date and caramel. We would regard this fruit as medium-sweet to sweet with a subtle delicate flavour.
The skin of the fruit is bright-green turning to olive-green as they mature on the tree and finally very dark green to brown once ripe and ready to eat.
The gloss dark brown flesh of the fruit is soft, loose and buttery. It's like a really soft, slightly-mashed avocado. There are usually a few medium sized seeds in the middle of the fruit. A must have for the Plant Enthusiast.
Disclaimer:
Although some seedlings are not true to type they will still be producing a great tasting fruit in years to come. Black Sapote seedlings are known to produce a great tasting fruit.
Plant Care
- Soil: Prefers well-drained, rich soils with a neutral pH.
- Watering: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, with more frequent watering in hot, dry weather.
- Temperature: Ideal temperatures are between 20°C and 30°C. Needs protection from frost.
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Fertilising: Use a balanced NPK fertilizer like 8-3-9 every three months during the active growth period.
- Pruning: Prune to remove dead or overcrowded branches and to maintain the tree’s shape.
- Mulching: Use organic mulch to conserve soil moisture and provide nutrients as it decomposes.
- Pest Control: Look out for pests such as scale and mites. Treat with eco-friendly options if infestations occur.
- Flowering and Fruiting: Flowers are small and inconspicuous, with fruits maturing to a chocolate pudding-like consistency when fully ripe.
- Potting: Can be grown in containers but requires ample space and frequent feeding to thrive.
- Feeding Regime: Regular application of a balanced NPK fertilizer promotes healthy growth and fruiting.
We ship our plants and garden supplies throughout New Zealand. Due to the increased costs of shipping and packaging, we now apply a minimal delivery charge. After offering free shipping for three consecutive years, we find it necessary to adjust this policy to align with current market conditions. However, we have lowered our prices to help offset this change.
Please note, we do not ship plants or garden supplies internationally from New Zealand. We do export plants and tissue culture materials from our overseas nursery, which requires a minimum order. Please contact us at hello@exoticanz.com to discuss your specific requirements.
Shipping (per plant)
Auckland & Northland: $20
Rest of North Island: $25
South Island: $35
Rural Address: Additional $5
Shipping Garden Supplies
Auckland & Northland: $10
Rest of North Island: $15
South Island: $20
Rural Address: Additional $5
Delivery
- Our plants are available for shipment throughout the year, depending on stock levels. Typical delivery times range from 5 to 7 business days, although they can take up to 10 business days depending on the destination.
- We take extra care in packaging; most of our plants are secured in bespoke inserts and shipped in individual boxes to ensure they arrive undamaged.
- Deliveries are scheduled once a week, typically on Monday. If you place your order over the weekend, we aim to dispatch your plants on the following Monday. This scheduling allows our team to prepare your order thoroughly and ensures the courier has sufficient time to deliver your plants safely, avoiding any unnecessary delays over the weekend.
- All orders are shipped via courier track and trace service (not signature required)
- We cannot deliver to PO Box addresses.
- If you have a rural address, please contact us beforehand to discuss the best delivery options and avoid any potential issues.
Additional Delivery Information
- We dispatch our plants year-round, as most are shipped with soil. During the winter months, we closely monitor weather conditions and may temporarily delay shipments if the weather is particularly severe. Our packing process includes adding insulation when necessary to protect the plants against temperature extremes.
- In summer, we ensure that plants are thoroughly watered before they leave our nursery. Occasionally, we may need to ship plants bare-rooted, particularly when they cannot be comfortably re-potted into smaller packaging for shipping. We will always discuss this with you in advance if your plant needs to be shipped in this manner.
- It's important to note that shipping can be a stressful experience for plants, often due to spending several days in a dark, confined space. While most plants withstand this with little to no stress, some may experience leaf drop. However, they generally recover quickly with some additional care, including proper watering and gradual reintroduction to light after arrival.
