Black Sapote (Chocolate Pudding Fruit)- Diospyros nigra

Enticed by chocolate pudding but deterred by the calories, sugar, and artificial flavors? Then you should grow nature's chocolate pudding: Black Sapote. Wait until it gets soft and fully ripe, and the dark brown pulp resembles chocolate pudding in taste and texture. This fruit is a cousin of Persimmon, and there are other varieties of Sapote from the sweet-potato-like Mamey to the caramel, brown sugar sweet Sapodilla. Those are delicious too, but nothing else in nature mimics the sweet chocolate treat so closely as Black Sapote. This fruit is a tropical delight that you'll be hard-pressed to find in a grocery store, so why not grow it in your own backyard? 

Black Sapote is an evergreen tree that can get up to 20 feet in the landscape, but unless you live in a very tropical location, you'll probably want to plant it in a pot so you can easily protect it during any danger of freezing. The added benefit is that container-growing will help maintain it at a manageable height of 6 to 10 feet. Once the fruit matures, pick it but leave on the counter until it gets very ripe and soft. This can take a couple weeks and it may seem like it's rotten, but it just means it's creamy and ready. 

• Average mature height: 6-10 feet in a container and 15-20 feet in the landscape
• Light: Full sun 
• Self-pollinating? Yes
• Soil: Well-drained, allow top inch to dry out slightly 
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-12