Fruits > Sapota > Planting

Season of Planting

Planting is normally done at the onset of monsoon.

Spacing

The land should be thoroughly ploughed at 30-45cm depth and levelled. Normally planting is done at a distance of 10mx10m. As the growth of sapota plant is slow it takes a longer period to occupy the allotted space. Therefore, a spacing of 6mx6m is maintained till the canopies meet. Subsequently alternate trees are removed to reduce the plant population.

Pit Digging

3 Pits of 90cm are opened during the summer and exposed to the sun for a period of 2-3 weeks. While opening the pits, the topsoil and subsoil are to be heaped separately. Each pit is filled with topsoil first followed by subsoil mixed with well-decomposed FYM, 1kg Superphosphate and 500g Sulphate of potash. Lindane powder @100g/pit is added to control termites.

Method of Planting

At the time of planting hole just sufficient to accommodate the rootball of the grafted plant should be dug in the centre of the pit. The grafts are planted in the hole in such a way that the graft union remains just above the soil surface. The grafts are staked immediately after planting to protect from strong winds. The young graft is protected from heat by erecting temporary shade covered with grass or plastic sheets. The polythene strip used for securing the graft joint should be removed a month after planting so as to reduce morality of the graft. The new sprouts emerging on the rootstock below the graft joint should also be removed immediately.