I bought a Chico Sapote (AKA Chico Sapodilla) tree from a well reputed local nursery a couple days ago. These trees grow very slowly, so $250 for a 15 gallon is the going rate I have seen around here. It did not look very big, but it was in the shade. I grew my yearling figs in partial shade last year. They were very healthy, but probably not as big as if they had been grown in full sun. However, the root balls completely filled the 3 1/2 gallon containers within six months of being potted up from 1 gallon.
When I removed my Chico Sapote from the 15 gallon container, all of the soil poured out like dry sand, as if it had just been poured in the pot last week and had not even had a chance to cake together yet. What I was left holding in my hand was a very thin trunk attached to a pathetically small root ball. It was obviously recently transplanted, not from a 5 gallon container, but from a 3 1/2 gallon container, and the root ball was not even close to filling up that little container before they decided to drop it into the 15 gallon tub. I suddenly realized I had just paid $250 for a 3 gallon tree and 12 gallons of dirt.
I am not well experienced at buying trees. Perhaps this is common practice and I should be happy with my purchase. It's just that I know that the nursery down the road has Chico Sapote in 15 gallon pots with double the girth and the roots are already poking out the bottom. So, I know I could have gotten more for my money.
The nursery is run by the owner and a few workers. Small private operation dealing with a lot of hard to find fruit trees. I would like to stay on good terms with the owner. Would it be rude of me to bring this up with him? I mean, imagine if Jon sent me cuttings and I called him up and complained that there were no roots or leaves. I don't want to complain about something that is par for the course. I already put the tree in the ground, but I took pictures of the little 3 gallon root cylinder next to the giant 15 gallon container. I was thinking about going back to the nursery and showing him and seeing if he would cut me a better deal on my next purchase.
Thanks in advance for your views and opinions.