Atemoya tree grow and care – tree of the genus Annona, and also known as Annona atemoya, is a cross hybrid of Sugar apple and Cherimoya, Atemoya evergreen perennial but in a cold weather become deciduous, can growing in tropics, mediterranean or subtropical climate and growing in hardiness zone 10b+ and with the right care can grow in hardiness zone 9b-10a.
Leaves color green in oval shape.
Flower small green-yellowish, separate times on the same tree female and male flower, the flowers are protogyny at first female and after becomes a male flower, female stage and the male stage afternoon, day after day.
Atemoya tree edible fruits
Fruit skin has dandruff skin the dandruff sticking out the color of the skin green-yellow and the inner color is white-yellow, Geffner atemoya fruits are popular
Two trees for increase the chance of pollination, rich soil, mulch
How to care: Two trees for increase the chance of pollination grow the trees, prune once a year, fertilize 4 time a year (when the tree is young more nitrogen), cover the soil in mulch, add humus and organic matter.
What is the best way to start growing? Plant / Cutting conditions / Air layering / Seeds (explanation bellow)
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? Yes, it’s not hard to start by seeds but better grafted tree can be ensure the quality of the fruits like: taste, amount of seeds, size of the fruits, less years to bear fruits, and longer season, also possible to graft to different cultivars on the same tree also another option to graft two different species of Annona trees
Difficulties/Problems with growing: Low amount of fruit caused by the difference blooming hours between flower for male and female trees
Planting season: Spring in hardiness zone 10a, spring to summer in hardiness zone 10b, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 11a, all year in hardiness zone 11b+
How to plant: Dig hole bigger 50% more than the roots ball, add to the hole, organic matter, dead leaves and hummus put back some soil and mix it, after this put the tree cover lightly but strong enough that won’t fall put support for the tree if needed, if the tree is not stable consider to prune, water it twice in the first day and every day for two weeks.
Pruning season: Winter and also possible to prune after the fruits
How to prune: Cut the outer branch, make the branches grow into each other in high density, when grow to cultivars or species better to let them grow into each other it’s increase the amount of fruits, when takes leaves by hand for the base, might grow stem in this location so it’s something to consider.
Size of the plant: 3-8 m, 10-24 feet
Growth speed in optimal condition: Medium growing / fast growing and in the tropical grow or with enough fertilizer will grow faster
Water requirement: Average amount of water to big amount of water, better to increase the amount of water in the fruits season
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun (better in full sun the tree will yield more fruits) / Half Shade
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No
Growing is also possible in a planter, flowerpot or containers: Need to keep the tree small to grow it as shrub or as bonsai, consider to graft two cultivars on the same tree, the container need to be 20% bigger than the root ball until the plant arrive to the right container, wouldn’t recommend to start from big container on small tree in this method it’s care for the viability of the soil, grow with the tree will be the best method, every few years to switch the soil with big container there is no need to switch all just switch part and cut some of the roots ball (can switch from the side and the top, fertilizer four time a year, making enough holes in the container for good drainage also choosing soil for container important an option it’s to use peat soil, perlite and organic matter, need to add hummus few time a year, water it regularly and when put bottom for the pot be aware not to let the water sit there more than one day and do not over water it’s destroy the soil and the roots.
Blooming information
Bloom season: Spring / Summer
General information about the flower Small green-yellowish flower, separate times on the same tree female and male flower, the flowers are protogyny at first female and after becomes a male flower, female stage and the male stage afternoon, day after day.
Thinning the bloom: First two years
Pollination is done by: Beetles, Bees, hand-pollinate
How to pollinate: Pollination by hand performed by collecting the male pollen by cotton swabs and pollinating the female flowers. Gathering flowers in a male form (make sure that the flowers from weak area or not next to female flower). Keep flowers in a dark place, high humidity, preferably in a cool and ventilated place. If the flower pollen has been taken out, the male flower not useful.
Tree not fruiting: Common problem, few way to solve it: pollinate by hand, grow two different cultivars increase the chance to get fruits, trough dead fruits and vegetable that attract beetles like peel of watermelon and melon
Edible Fruit
Fruit harvest season: Summer / Autumn
Fruits pests or diseases: Birds, aphids
What can be done with big quantities of Atemoya fruits? Eaten raw, juice, cakes, jam
Work requirements on the fruit: Increase Irrigation, possible to put net under the tree to collect the fruits
How long does it take to bear fruit? 2-4 years
Ripening of fruit Recommend to collect the fruit little bit before ready
How to eat: Eat the white pulp and take the seeds out
Cultivars
Atemoya african pride– Big sweet fruits without a lot of seeds
Geffner atemoya tree – One of the most popular cultivar, sweet fruits without a lot of seeds
Lisa Atemoya – Pink fruits mostly just the peal the inner part white and sweet
Red Atemoya – red peal with mostly white and little pink-red in the fruits in the pare that touch the peal
How to grow Atemoya tree from seed
Sowing requirement: Soak the seeds for 12-24 hours, better in peat soil with vermiculite possible in other soils, take care that the soil will be well ventilated (better result), sunny location, high humidity, temperature of 24-28C (75-83F)
Saving seeds until sowing: Dry and dark location, keep it room temperature
Sowing season: Spring will be better for the tree but possible in summer, and in hardiness zone 12+ possible all year
How to plant: Plant in soil that will keep the water and don’t let it dry, full sun
Planting spacing: Better in different pots – because need to graft it after and some won’t establish, better to choose the best to transplant to the real location
Depth of Sowing: 3-5cm, (~1-2inches)
Conditions for seeds germinate: Moist soil, sunny location, water regularly and don’t let it dry
Watering requires for Seeds: Average amount of water
Germination time: 2-4 weeks
Condition of seedling: Sunny location, humidity and moist soil
