Custard apple tree

How to grow custard apple tree – growing and care information:

Two trees for increase the chance of pollination, rich soil, mulch

How to take care of custard apple tree:
Two trees for increase the chance of pollination, 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, water regular

What is the way to start growing Annona reticulata:
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.

Pests and diseases:
Aphids, borer, scales, leafhopper, mealy bugs, mites, whiteflies

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.

Custard apple tree size:
2-6m, (6-20 feet) but recommend keeping it small

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

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

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a planter, flowerpot or containers:
Yes

Growing in container:
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

When does flowers bloom?
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.

Thinning / Deadheading of Custard apple tree Blossom:
First two years

Pollination is done by:
Beetles, Bees, hand-pollinate

Tree not fruiting:
Well-known common problem, few way to solve it: pollinate by hand, grow two different cultivars increase the chance to grow fruits

How to pollinate by hand:
Pollination 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.

How to increase the amount of pollinators

, trough dead fruits and vegetable that attract beetles like peel of watermelon and melon

Edible Fruits

When does it yield:
Summer / Autumn

Pests or diseases in Custard apple fruit:
Birds, aphids

What can be done with big quantities of Custard apple fruit?
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 for a custard apple tree to bear fruit?
2-4 years

Ripening of fruit:
Recommend to collect the fruit little bit before ready

How to grow Custard apple 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

Scientific name:

Annona reticulata