how to prune cherimoya tree

How do you care for a cherimoya tree?

Cherimoyas need sun combined with cool marine nighttime air. They do well in an array of soil types but thrive in well-draining, medium-grade soil with moderate fertility and a pH of 6.5-7.6. Water the tree deeply biweekly during the growing season and then stop watering when the tree goes dormant.

How long does it take for a cherimoya tree to bear fruit?

Cherimoyas ripen in 5 to 8 months after pollination changing in color from a darker to a light green or greenish tan, 3 to 8 inch ovoid weighing 1/2 to 6 lbs. In California fruit ripens from November to June. Other members of the family that are grown for their fruit are: Sugar apple or custard apple (Annona squamosa)

When should Atemoya trees be pruned?

From the third or fourth year from planting the goal should be to prune about 6 to 8 inches from the new growth. This pruning should be done in the spring prior to bloom. If there is excessive growth during the summer, a light fall pruning may be necessary. However, heavy cropping will retard vegetative growth.

When should you not prune fruit trees?

That means it will be easy to see your tree's structure and to decide which cuts to make. And yet, some orchardists avoid fruit tree pruning in the early winter. This is because in the early winter, branch growth is minimal, and the tree cannot heal the wounds caused by pruning cuts.

How big does a cherimoya tree get?

The tree grows up to 9 metres (30 feet) tall but in cultivation is kept pruned to about 5 metres (16 feet) to permit hand pollination of the 2.5-centimetre (1-inch), fleshy, white, fragrant flowers. Cherimoya trees have long, elliptically shaped, light green, velvety leaves.

How do you know when to pick cherimoya?

A ripe cherimoya will give slightly to a gentle squeeze much like a peach. Cherimoyas are usually picked before they are fully ripe. Avoid fruit with brown splotches or a fermented aroma. The skin of over-ripe fruit will start to blacken.

How poisonous is cherimoya?

Cherimoya seeds are poisonous if crushed open. Like other members of the family Annonaceae, the entire plant contains small amounts of neurotoxic acetogenins, such as annonacin, which appear to be linked to atypical parkinsonism in Guadeloupe. Moreover, an extract of the bark can induce paralysis if injected.

Is Atemoya self pollinating?

Atemoya flowers are unattractive to many insects and do not self-pollinate. ... To hand pollinate, simply collect pollen from male-stage flowers and brush/dust the pollen onto the stigma (Figure 1) of a flower in the female stage.

How do you fertilize a cherimoya tree?

Fertilization: Cherimoyas should be fertilized on a regular basis. Apply a balanced fertilizer, such as 8-8-8 NPK, in midwinter, then every three months. Increase the amount of fertilizer each year until the trees begin to bear fruit.

What is the difference between Atemoya and cherimoya?

The atemoya is a hybrid of the cherimoya and sugar apple. Fruits produced by an atemoya tree are smaller than the cherimoya with skin that is spiky and warty; the cherimoya has scale-like skin, closer in appearance to a sugar apple. While a cherimoya can be grown from seed, an atemoya can only be grafted.

What does Atemoya taste like?

It is very juicy and smooth, tasting slightly sweet and a little tart, reminiscent of a piña colada. The taste also resembles vanilla from its sugar-apple parent. Many inedible, toxic, black seeds are found throughout the flesh of the atemoya. When ripe, the fruit can be scooped out of the shell and eaten chilled.

Can heavy pruning kill a tree?

Over pruning reduces the foliage that's available for making food for the rest of the plant and can allow pests and diseases access to the tree, if cuts are made incorrectly. ... So, although pruning may not kill your plant directly, over pruned trees and shrubs can die as a long term result of the associated stress.

How do you prune an overgrown fruit tree?

Instructions

Remove Bad Branches. Start pruning by removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches. ...
Remove Suckers. Plants are pruned to encourage more growth, but not all growth is welcome. ...
Remove Low Branches. ...
Remove Problem Branches. ...
Shorten or Remove Competing Branches. ...
Clear Out the Clutter. ...
Inspect the Tree.

What happens if you prune a tree at the wrong time?

During summer's heat, having to produce that ill-timed new flush of growth greatly stresses a tree. Pruning in the fall is even worse as it prevents the tree from going into a natural dormancy. The exception is heavily damaged, disease or dead wood. Those beat-up branches can — and should — be removed at any time.

What is the season for cherimoya?

But the cherimoya, also known as a “custard apple,” is prized for its velvety texture and sweet flavor, with notes of banana, papaya and pineapple. The season for the tropical fruit, first planted in California in 1871, generally ranges from November through late spring.

How much does a cherimoya cost?

Its yellowish, pale-green skin is distinguished by a uniquely faceted, scale-like appearance. Considering that a single cherimoya generally weighs anywhere from one-half to three pounds or more--and cost $3 to $7 per pound--the fruit may be destined to remain a specialty no matter how unique its taste.

Can cherimoya seeds kill you?

The cherimoya fruit skin and its crushed seeds are toxic; ingestion of either is discouraged except by those well familiar with their medicinal qualities. ... The pulverized seeds are also used to kill lice and treat parasitic skin problems. The skin can also be brewed into a tea for treatment of pneumonia.

Can you eat cherimoya raw?

Cherimoya can be eaten raw (without the seeds) or cooked into sweet and savory recipes alike.

How do I know if my cherimoya is bad?

Please note that browning of the fruit is not indicative of a bad fruit. It means the fruit is ripe and ready for you to enjoy! Think of an avocado - they get soft very quickly, especially when you leave them out on the counter. If the cherimoya feels soft, this is the best indicator that you should eat it.

What good is cherimoya?

Cherimoya provides vitamins, minerals, and fiber that are important in a balanced diet. It also contains antioxidants that help prevent illnesses like cancer. The carotenoids, flavonoids, and vitamin C in cherimoya support health and wellness in various ways.