What Is a Cherimoya Tree:
This exotic fruit tree is a tropical plant but can be grown in USDA zone 10, 11, and sometimes even zone 9. Cherimoyas originated from Peru. This fruit is also known as the custard apple or the mountain custard.
Where To Buy:
Cherimoya tree Care & Maintenance:
Cherimoya trees grow best in rich, well-drained soil high in organic matter. They like the full sun; however, they can tolerate partial shade. Cherimoya plants start off as small shrubs and then grow into tall trees. The leaves are large and dark green, with spiny teeth along the edges of each leaf.
Each tree produces a lot of fruit and will produce for many years. Cherimoyas only need to be fertilized once or twice a year when new growth begins in late spring or early summer. It is important to keep the roots dry during the growing season, but do not let them become too dry during the winter months when the plant is dormant.
Light Requirements:
Cherimoyas like a lot of light; if you can’t give them that, at least six hours per day, try moving the plant to a sunnier location for best results. Lack of light will produce small, sour fruit. Too much light can also cause problems: its leaves will burn and may drop off in large numbers.
The fruit needs about ten or more hours of sunlight each day to ripen properly.
If your cherimoya is not getting enough sunlight, it will be hard to tell when they are ready to eat because the skin will still be green and unripe looking even though they have turned soft inside.
You might just miss out on all that deliciousness! If your plant gets too much light, it may drop many of its leaves.
Water Requirements:
Like most plants, cherimoyas like to stay slightly moist but not too wet. When the soil is dry, the leaves droop and will turn brown if they get too much sun.
Cherimoya trees need watering once or twice a week in summer and every 5 to 7 days during winter.
You want to keep water off of the trunk so that it doesn’t rot; instead, water around the perimeter of their canopy or drip-irrigate them. Make sure you are providing enough drainage for your cherimoya tree by adding about 3 inches of organic mulch or pebbles so that there is room for excess water to drain away from the roots.
Soil Requirements:
Cherimoya trees grow best in rich, well-drained soil high in organic matter. They like the full sun; however, they can tolerate partial shade. Cherimoya plants start off as small shrubs and then grow into tall trees.
You want your cherimoya to be able to keep their roots cool and not get waterlogged or too dry.
They don’t do well if their roots are constantly being disturbed from digging and it is preferable to plant them where they will stay put for a while.
Temperature and Humidity Requirements:
Cherimoyas are subtropical plants and do not do well in extremely hot, dry weather. They need a constant temperature of about 60 to 75 F with night temperatures 10 degrees cooler. Like most tropical plants, cherimoyas hate the cold so make sure you give them plenty of heat if you want to keep them healthy year-round.
When choosing a location for your tree, remember that they prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade as long as there is enough light to produce fruit.
Cherimoya trees are easy to grow outdoors because of their adaptability. Do not forget to plant them in areas with good drainage; otherwise, the roots will rot, and they will die quickly.
Fertilizer & Nutrients:
Cherimoyas have very nutrient-poor soil, so they do need fertilization to thrive. Fertilize them once or twice each growing season with a balanced fertilizer like 12-12-12, when new growth begins in late spring or early summer. A good all-purpose slow-acting fertilizer will also work for about three years before it needs to be reapplied.
You can also use composted manure as a mulch and then spread 1 cup of fish emulsion per year on the ground around the plant or drip feed them with fish emulsion mixed into the water at one tablespoon per gallon.
If you feed your cherimoya during the winter, make sure they don’t get too much nitrogen so that their leaves don’t turn yellow.
Potting and repotting Requirements:
You don’t need to repot cherimoyas yearly because they do not get much larger in one season. If you have a containerized plant that outgrows its soil, move it into a larger pot or add more compost to the planting bed when transplanting it.
Your cherimoya tree will live up to 35 years outdoors but indoor plants usually only survive 3 – 5 years before they start dropping leaves and die due to low light, dry air, and temperatures too hot for them.
Pruning Requirements:
When your cherimoya starts producing fruit on its branches, you can cut off any extra ones that touch the ground. Cherimoyas produce new branches from their trunks as well so if yours comes up with a lot of growth from the base, you can prune that off to keep your tree looking tidy.
Cherimoyas are deciduous and lose their leaves in about 6 months; it is best to prune them while their leaves are still attached since they have fine thorns on them.
Thrips can be a problem for cherimoyas (and other fruit trees) so make sure you get rid of any infected parts as soon as you see them.
Winter Pruning Requirements: If your cherimoya loses its leaves in winter, cutting some branches back will let light into the center of the plant and encourage new fruiting wood to grow. If they stay around 2 feet long
Cherimoya Tree Propagation info:
The easiest way to propagate a cherimoya tree is from seeds. However, they are not easy to find.
You can start cherimoya seeds indoors 8 – 12 weeks before the last frost of spring but be sure they have enough light and keep them warm.
When your cherimoya seedlings get about 6 inches tall, you will want to transplant them into separate pots so that their roots don’t compete for nutrients. After about 2 years in the ground or another container, you should be able to harvest fruit from your tree.
Cherimoyas will also grow from cuttings so if you want several trees planted close together, take a branch with at least two nodes on it and plant it in moist soil.
You can also propagate cherimoyas by air layering which is how commercial growers clone their trees. To do this, simply select a branch with at least two nodes on it and wait for one of them to break off from the parent plant.
Now rub your hands together to create friction then fold that part of the branch over itself as close to its base as you can get it (you should not be able to see any green underneath). Tape the folded node down securely and keep giving it water until new roots form in about three months.
When taking cuttings or layering branches, remember that most plants need fresh growing medium every year, especially if they have been stored dry for long periods. You will want
Cherimoya Tree Problems:
Cherimoyas are susceptible to many of the same problems as other fruit trees, especially pests and diseases. One common problem is root rot from overwatering while another is mealybugs on the stems and trunk.
If you notice your cherimoya leaves starting to yellow, cut off dead branches and prune lightly to allow for better air circulation.
Deer will eat cherimoyas so fences or scare tactics may be necessary if they are a problem in your area.
Trees that have been exposed to too much nitrogen (fertilizers), dry soil, or cold temperatures can suffer from slow growth or stunted development which could result in smaller than normal fruit production over time. To combat this, try to keep your cherimoya tree moist well into its fruiting season and avoid fertilizing it with nitrogen.
If you allow ants to come in contact with the sticky juice on a cherimoya; they will spread any insect eggs or diseases that were already on the leaf and infect other parts of the plant. To prevent this, always wear gloves when handling your fruit tree so you don’t accidentally rub off any unwanted insects or pathogens.
Finally, there is some debate as to whether cherimoyas need any fertilizer at all but if yours does seem halfhearted about producing fruit or has been exposed to harsh weather conditions, fertilizer may encourage new growth and help your tree produce more flower clusters than usual.
