This fruit tree prefers warm areas outside the tropics and requires high humidity during the flowering period. It is sensitive to frost when young but can tolerate temperatures as low as -3°C when mature. It thrives in deep, well-drained soil and can tolerate clay loam. It is moderately drought tolerant but prefers moist conditions. It can withstand some salt spray.
Cherimoya
The cherimoya, scientifically known as Annona cherimola, is a native fruit tree found in the Andean region. It can reach a height of 9 meters and has a variable growth habit. The fruit is green in color and resembles a globe artichoke, with a white flesh that has a flavor described as a cross between pineapple and strawberry. Cherimoya trees require specific conditions to fruit properly, including warm areas outside the tropics and high humidity during the flowering period. Hand pollination is often necessary due to the lack of natural pollinators.
Annona cherimola
Peru
- The cherimoya is also known as the "custard apple" or "ice cream fruit". - It has a creamy and sweet flavor with hints of pineapple and strawberry. - The fruit is rich in vitamins, including vitamin C, and minerals like calcium, iron, and phosphorus. - Cherimoyas are best eaten fresh and can be used in various desserts and smoothies. - The tree requires specific conditions for optimal fruit production, including high humidity during the flowering period. - Hand pollination is often necessary as there are few natural pollinators for cherimoya. - The fruits ripen in autumn and early winter, and they should be picked just before they are fully ripe. - Cherimoya trees can be propagated from seed, grafted, or grown from cuttings. - Some varieties of cherimoya require pollinators, and Annona senegatensis is a recommended pollinator for cherimoya.
- Deep, fertile, light-textured soil - Well-drained clay loam - Does not thrive on shallow soils
An Andean native, semi - evergreen tree, growing to a height of 9 m, but varies in habit from neat, erect and bushy, to tall and straggly. The cherimoya is said to be the best of several related species, but only fruits under specific conditions. While other species are likely to thrive best in the tropics, the cherimoya does best in warm areas outside the tropics. It also needs high humidity during the flowering period in order for the fruit to set properly. Young trees are susceptible to frost damage, but older trees are frost tolerant to about - 3°C. Cherimoyas do best in a deep, fertile, light - textured soil, but will also grow in a clay loam, as long as it is well drained. They do not thrive on shallow soils. It is moderately drought tolerant although prefers to be kept moist, and will withstand some salt spray
There are few natural pollinators for cherimoya and as the male and female structures on each flower do not coincide, hand pollination is common to ensure crops.
The fruit are green in colour, variable in size, and at first sight resemble a globe artichoke, although the scales are not separate but massed. The flesh is white, and the flavour is consid-ered to be a cross between a pineapple and a strawberry. The seeds are numerous, black and brown. The fruits ripen in autumn and early winter and are best eaten fresh. The first crop of fruit is borne at around 3 years old for grafted trees, 4 years for seedling trees. The fruits mature at different times on the tree, and are best picked just before they are fully ripe.
Nutritional composition of the cherimoya per 100 grams of edible portion is: Water - 73,5%, Energy - 94 calories, Carbohydrate - 24.0 g, Fat - 0.4 g, Protein - 1.3 g, Ash - 0.8 g, Calcium -23 mg, Iron - 0.5 mg, Phosphorous - 40 mg, Chlorine - 274 mg, Sulphur - 167 mg, Vitamin A -10 I.U., Thiamin - 0.10 mg, Riboflavin - 0.11 mg, Niacin - 1.3 mg, Ascorbic acid - 9 mgs.
Cherimoyas can be propagated from seed, grafted or grown from cuttings. Seedling plants are variable, so it is wise to buy grafted trees. Some varieties need pollinators. Annona senegatensis is said to be a good pollinator for cherimoya.