Seed Availability

Seeds are now available at our seed store.

Description

Trees are fast-growing, producing fruit from seed in 3-4 years. Fruits are large, from 4-8" long, and sometimes weighing over 5 pounds. Harvest fruits when skin turns slightly yellow or pale green, or when skin gives a little to touch.

Hardiness

The cherimoya is subtropical and when full-grown can survive to 25F. Young trees are susceptible to frost. Sunset Zones: 21-24, H1, H2; 16-20 (marginal) USDA: 10a-11

Growing Environment

Trees do not like intense heat or desert conditions. 50-100 hours of winter temperatures between 32-55F is usually necessary for fruit production. Cherimoya's prefer a summer temperature of 65-80F, and a winter temperature of 41-65F. In cool climates, branches will defoliate for a few months in winter. Cherimoya's like cool summers and cool nights. Very hot or cold weather, and cold or hot winds can be damaging. Water frequently when the plant is putting out new growth, infrequently when the plant is dormant. Fertilize every three months for best growth. Flowers are formed in small groups at nodes along the branches. A single flower first opens as female, which lasts for 36 hours, followed by a male stage, lasting for another 36 hours. Flowers are almost never pollinated by their own pollen, and without proper pollinators which do not exist outside its native range, cherimoya's can be hand pollinated for good fruit production. Pollen is generally collected from a few male flowers and stored in a small bag while it is used to pollinate female flowers. Pollen cannot be stored for more than a few hours before it loses viability. Flowers bloom from late winter to early summer, followed by fruit which ripen from October to May.

Propagation

Propagation is by seed, grafting, and air layering. Grafting and air-layering are chosen to propagate select cultivars. Seeds with 70F bottom heat may germinate in 1-2 months, but can take up to 4-6 months.

Uses

Almost exclusively eaten fresh, out of hand. The pulp does not store well and the fruit is only available fresh. Seeds are toxic and when crushed can be used as an insecticide.

Native Range

Native to the Andean valleys of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Commercially grown in Australia, South America, Asia, Spain, Italy, and California.

Varieties

Bays - Dates to 1920, James Bays, Ventura, CA. Has medium sized fruits with an excellent flavor showing tones of citrus. Skin somewhat smooth.

El Bumpo - Dates to 1986, Rudy Haluza, Villa Park, CA. Medium to large sized fruits with very soft skin and flesh. Fruits bruise easily. Delicious and sweet flavor, one of the best. Skin has prominent bumps making the fruit look a bit like an atemoya.

McPherson - Medium sized fruits with a rich fruity flavor. Skin is bumpy, soft, with soft flesh. Excellent flavor. Similar to El Bumpo.

Selma - Small to medium sized fruits with mostly white pulp tinted with pink. Notable as it is one of the only cherimoya varieties showing pink color in its pulp.

References

Morton, Julia F. Fruits of Warm Climates. Creative Resources Systems, Inc. 1987. pgs. 65-69.

Additional Pictures

Related Species

Annonaceae
	Annona cacans Araticum Cagao		Annona cherimola Cherimoya
	Annona cherimola x squamosa Atemoya		Annona cornifolia Annona cornifolia
	Annona crassiflora Marolo		Annona diversifolia Ilama
	Annona glabra Pond Apple		Annona montana Mountain Soursop
	Annona muricata Soursop		Annona paludosa Annona paludosa
	Annona purpurea Soncoya		Annona reticulata Custard Apple
	Annona salzmannii Beach Sugar Apple		Annona scleroderma Poshe-te
	Annona senegalensis Wild Custard Apple		Annona sericea Annona sericea
	Annona squamosa Sugar Apple		Anonidium mannii Junglesop
	Asiminia triloba Pawpaw		Cananga odorata Ylang Ylang
	Duguetia lanceolata Pindaiba		Monodora myristica Calabash Nutmeg
	Porcelia macrocarpa Monkey Banana		Rollinia deliciosa Biriba
	Rollinia sylvatica Aractium do Mato		Stelechocarpus burahol Kepel
	Xylopia aromatica Monkey Pepper