Annona cherimola
Cherimoya
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Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) - Description
Annona cherimola, originally called Chirimuya by the Inca people who lived where it was growing in the Andes of South America, is an edible fruit-bearing species of the genus Annona from the family Annonaceae. It is now widely cultivated mostly for its sweet fruits that share the name Custard-apple with others in its family. Other English common names include cherimoya, chirimoyo, momona, kelemoio.
Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) - Blooming
Blooms fragrant flowers either solitarily or in clusters of 2-3. The flowers alternate between a female and male stage during their two day life span. First, the flowers are females for ~36 hours before they turn into male flowers. There are no natural pollinators of cherimoyas in California, so the flowers have to be pollinated by hand. In the early evening, collect the tan colored anthers and white pollen from the male flowers in a bottle using a artists brush (#2 or #3 works fine). Immediately after, apply the pollen, using a small brush, onto flowers in the female stage. If no flowers in the female stage are available, store the pollen in a sealed container overnight in a refrigerator. However, keep in mind that the viability of pollen decreases with time, so really the best time to pollinate is right after collection.
Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) - Growth
Fast-growing trees, with a preference for sunny, coastal areas with cool nights. In southern California, don't plant cherimoyas against a wall or hillside that is exposed to a great amount of heat. This will cause the leaves and fruit to experience sun burn which is deterimental to plant success. Cherimoyas also need protection from strong winds, which may interfere with pollination and fruit production. Young Annona are extremeley frost sensitive. Frost protection can be achieved by covering the entire tree, or wrapping the trunk and scaffold with sponge foam. Mature trees will tolerate light frost.
Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) - Planting
Propagate from the seed. With about 70F bottom heat, the seeds will germinate in 21 days, although with other conditions germination can take up to 40 days. Grafting is also popularly used to propagate cherimoyas. Conduct grafting from January through May for the most success.
Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) - Pest
The main pests of cherimoyas are mealybugs and snails. Control snails by applying copper strips to the trunks. Mealybugs are brought onto the trees by the presence of ants. Damage from mealybugs can be prevented by placing masking tape around the trunk and skirting the tree to deter ant infestation. Currently, no chemicals are registered that are safe to use on cherimoyas.
Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) - Interesting facts
Cherimoyas (A. cherimola) have a complex, tropical flavor. Mark Twain is quoted as saying that Cherimoyas are "the most delicious fruit known to men".
Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) - Soil and irrigation
Annona does best in medium soil that is well drained with moderate fertility. The optimum pH range is 6.5-7.6. Water freely during the growing season, not at all when dormant. Refrain from overwatering, as root rot commonly occurs in wet, soggy soils. oid using poor water, as salt buildup may occur. Cherimoyas are not drough tolerant.
