How To Grow Custard Apple in Container

The fruit is very sweet and delicious that can gives you a range of health benefits. Custard apple is an good source of vitamin C (anti-oxidants) , fiber, vitamin A, B2, B3, B5, B6, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Potassium and magnesium protect our heart and control blood pressure. Custard apple is safe to eat in pregnancy also.

Custard Apple, Cherimoya Varieties

There are some custard apple fruits which are small in size and contain lots of seeds with little to eat. On the other hand, there are some custard apple varieties, which produce large fruits with only 5-7 seeds and all flesh to enjoy.

There are two main varieties of custard apples; both are sweet, juicy and flavored [1]. Just cut them in half and scoop the flesh out with a spoon and enjoy.

1. Pink Mammoth (also known as Hilary White): The fruits are very large (up to 3kg) of high quality and have very less seeds, almost seed-less. This is the most popular variety for commercial production of custard apple.
2. African Pride: The fruits are smaller (500 - 800 g) and have more seeds than the Pinks Mammoth. They begin to produce fruits earlier. It is prone to skin blackening and other fruit problems.
3. The Australian custard apple is hybrid between sugar apple (Annona squamosa) and the cherimoya (Annona cherimola).
4. The variety Tropic Sun is a small tree suitable for home garden with excellent fruit.

How to Take Care of Custard Apple Tree

Caring a custard apple or sugar apple tree is not difficult, whether you have grown it from seed (how to grow custard apple from seeds) or a cutting. Read below the details on how to grow custard apple in a pot or garden beds. 

Position : Where to Plant Custard Apple Tree

1. Growing of custard apple is highly dependent on climatic conditions of temperature and humidity [4].
2. Plant in a warm, wind-free, frost-free and high humid side of the garden.
3. At temperatures above 28°C, the custard apple tree will produce more growth and fewer fruits, while at prolonged temperatures below about 13°C during the fruit growth, the fruit may develop skin discoloration and splitting.
4. Avoid dry areas where relative humidity during fruit set may go below 70%.
5. Frost can kill young and fruit bearing trees. It is not possible to grow custard tree indoors.
6. If growing your custard apple in a pot, then you can move the pot in sun or indoors in winter.

Soil For Custard Apple

Sandy loam soil is the best for custard apples, so dig the ground about 1 meter deep and add ample river sand and compost in it to ensure good tree growth. Soil with rocks or too much clay will cause the root rot.

Avoid soils that have previously grown ginger, eggplant, capsicums, tomatoes and potatoes to avoid bacterial wilt disease.

Mulch

Whether you grow your custard apple in a pot or in ground, you should apply a thick layer of organic mulch to preserve humidity in the soil.

Pruning Custard Apple Tree

Pinch the growing ends of the branches to make the tree denser. Winter is the best time to prune the branches of the custard apple tree, however, only a light pruning is needed.

Watering Custard Apple Plant

1. Water regularly when the trees are actively growing and flowering.
2. Under watering the tree can cause fruit to burn in direct sunlight, while over-watering can lead to root rot. During the winter, when the tree becomes dormant, they do not require regular watering.
3. Mulch tree and prune tree in Spring to open vase shape. Fertilize well after fruit set with organic fertilizer. Regular watering commencing at flowering to harvest is important.

Custard Apple Flowers and Pollination

Cut Custard Apple from inside

Custard apple will bear fruit in 3-4 years. Some species start flowering at young age within 1-2 years from seed.

The custard apple plants bloom in spring to summer producing greenish-yellow trumpet shaped flowers that emit a pleasant sweet smell.