Florida is a paradise for growing a wide range of tropical fruits, with many people choosing to grow their favorites in pots or containers for ease of maintenance and mobility.
This article will guide you on how to grow and care for Sugar apple, Atemoya, Jaboticaba, Carambola, and Soursop in containers.
We will also provide tips on choosing the best containers, fertilizers, water, and foliar spray care guides.
Water: Water regularly, maintaining consistent soil moisture without over-watering.
Pruning: Prune lightly to maintain the desired shape and size, but avoid excessive pruning, as Jaboticaba trees fruit on old wood.
Carambola
Carambola, also known as Star Fruit, is a tropical fruit tree native to Southeast Asia. Its fruit is known for its unique star shape when sliced and its refreshing, slightly tart flavor.
Carambola Care
Container: Choose a large container of at least 10-25 gallons with drainage holes.
Soil: Opt for a well-draining, fertile soil mix.
Fertilizer: Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer every few months.
Water: Maintain consistent soil moisture without over-watering.
Pruning: Regularly prune to maintain the desired size and shape and to encourage fruit production.
Container: Select a large container of at least 20-25 gallons with good drainage.
Soil: Use a well-draining, fertile soil mix.
Fertilizer: Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer every few months.
Water: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
Pruning: Prune regularly to maintain the desired shape and size and to encourage fruit production.
Special Care for Tropical Fruit Trees in Pots
When growing tropical fruit trees in pots, extra care is needed to ensure they receive the right nutrients, water, and protection. Use the following guides to help you:
Following these tips and guides, you can enjoy growing your favorite tropical fruits in containers, reaping the rewards of their delicious flavors and unique appearance.
A Guide to Growing Rare and Unusual Tropical Fruits in Florida
Table of Contents
Florida’s warm climate and diverse ecosystem make it the perfect place to grow a wide range of rare and unusual tropical fruits.
In this guide, we’ll explore some of these fascinating fruits, including sugar apple, cherilata, soursop, and more, and provide tips on how to grow them successfully in your garden.
Sugar Apple (Annona squamosa)
Sugar apple is a sweet, custard-like fruit native to the tropical Americas. It’s part of the Annonaceae family, which also includes custard apple and cherimoya.
Garden Florida holding a sugar apple (Annona squamosa)
Atemoya (Annona × atemoya)
Atemoya is a hybrid of sugar apple and cherimoya, and it has a delicious, creamy texture.
It’s well-suited for Florida’s climate, and you can learn more about the differences between atemoya and sugar apple in our post on atemoya vs. sugar apple.
Cherilata fruit is a lesser-known tropical fruit that’s worth exploring. To learn more about this exotic fruit, read our post on what is a Cherilata fruit.
Cherilata fruit on the inside grown by Garden Florida
Tips for Growing Rare and Unusual Tropical Fruits in Florida
Protect from cold temperatures: Some tropical fruits are sensitive to cold weather. Learn how to protect your seedlings from the cold to survive during cooler months.
Manage pests and diseases: Keep an eye on your fruit trees and address any issues early on. For example, if you notice your sugar apples turning black, read our post on why sugar apples turn black and how to address this problem.
Choose the right planting method: Depending on your fruit tree and garden space, you may need to decide whether to plant in the ground or in a container. For example, consider whether you should plant a sugar apple in the ground or in a pot.
By following these tips and exploring the wealth of information available on our website, you’ll be well on your way to growing a diverse and thriving tropical fruit garden in Florida. Happy tropical fruit gardening!
Growing Guanabana: A Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Your Own Soursop Tree
Table of Contents
Guanabana, also known as soursop, is a tropical fruit with a unique flavor that is highly sought after for its health benefits.
Growing your own soursop tree can be a rewarding experience, but it requires some effort and knowledge about growing Annonaceae fruit trees.
Soursop is in the same family as popular Annona fruits sugar apple, cherimoya, custard apple, and atemoya, but it’s an entirely different and much larger fruit.
In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide to growing your own soursop tree, from selecting the right location to harvesting your fruit.
Soursop (Annona muricata) care guide. Last updated March 10th, 2023.
Soursop Varieties
Soursops come in many varieties, colors, shapes, and sizes. Some soursops have a golden color, known as the golden soursop, and others are known for having no fiber.
Garden Florida is holding a cherimoya fruit (Annona cherimola) with soursop fruit in the background (Annona muricata).
Some popular soursop varieties that can be found in the nursery trade are
The first step to growing a healthy soursop tree is selecting the right location. Guanabana trees require full sunlight to part shade to thrive, so choosing a spot with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily is essential.
Soursop (Annona muricata) fruit from Colombia. This soursop was very spikey.
Additionally, soursop trees prefer a warm and humid climate, so they should be planted in a location with a consistent temperature of 70-80°F.
Soursop is known to be more of an extreme tropical fruit tree, meaning they are sensitive to cold weather. A microclimate is ideal for soursop, protecting them from more freezing temperatures in winter.
Selecting the Right Soil
Soursop trees require well-draining soil with a pH between 5.5-6.5. The soil should be rich in organic matter, such as compost or manure, and free from rocks and debris.
Planting Soursop (Annona muricata)
Soursop trees can be grown from seed but are often grafted onto a rootstock for improved disease resistance and fruit quality. Typically soursop is grafted onto soursop (Annona muricata) seedling.
Dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the root ball when planting your seedling.
Gently remove the seedling from its container and place it in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Backfill the hole with soil and water thoroughly.
Soursop (Annona muricata) fruit cut in half.
Watering and Fertilizing the Soursop Tree
Soursop trees require regular watering, especially during dry periods. Water deeply once or twice a week, ensuring the soil is moist but not waterlogged.
It is important not to overwater your soursop tree, which can lead to root rot. Additionally, soursop trees require regular fertilization to ensure healthy growth and fruit production.
Use a balanced slow-release fertilizer, such as Osmocote plus 15-9-12, and apply it every two to three months during the growing season.
Soursop trees also benefit significantly from monthly foliar sprays, which help them absorb essential nutrients through their leaves.
If your soursop tree is yellow, spraying chelated iron will make it a healthy dark green color again.
Soursop Flowers
Soursop flowers are more round and globe-shaped than sugar apple, atemoya, and cherimoya flowers.
On the other hand, Atemoya, cherimoya, and sugar apple flowers are typically more elongated and triangular in shape.
Soursop (Annona muricata) flower in bloom.
Soursop (Annona muricata) with other tropical fruit.
Soursop flowers also tend to have a more pronounced fragrance than the other three types of flowers, with a strong, sweet scent that is hard to miss.
Soursop flowers are generally about 2 inches long and 1-2 inches wide. They have a distinctive heart-shaped or oblong shape with petals that are typically yellow-green.
The petals are pointed and curve back towards the stem, giving the flower a slightly triangular appearance.
In terms of texture, soursop flowers are delicate and smooth to the touch. They have a slightly waxy surface on the outside and are soft and tender on the inside. The flower can grow from branches or even the trunk of the soursop.
The soursop flower can also be hand pollinated to guarantee fruit set on the soursop tree.
Pruning Soursop Tree
Pruning and training your soursop tree can help to promote healthy growth and fruit production.
Begin by removing any dead or damaged branches, as well as any branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other.
Next, train the remaining branches to grow outward and upward, using stakes or trellises to support them if necessary.
It is essential to prune your soursop tree regularly to ensure it maintains its shape and does not become too large or unwieldy.
Soursop (Annona muricata) flowers with a small soursop fruit growing.
Managing Pests and Diseases
Soursop trees are susceptible to various pests and diseases, including potato leaf hoppers, Annona seed borers, mealybugs, scale insects, and fruit rot.
To prevent these problems, inspect your tree regularly for signs of infestation or disease. Use insecticidal organic sprays such as Pyganic – my favorite go-to Annonaceae fruit tree pest spray or horticultural oil to control pests.
Remove any infected or diseased branches or fruit to prevent the spread of disease.
Additionally, practicing good sanitation, such as removing infected leaves and fruit, can help to reduce the risk of pests and diseases.
Harvesting Your Fruit
Soursop fruit typically ripens six to eight months after flowering. The fruit should be harvested when it is mature but firm, as it will continue to ripen off the tree.
You can tell when the soursop is ready to harvest because it will start changing its color from dark green to a light green/yellow color. The fruit may begin to get soft in certain parts, and a sweet and sour aroma may arise.
Soursop smoothie in Colombia at a shop that only sells soursop (Annona muricata) and cherimoya (Annona cherimola).
To harvest your fruit, gently twist it off the tree, careful not to damage the stem or fruit. Soursop fruit can be eaten fresh or used to make juice, smoothies, and other recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Soursop
Q: How long does it take for a soursop tree to bear fruit?
A: A soursop tree typically takes 3-4 years to bear fruit from seed.
Q: How often should I water my soursop tree?
A: Depending on weather conditions, soursop trees should be watered twice a week or more deeply.
Q: Can soursop trees be grown in containers?
A: Yes, soursop trees can be grown in containers, but they may not grow as large or produce as much fruit as trees planted in the ground.
Q: How do I know when my soursop fruit is ripe?
Soursop fruit will be ripe when soft to the touch and has a sweet and sour aroma. It should be harvested when it is mature but still firm. The soursop will continue to ripen off the tree.
Q: How do I prevent pests and diseases on my soursop tree?
Inspect your tree regularly for signs of infestation or disease, and remove any infected or diseased branches or fruit. Practice good sanitation by removing fallen leaves and fruit. Use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil to control pests if necessary.
Q: Are soursops poisonous?
A: Eating soursop fruit pulp is not poisonous. The seeds and the skin of the soursop fruit contain small amounts of Annonacin, which can be toxic to humans if consumed in large quantities – so it’s advised never to consume the skin or the seeds of the soursop fruit.
Q: What’s the best fertilizer for soursop?
A: The best fertilizer to grow soursop is Osmocote plus or Florikan. These slow-release fertilizers are preferred over instant-release fertilizers due to slow-release fertilizers containing micronutrients that don’t burn the soursop’s root system and give continuous feed over a few months, which the soursop prefers rather than all at once.
Conclusion
Growing your own soursop tree can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it requires some effort and knowledge. By selecting the right location and soil, planting the seedling properly, and caring for your tree through watering, fertilizing, pruning, and pest management, you can enjoy a healthy and fruitful soursop tree in your backyard.
You’re ready to plant your favorite plant, you have your soil ready, shovel, and favorite gardening gloves on. You start digging away at the dirt but then you notice you hit a hard surface, you try to force your shovel again and discover hard rocks! You wonder to yourself, rocks? Could it be beneficial to my plant or can it hurt it? Lucky for you we have the answers below on how to deal with rocky soil and if they are beneficial to your plants.
The answer is rocks in your soil can cause damage to your plant’s roots if not removed. Heres why. Soils that contain rocks are more compacted due to there being less space taken up by all the rocks. This can affect your plant’s roots and nutrient intake as they need a softer soil base for there roots to push through and grow and absorb.
Biodegradable peat pot on greenhouse compost humus soil, organic farming and cultivation
Why are rocks in my soil?
Table of Contents
Rocks can be in your subsoil for many reasons. When new homes are built a layer of subsoil is used to fill in a yard for the future lawn. Usually, this subsoil is of the least expensive earth filling they can use to pass inspection. Often this layer of earth soil is rocky and not optimized for the longevity of plants but rather for lawn grass that does not require much-optimized nutrition compared to that of a fruit tree.
It could take up to 4 times as long (or even longer!) and might be quite the workout on your back trying to remove all the rocks from your soil when digging a hole for your plant. Also, since the earth crust is made up of rocks – the constant movement of tectonic plates deep down in the earth constantly forces rocks up to the surface.
Does having rocks in my soil mean I cant plant?
Not necessarily! If you have a great spot picked out in the yard for your favorite fruit tree or flower that receives plenty of sunlight and have rocks there are options available for you.
One option you have is planting on a raised bed. Consider purchasing some gardening soil one that is best optimized for your plant’s needs. We recommend using a soil amendment that is rich in organic matter such as compost. Compost manure is a great solution to add to your raised bed and into your rocky soil as well as it will provide excellent nutrition for your plants to thrive.
Composted animal manure is one of the best things to add to your garden bed or dug hole. Diffrent manures will range in their nutrition content for your plants and not always completely balanced fertilizers. It is recommended to add a complete garden fertilizer such as 6-6-6 to your mixture to provide optimal nutrition.
If you want to add organic matter to your plant bed, we recommend digging a hole at least 2-3 inches deep first (depending on how rocky and how far you can dig down) then add another layer of 2-4 inches of organic matter (such as compost manure). Then mix the organic matter with the native soil using a shovel, your hands, a tiller, or digging fork.
How can you remove rocks from your soil?
Of course, you could do the hard work and remove the rocks as you dig because eventually, you will remove enough rocks that you can dig freely once again. For those who have a bigger budget and want to use machine power – we strongly recommend using a Tiller.
Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just a beginner, having the right tools at your side can make your life as a gardener much easier and enjoyable when doing the hard work. Using a tiller can help break down soil and remove rocks from the earth and subsoil.
Another reason to remove rocks from your soil is to prevent damage to lawnmowers. Often rocks can damage the blades of a lawnmower and make it difficult to tend to your lawn.
How to Plant In The Ground Once Rocks Are Removed
Now that you have removed the rocks from your soil, you will want to amend your hole in the ground. Dig the hole at least twice the size of the planter size to ensure it is rock-free enough. If you can, it is recommended to at least dig a hole at least twice as deep as the size of the potter it came in to allow soil amendments to occupy enough space for future root development.
Mixing a good compost into the soil is key. Your plant needs all the nutrition it can get to provide you with the best plant possible. Compost is also great because it improves the soil’s ability to hold water and important nutrients. On the other hand, it attracts important organisms such as earthworms, fungi, molds, bacterias, sowbugs, and larva all-important microorganisms that are essential to the health of your plant. As time goes on, the nitrogen in the compost is turned into materials that your plant can intake.
In Florida most of the soil is sand – and often can contain rocks. It is important to remove these rocks because they can damage root development and make it difficult for roots to absorb optimal nutrition.
Removing rocks from Floridas soil may be difficult at first due to the compactness of the sand. We recommend using power tools that help you remove rocks and heavy sands such as a tiller. Once the rocks are removed it is important to add a soil amendment such as compost to help optimal plant nutrition.
Organic homegrown produce and gardening equipment with copy space, top view of greenhouse peat soil
Soil Amendments To Add Nutrition To Sandy Soil
Soil amendments added to sandy soil can be essential to providing that boost of nutrition your sand needs to survive and thrive. Here are great soil additions to add to your sandy soil.
Vermicompost- Have you ever heard about raising red wiggler worms in a bin to produce rich compost from your everyday kitchen waste? By giving your worms kitchen scraps such as leftover fruit peels, coffee grinds, vegetable leftovers and so much more – but be careful not everything in the kitchen is compostable! (Learn what you should and shouldn’t compost here).
Vermicompost consists of rich nutrient worm castings and a liquid referred to as “Worm tea” that fruit trees and flowers just love to have.
Growing Sugar Apples is a rewarding process, but growing sugar apple from seed is an even more rewarding feeling! Have you tried to grow your own sugar apple from seed but are having trouble? Read below to find out how you can successfully sprout your sugar apple seeds and get growing your own very own fruit!
Step 1: Select Your Healthiest Sugar Apple Fruit
Growing your sugar apple all starts with first selecting the right seeds. The way to guarantee a high yield when germinating sugar apple seeds is to make sure you are getting them from a reliable parent-fruit. Select only the best sugar apples you have – the best ones often can be characterized by their bright green skin, harmonious sweet scent, and sweet creamy taste. If you are in an area where the sugar apple fruit is not available, I recommend ordering them off of these trusted sugar apple seed distributors
Once the fruit is selected (or ordered) enjoy the delicious fruit as you remove all seeds from the fruit to prepare them for the germination process.
You can order sugar apple seeds grown from Florida from here
Step 2: Create The Best Environment Growing Environment For The Sugar Apple Seeds
Sugar apple seeds are known to be tough germinaters! Creating the best environment for them to sprout is essential – here is how
Create a ‘mini’ greenhouse. These miniature greenhouses are perfect to grow your sugar apple seeds. Here are very affordable mini-greenhouse starting kits that can be used to start the growth.
Use coconut coir to start the growth – NO GARDENING SOIL OR ANY HEAVY SOILS/ DIRT… The reason? Coconut coir is a very soft – natural and nutritious base that allows the roots of your seedlings to grow with ease – many gardeners use heavy soils that prevent efficient seed growth.
Creating a mini-greenhouse will allow humidity build-up giving the seeds the correct combination to start growing.
Step 3: Planting The Seeds The Annona Way
Seeds should be planted in an upright position where the sugar apple seed hole is facing up towards the sky. Make a small hole just fingernail depth (about 1/2 an inch) and place 1-3 seeds in each of your seedling pouches. Cover up the sugar apple seeds slightly but DO NOT add pressure to the tops of the seeds, lightly cover it with your selected soil.
Step 4: Watering And Maintenance.
Watering your newly planted seeds is very important. Many times gardeners will experience difficulty sprouting their sugar apple seeds due to many reasons. When watering your sugar apple seeds make sure to…
Keep the soil moist for the first month of their lives as well as in a 50/50 shade + sunshine area.
Depending on how you covered your greenhouse you want to allow a few hours every day for the seedlings to receive wind – this will help strengthen the roots and base of your new sugar apple saplings
Mulching your new saplings ensure the best coverage for maintaining soil moisture levels without going dry.
Problems while growing sugar apple seeds
Many things can arise to sugar apple saplings while growing them – here are some to watch out for
Adding fertilizers to the soil – Adding fertilizers to sugar apple seeds can do more harm than good – it is better to let the seedling absorb natural nutrients through the air, water and soil rather than adding fertilizer. Too much fertilizer can kill young seedlings and burn their leaves before getting a chance to grow.
Fungi- Adding too much water and not enough sunlight can cause fungus problems in your greenhouse that starts in the soil and spreads to the seedling – killing the seedling. Avoid this by placing your seedlings in a well sunlight area where it will receive the proper heat to stay at a correct moisture level.
Soil staying to dry – At the same time, sugar apple seeds need to be moist enable to sprout for at least 2-3 weeks. If the soil is too dry the seeds will not absorb enough water to be able to sprout.
Growing Sugar Apples or Annona squamosa is a very fun and rewarding process to embark in. Not only are these wonderfull fruit - but they are a beautiful tree to have in your yard and enjoy!
If growing sugar apple from seed is just too long of a process and you want a faster solution – check out here on ordering sugar apple trees already grown for your garden!
