Sugar Apple (Annona squamosa) Tree Care: A Guide for Growing Delicious Fruits
Sugar apple, also known as Annona squamosa, is a tropical fruit tree widely grown in many parts of the world. It is prized for its delicious, creamy white flesh and sweet, aromatic flavor. In this article, we will discuss the various aspects of sugar apple tree care to ensure optimal growth and fruit production.
Good products at Amazon for growing Sugar apple
- Osmocote Plus – 15-9-12 Sugar Apple Fertilizer
- Pyganic – Organic Sugar Apple Insecticide
- Organic SuperGreen Kelp Foliar Spray
Quick Sugar Apple Care Guide
| Common Names(s) | Sugar apple, Anona, Mang Cau Dai |
| Scientific Name | Annona squamosa |
| Days to Harvest | 2-3 years fruit from seed. |
| Light | Full sun for best fruit production |
| Water | Water twice weekly during the dry season, and more when fruiting |
| Soil | Sugar apples grow in many types of soil as long as well draining. |
| Fertilizer | Osmocote plus 15-9-12 or Florikan |
| Pests | Potato leaf hoppers, Whiteflies, Annona seed borer, Scale |
| Diseases | Root rot, Bark diseases |
Characteristics of Sugar Apple Tree
The sugar apple tree is a small to medium-sized tree that grows up to 20 feet tall. Its leaves are dark green and oblong in shape. The tree bears small, yellow-green flowers that are pollinated by the Annona flower pollinator, the nitulid beetle. The fruit is typically round or heart-shaped, with a green or purple, scaly exterior and a soft, creamy interior filled with black non-edible seeds.
Optimal Growing Conditions for Sugar Apple Tree
Sugar apple trees thrive in tropical and subtropical climates, with temperatures ranging between 68 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. They require full sunlight for optimal growth and fruit production. The tree can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions as long as the soil is well-draining.
Choosing the Right Soil for Sugar Apple Tree
To ensure optimal growth and fruit production, it is important to choose the right soil for your sugar apple tree. The soil should be well-draining.
Watering and Fertilizing Sugar Apple Tree
Sugar apple trees require regular watering, especially during the dry season. It is important to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, as excessive moisture can lead to root rot. Fertilizing the tree with a balanced slow-release fertilizer such as Osmocote plus can help ensure optimal growth and fruit production.
Pruning Sugar Apple Tree
Pruning sugar apple trees can help promote healthy growth and fruit production. It is best to prune the tree in the winter or early spring, before the growing season begins. Prune away any dead or damaged branches, as well as any branches that are growing toward the center of the main trunk. This will help improve air circulation and light penetration, which can result in better fruit production.
Removing the leaves on a sugar apple tree will also promote healthy flower and branch growth. Typically sugar apple leaves at the end of the growing season will be crispy, brown, and appear dead. It is essential to remove all old leaves from the previous growing season, and whiteflies like to breed under these leaves, which may create a problem for your other plants.
Common Pests and Diseases of Sugar Apple Tree
Sugar apple trees are susceptible to various pests and diseases, including Annona seed borers, Potatoe leaf hoppers, scale insects, whiteflies, and powdery mildew. Regular inspection of the tree can help identify and treat any issues before they become a significant problem. Treating the tree with an appropriate insecticide, such as Pyganic or Neem Oil, can help prevent infestations and disease outbreaks.
Sugar Apple Flowers
Sugar apple flowers are both female and male. They will always start as female flowers and 24 hours later be completely changed into male flowers, ready to spread their pollen and pollinate female sugar apple flowers to produce a sugar apple fruit.
Female sugar apple flowers are recognized by their tight pedals and strong banana-liquor aroma in full bloom. Female sugar apple flowers will be in full bloom in the early parts of the morning sunrise until about 11:00 am, when they will be transitioning into their male stage.
Male sugar apple flowers are recognized by their wider pedals and pollen that dangles from the stigma and is easily dispersed with a light tap on the flower petals from the outside. Male sugar apple pollen is readily available around early morning to early noon.
How To Pollinate Sugar Apple Flowers
Materials needed:
- Soft-bristled brush
- Small black canister to catch and observe male sugar apple pollen
- Pollen from a Male sugar apple flower
Steps:
- Wait until the sugar apple tree is in full bloom, with female and male flowers blooming simultaneously, usually during the beginning of March or April and through Summer.
- Locate the female flower on the sugar apple tree you want to pollinate. Its pedals should be tight and have a banana-liquor aroma when in bloom. Female sugar apple flowers are most receptive in the early morning hours from 8 am – 10:30 am, and male sugar apple flowers will bloom shortly after from 11:00- early afternoon. Male sugar apple flowers are much more widespread and open, and their pollen will quickly come out with a gentle tap on the flower.
- Take a soft-bristled brush and gently tap the male sugar apple flower while holding the black canister below the flower to collect some of the pollen.
- Transfer the collected pollen onto the stigma of a female sugar apple flower. You can also use a cotton swab to do this if you prefer. If you do not have a female sugar apple flower present that day, you may store the male sugar apple pollen in an air-tight container in the vegetable compartment in your fridge for up to three days.
- Repeat this process for all the flowers you want to pollinate on the sugar apple tree.
- After pollinating the flowers, wait for the fruit to mature and ripen. This usually takes several months.
- Remember to avoid touching the anthers of the flower when collecting the pollen, as this can cause the pollen to become damaged and less effective in fertilizing the stigma. Also, it is best to pollinate the flowers in the early morning when they are fresh, and the pollen is still viable.
Harvesting Sugar Apple Fruit
Sugar apple trees typically begin to bear fruit after 2 to 3 years of growth. The fruit is ready to harvest when it turns a pale green or yellowish color and is slightly soft to the touch. Carefully twist the fruit from the stem or cut it with pruners to avoid damaging the tree or the fruit. The fruit should be consumed fresh off the tree if soft or refrigerated within a few days of harvesting.
Where to order a sugar apple tree online
You can order a Na Dai Vietnamese sugar apple tree (Annona squamosa) from fast-growing trees.
This Na Dai Vietnamese variety is my favorite variety of sugar apples due to its nice-sized, chewy, and sweet fruits I get every season. The tree itself has been self-pollinating for me and produces some of my best sugar apple fruits of the season.
Conclusion
Proper care of sugar apple trees can help ensure optimal growth and fruit production. Choosing the right soil to plant them in, watering and fertilizing regularly, pruning the tree, and identifying and treating pests and diseases are all essential aspects of sugar apple tree care. With the proper care, your sugar apple tree can provide you with delicious and healthy fruit for many years.
FAQ about taking care of Sugar apple (Annona squamosa)
Q: How often should I water my sugar apple tree?
A: Sugar apple trees should be watered regularly, especially during the dry season. However, it is essential to avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot. Water the tree deeply once or twice a week, depending on the soil and weather conditions. Sugar apples are also fairly drought tolerant, so forgetting to water them typically will not kill them. It is important to note that watering during flowering and fruiting seasons is vital if you want to have an excellent harvest.
Q: Can sugar apple trees be grown in containers?
A: Yes, sugar apple trees can be grown in containers. However, choosing a large container to accommodate the tree’s root system is essential. A great container I highly recommend for growing sugar apples is the air-pot which allows roots to grow more naturally. Additionally, the tree will require regular watering and fertilizing to ensure optimal growth and fruit production.
Q: How do I fertilize my sugar apple tree?
A: Sugar apple trees should be fertilized regularly with a balanced slow-release fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer according to the manufacturer’s instructions, typically or twice a year, once before springtime and once during the active growing season. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can result in excessive vegetative growth at the expense of fruit production. Organic fertilizers such as Azomite also are an excellent option for growing sugar apples compared to synthetic fertilizers.
Q: What are the common pests and diseases of sugar apple trees?
A: Sugar apple trees are susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases, including potato leaf hoppers, whiteflies, scale insects, and powdery mildew. Regular inspection of the tree can help identify and treat any issues before they become a major problem. Treating the tree with an appropriate insecticide, such as Pyganic, can help prevent infestations and disease outbreaks.
Q: When is the best time to prune my sugar apple tree?
A: Sugar apple trees should be pruned at the end of winter after no more cold weather or early spring before the growing season begins. Prune away any dead or damaged branches, as well as any branches that are growing toward the center of the tree. This will help improve air circulation and light penetration, which can result in better fruit production.
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