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Cherimoya Fruit

Annona cherimola

If you purchased seeds, and not a plant, please click here.

Note - Your Cherimoya was grown in filtered light, so i don't advise giving it direct sun just yet, to prevent wilting and burning. I recommend starting it with either filtered sunlight, or 2-3 hours of morning or late afternoon sun. It's best to grow your plant in a pot for at least a month, so you can acclimate it to the sun slowly. Every 4 or 5 days, give it an extra hour or two of sun, until it is eventually in a half day's sun. Cherimoya seedlings prefer semi-shade for the first couple years.

Before sliding the plant from its pot, please water it thoroughly, so the soil doesn't break apart, which can damage the roots. If the plant is hard to slide out, stick the eraser end of a pencil into the holes at the bottom to help push it out. Carefully plant it in a 1 or 2 gallon container. You can use regular potting soil (well-draining). You might want to support the stem by pushing a small stake into the soil, and tying the stem to the stake. After planting, water until the soil is thoroughly moist. For the first month, please make sure that the original soil ball stays moist (but not soggy).

When the roots reach the bottom of the container and poke out of the holes, it's time to carefully repot your Cherimoya into a larger container, like a 3-5 gallon, or plant her in the ground.

If the temperature tends to get over about 90 degrees in the summer, it's a good idea to give it some midday shade. If the leaves ever wilt too much, simply give it some more shade. Keep in mind that Cherimoya has naturally droopy-looking leaves.

Fertilize depending on growth - the more growth you see, the more you can feed. Be patient - giving more food than the plant needs will not force it to grow faster. Once your tree has settled into its new pot, it will grow very fast.

By the way, you may notice a light film on the leaves when your plant arrives. That's a harmless anti-transpirant spray that helps retain moisture while in the mail. It flakes off by itself in a few weeks.

For more info on growing Cherimoya, see : http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/cherimoya.html

There is also a great website on Cherimoyas here: http://cherimoya.orcon.net.nz/

If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Jeff

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