Tropical Annona in Your Living Room

In short: Cherimoya and sugar apple are the annona species best suited to growing indoors. Give them plenty of diffused light, semi-shade and higher humidity, and overwinter them in a cooler room at 10–15 °C with sparse watering. Sow seeds in spring at 25–30 °C; plants first flower at about 6 years of age.

Annona, also known as the custard apple, belongs to the Annonaceae family (lat. Annonaceae). Annonas are tree-like or shrub-like plants growing to a height of approximately 4 - 10 metres. Their homeland is South and Central America. For commercial purposes, they are primarily cultivated in Madeira and the Canary Islands. There are 100 - 150 species of custard apple. The best known are cherimoya (lat. Annona cherimola), soursop (lat. Annona muricata), mountain soursop (lat. Annona montana), soncoya (lat. Annona purpurea), custard apple (lat. Annona reticulata), African custard-apple (lat. Annona senegalensis), and sugar apple (lat. Annona squamosa).

• Annona cherimola is better known by its common name cherimoya. This species of annona originates from the Andes, growing from Colombia to Bolivia at altitudes of 1000 - 2000 m above sea level. Thanks to this, it tolerates cooler climates and can be grown in the Mediterranean. Cherimoya is a deciduous shrub reaching around 5 - 7 meters. Young branches are greyish and finely hairy. The leaves are felted on the underside and pleasantly fragrant. They are ovate in shape, entire, growing alternately. Their length is 7 - 17 cm. The flowers are unisexual, green and yellow in colour, also pleasantly fragrant. They grow from leaf axils and have a cup-like shape. The cherimoya fruit is green, round, with a leathery surface with "indentations". The fruit contains pulp with a large number of black, flat seeds.

• Annona squamosa (sugar apple) is a tree reaching a height of approximately 6 m. Its homeland is tropical America, it is also widely cultivated in the tropics worldwide. You can find it, for example, in Florida or southern China. This species of annona is the most widespread in tropical regions. Just as in the tropics, this species is among the most commonly cultivated here as well. The fruits of Annona squamata are also known as "sugar apples". The fruits of the sugar apple are, as the name suggests, scaly, spherical in shape with a diameter of up to 10 cm. Inside the fruits is pulp which when ripe is creamy white, juicy and custard-like, with a delicate and sweetly aromatic taste. By many it is considered one of the most delicious tropical fruits. However, be careful when consuming, as the seeds are poisonous in larger quantities and the juice from them can, in extreme cases, cause blindness if it comes into contact with the eyes!!! Annona squamosa flowers in March to April with green or yellow flowers. The leaves are green, deciduous. You can successfully grow this species at home.

• Annona muricata, also known by the alternative names guanabana or graviola, is a species of custard apple probably originating from the Antilles, from where it spread to the tropics worldwide. This species is cultivated for its delicious fruits especially in lowland tropical areas. The fruit of Annona muricata is irregular in shape, can be up to 35 cm long and weigh up to 6 kg. The leathery skin is divided into diamond-shaped segments with a spine in the centre. The ripe pulp is white in colour, fibrous and custard-like in consistency, with a sweet or sweet-sour taste. The fruits are primarily used to make beverages. Unripe fruits are prepared as vegetables in Asia. The leaves of Annona muricata are evergreen, with a scent reminiscent of blackcurrant. This species is not very suitable for cultivation in our conditions because it requires a hot tropical climate, which cannot be provided in our climatic conditions (greenhouse).

• Annona reticulata is often called "bull's heart" due to its blood-red colour. This species originates from the Caribbean and is widely cultivated in higher-lying areas of Central and South America. The fruits of Annona reticulata are spherical in shape, have a smooth surface and thick skin. The colour of the fruits is blood red, but the fruits are only suitable for consumption when they turn brownish. The pulp of ripe fruits is white and mealy. You are less likely to encounter this plant in our conditions, but it is still good to remember that its seeds, unripe fruits and all vegetative parts contain alkaloids that are poisonous. Contact with the plant's sap causes skin irritation and eye inflammation!!!

• Annona montana has its homeland in the Caribbean region. Currently, it is a widely distributed and cultivated species especially in tropical America. Rarely, you may also encounter this plant in Asia and Africa.

• Annona senegalensis is an African representative of the custard apple and the name itself reveals its original homeland - Senegal. Its small fruits are a traditional food in this region.

• Annona purpurea is widespread in its homeland under the name soncoya. Its fruits are ovate to conical in shape and can grow up to 20 cm in length. The fruit surface is hairy, reddish-brown in colour, densely covered with conical spines. The pulp of the ripe fruit is orange, juicy, soft and tastes like mango. The seeds, as with most other species, are poisonous. The homeland of this custard apple is southern Mexico and Central America.

Growing Annona

The species suitable for growing in our conditions are cherimoya annona and sugar apple annona. Annona can be grown indoors, the most suitable location is a place with plenty of diffused light and higher air humidity. Direct sunlight doesn't suit annonas very well, semi-shade is more suitable. In summer, the plants will benefit from spending time outdoors in the garden or on the terrace. When moving from indoor spaces, proceed carefully and adapt the annona gradually, especially to higher amounts of light. Don't expose it to direct midday sunlight. In winter, place the annona in a cooler environment. A suitable temperature is in the range of 10 - 15 °C, if your conditions don't allow this, try moving the annona to the coolest, bright room in your home, even cooling to approximately 18 °C has a significant effect on successful overwintering. The annona will rest during this period and gather strength for the next season. In winter, water the plants very sparingly and don't fertilize them. During winter, a few leaves may fall off, but this is natural and new leaves will grow again in spring. The leaf-drop period is the most suitable time for any pruning and shaping. Overly long branches can be shortened by up to one third. New shoots will grow at the scars left by fallen old leaves. Grow annonas in poor, well-drained soil. Repot as needed, ideally during the dormant period. Although annona can tolerate short-term mild frost - down to approximately -2 °C, it's better not to expose it to frost, as it could catch cold and in extreme cases even die.

Annona is propagated mainly by seeds. Sow seeds in spring in peat substrate, cover them lightly. Place the sowing in a bright location without direct sunlight. Maintain the temperature in the range of 25 - 30 °C. Water the substrate regularly so that it remains constantly moist, but must not be waterlogged. A useful helper when sowing will be a mini greenhouse or propagator, as it will help you more easily achieve ideal conditions for germination. Once the seedlings grow to sufficient size, transplant them into individual pots. Sufficiently deep clay pots are suitable, as they can retain moisture for longer periods. The first flowers appear on annona at approximately 6 years of age. To get fruits as well, the flowers need to be pollinated. Outdoors, insects can take care of this, but hand pollination is more reliable. Male and female flowers on one plant don't mature synchronously, so when pollinating, transfer pollen from older flowers to the stigmas of newly opened flowers. If pollination is successful, you'll get fruits, which however don't have a long shelf life and are susceptible to bruising, so they're harvested unripe and left to ripen for several days in a bowl or on a plate.

Sowing Tip

If your seeds are reluctant to germinate, place them in the refrigerator for approximately 2 months before sowing. This process is called seed stratification and is very effective and proven in this case.

What Makes the Delicious Annona Fruit Beneficial?

Annona fruits contain large amounts of carbohydrates, particularly fructose and sucrose. Conversely, proteins and fats are present in very small amounts in annona fruits. Among vitamins, the B vitamin content (B1, B2, B6) is worth mentioning, as no other fresh fruit contains as much as annona fruits. The high mineral content is noteworthy, especially calcium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium. Due to their high energy content, consumption is particularly recommended for adolescents, athletes, and students who can use the energy to achieve good results. The fruits also contain dietary fiber. The pulp has the ability to suppress gastric acid production, which is why it's recommended for consumption with gastric mucosa inflammation and gastric ulcers. Annona fruits are very filling, which is why they are also recommended for treating obesity. Although they contain high amounts of carbohydrates, a serving of annona provides the body with fewer calories than an equal portion of other foods.

When consuming, don't forget to strain the pulp to remove the seeds, which are poisonous in larger quantities!!!