How to Plant Cherimoya Fruits

Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) is a fruit tree native to the Andean region of Peru and Ecuador. The tropical plant grows 26 feet tall, producing fragrant flowers that sprout directly from the branches without a stalk. The petals are thick and about 1-inch long. Cherimoya's 10-inch-long green leaves have a hard texture and are deciduous. After the flowers fade, the cherimoya fruit appears. The 5-inch-long, cone-shaped green fruit has a bumpy rind. Inside, the cherimoya's flesh tastes like banana. Nestled in the edible pulp are the plant's large black seeds. Plant them to start a new cherimoya tree.

Small bowl
Distilled water
Seed-starter mix
Pot with drainage holes
Propagation mat
18-inch pot with drainage holes
Shovel
Manure
Shears
Mulch

Instructions

- 1
  Place the cherimoya seed in a small bowl. Cover it with distilled water. Let the seed soak two to three days.
- 2
  Add seed-starter mix to a pot to within ¼ inch of the rim.
- 3
  Push the seed ½ inch into the soil. Cover the hole with seed-starter mix. Press lightly with your fingers to firm the surface.
- 4
  Saturate the seed-starter mix with tap water. Let the excess moisture drain. As the soil surface dries, water the seeds to keep them hydrated.
- 5
  Place the pot on an electric propagation mat. Set the thermostat to 70 degrees Fahrenheit to facilitate seed germination. Sprouts appear in three weeks.
- 6
  Transplant a 3-inch-tall cherimoya seedling to an 18-inch pot to accommodate the developing taproot.
- 7
  Dig a hole 18 to 24 inches deep when the seedling grows 12 to 18 inches tall. Mix the native soil with 1 inch of manure.
- 8
  Cut the seedling's leaves in half to reduce transpiration while the roots adapt to a new spot.
- 9
  Take the seedling out of the pot. Trim the taproot tip to promote the development of new lateral roots.
- 10
  Position the Cherimoya tree in the hole at the same level as it grew in the pot. Refill the hole with the manure-amended soil.
- 11
  Water the tree to the root zone as soon as it has been transplanted.
- 12
  Build a 2- to 3-inch-deep mulch ring around the cherimoya tree. Use wood chips, compost or shredded bark, for example, to slow evaporation.

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