Explore our Red Custard Apple Tree Growing and Care Guide to enhance fruit yield and savor the delight of delicious, colorful produce.
Read this Red Custard Apple Tree Growing and Care Guide. Discover valuable insights to nurture your tree for abundant fruit production and vitality.
Botanical Name: Annona reticulata
USDA Zones: In grounds 9-11 / In pots 4-11
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Red Custard Apple Tree Profile
The Red Custard Apple, also known as Annona reticulata or sugar apple, is a relative of sweetsop varieties like A. muricata and A. squamosa. Despite being considered the odd one out among Annonas, it’s an essential addition to any tropical food forest. This tree is native to the West Indies, Central America, and South Mexico and is cultivated across southern Mexico to Peru and Brazil.
The Annona reticulata tree grows upright but can have irregular shapes. Its oblong, semi-evergreen leaves drop during colder winters. When spring arrives, it blooms with clusters of yellow-green flowers. In the summer, the custard apple fruit takes form, displaying polygonal plates of red, brown, and yellow.
Red Custard Apple Trees can reach heights of up to 35 feet and spread between 15 to 30 feet wide. The ripe fruits are red, and their sweet, creamy red pulp encloses large, easily removable seeds. These trees can be grown outdoors in USDA Zones 9 to 11 or in pots, with the option to bring them indoors for winter in Zones 4 to 11. Adding this unique fruit to your garden allows you to harvest your own Red Custard Apples conveniently at home.
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How to Propagate Red Custard Apple Tree
Red Custard Apple tree can be grown from Air-layering and seeds. You can also grow this tree from grafted plants that you can order from garden centers or online stores.
Propagation from Seeds
- Gather mature seeds from ripe red custard apple fruits, or buy them online.
- Clean seeds, removing any fruit residue without damaging them. Air-dry seeds on paper for a few days until fully dry.
- Keep dry seeds in a labeled, cool, and dry container. Lightly scratch seed coats to aid water absorption.
- Place scarified seeds half to one inch deep in well-draining soil.
- Put pots in a bright area but avoid direct sunlight.
- Keep soil moist but not waterlogged; water when the top inch is dry.
- Seedlings should emerge in weeks to months.
- Move seedlings to larger pots as they grow more leaves.
- Choose a sunny spot with good drainage if transplanting outside.
- It takes time for trees to mature and bear fruit. Expect variation in fruit quality.
Propagation from Cuttings
- Pick a strong, healthy branch on the red custard apple tree for air-layering.
- About a foot below a branch’s tip, make a slanting cut halfway through the branch. This is where roots will develop.
- Gently scrape off a small section of the bark around the slanting cut. This encourages root growth.
- Take damp sphagnum moss and wrap it around the wounded section. Keep it in place with plastic wrap or a plastic bag.
- Seal the plastic securely above and below the moss to create a humid environment.
- Check regularly to ensure the moss stays moist. In a few weeks to a few months, you should notice roots forming within the moss.
- Once the roots are well-formed and strong, you can carefully cut the air-layered section from the main tree just below the rooted area.
- Transplant the air-layered section into a pot with well-draining soil. Keep it well-watered but not waterlogged.
- As the air-layered section grows, its roots will establish in the new pot.
- After a few months, when the roots are well-established, you can gradually expose the new plant to more sunlight and outdoor conditions to “harden” it.
- Once the new plant is strong and has outgrown its pot, you can transplant it to a larger pot or directly into the garden.
Growing Red Custard Apple Tree in Pots
Plant a Red Custard Apple Tree in a sizable container with drainage holes. If temperatures drop below 45ºF, move potted trees indoors.
- Young Seedlings: Start with a small 6-8 inch diameter pot for germinated seeds.
- Growing Juveniles: Move to a 12-16 inch pot as the seedling develops leaves.
- Established Trees: Opt for a 20-24 inch pot for continued growth and fruiting.
- Mature Trees: Transition to a larger 24-30 inch pot for long-term growth.
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Ideal Growing Condition for Red Custard Apple Tree
Sunlight
Choose a location with ample sunlight or partial shade, and make sure it’s not an area prone to water accumulation.
Soil
The Red Custard Apple Tree prefers fertile, well-draining soil that is slightly acidic, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.
Water
To provide ideal watering for a Red Custard Apple Tree, maintain consistent soil moisture by watering when the top 2-inch of soil is dry. Deep watering encourages root growth, but it’s crucial to prevent waterlogging and allow excess water to drain. Adjust watering frequency with changing seasons and consider mulching to retain moisture and control temperature.
Temperature and Humidity
To provide the best conditions for your Red Custard Apple Tree, keep it in temperatures between 70°F and 85°F (21°C to 29°C) and humidity levels around 50% to 80%. If the weather prediction says, temperatures will go below 45ºF (7°C), bring potted trees inside a garage or shed. This helps protect them from the cold.
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Red Custard Apple Tree Care
Fertilizer
Fertilize the Red Custard apple tree twice a year, during spring and fall, using granulated fertilizer designed for citrus or mango trees. Alternatively, you can apply water-soluble fertilizer specifically made for fruit trees or a 2-8-8 (NPK) formula every 6 to 8 weeks. Begin feeding the tree in spring as growth begins, and stop fertilizing after the fall harvest.
Mulching
Once the tree is established and growing in the ground, apply organic mulch around it. Refrain from deep digging or hoeing near the tree’s roots and base. This practice promotes the tree’s well-being and continued growth.
Pruning
Pruning the Red Custard Apple Tree involves removing dead or diseased branches, thinning out overcrowded growth, controlling size, and encouraging fruit production. Trim after harvest to reduce stress, use proper tools, and maintain the tree’s natural shape. Avoid excessive pruning to ensure healthy growth and adequate fruit production.
Pests and Disease
The Red Custard apple tree can be affected by pests, leading to less fruit production. Insects invade the fruits, causing harm. A useful approach is to protect the Custard apple fruits using covers such as plastic bags, paper, or polyethylene while they’re young. These bags should cover the fruits, be open at the bottom, and have tiny holes for gas and water to escape, preventing excess moisture and fruit decay. Dealing with pests using chemicals is tough, so it’s better to maintain tree health and avoid insecticides to safeguard helpful insects and pollinators. Common pests include moths, aphids, mealy bugs, and scales.
Furthermore, the Red Custard apple tree is prone to common diseases like anthracnose and leaf spot, which worsen during rainy periods and stable, high temperatures.
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Harvesting and Storage
Harvesting the Red Custard apple plant might require some attention since the fruits don’t all ripen together. Instead of picking randomly, choose the ones that are fully mature and ripe. You can identify them by their size and color. The color of the seeds also tells you about their readiness. If the seeds are almost black, it means the fruit is fully ripe and can be harvested.
Select fruits that are deep red and shiny. Use sharp, clean hand clippers to cut the thick stems just above the fruits. Once harvested, you can keep Red Custard Apples in the refrigerator for a few days, but remember that they won’t continue to ripen after being picked.
How to Eat Red Custard Apple Tree
When Red Custard Apples are ripe, their flesh becomes like custard – soft, sweet, and full of tropical tastes like banana, pineapple, and orange.
You can enjoy them fresh in smoothies or mix them with other tropical fruits to create refreshing and unique juices. Red Custard Apples are also diced and placed on ice cream as a delightful summer dessert.
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