Announcement

Plant family

Custard apple family (Annonaceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Dark germinator

Germination temperature

20 - 28 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

500 cm

Row spacing

600 cm

Seeding depth

2.5 cm

Instructions

Description

Annona (possibly from the Taíno word Anón for the cherimoya or from the Latin Annus, meaning "year," "annual") is a genus of plants in the family Annonaceae. It includes about 175 species in the tropics and subtropics. Some of these species are commercially important as fruit-bearing trees, such as the cherimoya, the prickly custard apple, or the cinnamon apple. Appearance and Leaves Annona species grow as evergreen to deciduous trees or shrubs. They often form taproots, and some species develop prop roots as mature trees. The stiff branches are slender and cylindrical. The lenticels are raised. The leaves, arranged alternately on the branches, are petiolate. The leathery or papery, simple leaf blade is glabrous or downy. Stipules are absent. Flowers Most species are protogynous. The flowers are solitary or in clusters on flower stalks that possess bracts. The hermaphroditic, usually three-, rarely four-petaled flowers have an intense, fruity fragrance. The raised flower base (receptacle) is convex to more or less spherical or oblong. The usually three, rarely four sepals fall early and are smaller than the petals. There are two whorls with usually three, rarely four, mostly fleshy petals. The inner petals are usually reduced. There are many stamens and many superior styles. Fruits and Seeds The egg-shaped to nearly spherical, fleshy aggregate fruits (syncarp) consist of berries and have a very variable surface with a firm rind, which in some species is equipped with soft spines that arise from the styles. The seeds are egg-shaped to ellipsoid, bean-shaped with a hard seed coat. The seeds sometimes possess an arillus. Uses The fruits are eaten raw or processed into drinks and ice cream. The seeds of the Annona fruit are used by children in Sri Lanka as a game similar to English football. Acetogenins can be isolated from all parts of the plant. This chemical class is characterized by its insecticidal and anti-tumor effects. The leaves of Annona senegalensis are used in West Africa to relieve insect bites. Toxicology The neurotoxin Annonacin, contained in Guanábana (soursop), appears to be the cause of a neurodegenerative disease that occurs only on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe and is likely linked to the consumption of plants containing annonacin. This is a so-called tauopathy, which is associated with a pathological accumulation of the tau protein in the brain. Experimental results have shown for the first time that the plant neurotoxin Annonacin is indeed responsible for this accumulation.

Growing tips

🌞 Location & climate - Sun: 6-8 hours of direct sun daily for good growth and fruit formation. - Temperature: 20-30 °C is ideal; damage occurs below 10 °C. - Frost protection: Can only be cultivated in a tub or conservatory in Germany. 🌱 Soil & substrate - Soil type: Loose, humusy, well-drained (sand-loam mixture). - pH value: slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0). - Drainage: Avoid waterlogging at all costs → container with drainage layer. 💧 Water & nutrients - Watering: Keep evenly moist, but not too wet. - Fertilization: Regularly with organic fertilizer or liquid fertilizer during the growth phase. - Dormant phase: Water less in winter, do not fertilize. 🌸 Flowering & pollination - Pollination: Many species are pre-female protogynous → self-pollination difficult. - Practice: In Central Europe, hand-pollination is often necessary to obtain fruit. 🍏 Fruit & harvest - Fruit: Ripe when the skin becomes soft and can be easily pressed in. - Seeds: Toxic - do not consume. - Uses: Eat fresh, process into drinks or desserts.