
ANNONA – Cultivation to Harvesting Full Guide
INTRODUCTION




in this article, I’m going to tell you about the Annona Cultivation
- Kingdom:- Plantae
- Order:- Magnoliales
- Family:- Annonaceae
- Genus:- Annona Corr.Serr
- popular all over the world as delicious and fruitful fruit.
- Annona is native to Central America.
- 50 varieties of isolates in the world.
- 5 species of Annona in Sri Lankan.
- species are tap-rooted, evergreen or semi-deciduous, tropical trees or shrubs.
- This fruit typically grows in areas where the temperature does not drop below 28 F (-2°C). Especially Cuba, Jamaica and the Philippines.
- Most distributed areas in Sri Lanka,
- Soursop and bullock’s – low country wet zone and intermediate wet zone.
- Sugar apple – low country dry zone and littoral areas.
- Cherimoya – Mountainous regions
IMPORTANCE
- To use make ice-cream, juice.
- biologically important chemical composition is due to diarrhoea, constipation, joint swelling, food poisoning, vomiting, liver failure, skin diseases, diabetes and kidney-related ailments.
- the roots and leaf chemicals have been found to be a source of cancer prevention.
- roots, leaves and seeds have been identified as bio-pesticides.
- It is a good treatment for stress and neurological disorders.
- effective anti-cancer drug that helps the immune system to prevent weight loss and hair loss.
- As a preventive treatment for diarrhoea and fever.
- the mother’s milk improves after childbirth.
- Dessert is a refreshing fruit drink with sugar washes.
RECOMMENDED VARIETIES
- There are 4 (four) species in Annona.
- Cherimoya :- Annona cherimola Miller.
- Soursop :- Annona muricata L.
- Bullock’s heart :- Annona reticulata L.
- Sugar apple :- Annona squamosa L.
- There are one hybrid species.
- Atimoya
Cherimoya
- It has a heart shape fruit.
- The exposure is light green.
- The bruising there is mildew.
- The gemish is creamy color in nature.
- It is a delicious fruit.
Soursop
- Local name – katu anode, katu athaa
- The fruit is green color.
- It is often oval shape or irregular shape.
- There are thorn-like scratches on the surface.
- The idea of having a sweet curry with a sweet sour juice is very interesting.
Bllock’s heart
- Local name – waeli athaa
- fruit shape is heart.
- Discoloration is brownish yellow.
- Output is marked in oval shape.
- No scratches.
- Colorless version is creamy and sand-like surgical elements.
Sugar apple
- Local name – sini anode, sini athaa, Seethappalam.
- fruit is round shape.
- Two colors of fruits.
- Green color
- Purple color
- Green color
- Outside of fruit clear round or oval shape.
Atimoya (Hybrid variety)
- It’s give intermediate features between cherimoya and sugar apple.
- Most popular as a fresh fruit.
- It is highly nutritious.
NUTRITION OF ANNONA
- Energy – 104.0 KCal
- Protein – 1.6 g
- Fat – 0.4 g
- Carbohydrate – 23.5 g
- Calcium – 17.0 mg
- Prospers – 47.0 mg
- Iron – 1.5 mg
- Vitamin C – 37 mg
CULTIVATION




CLIMATIC REQUIREMENT
- Most suitable for tropical and subtropical climates.
- Ideal areas- up to 1500m.
- Temperature- >18°C
- Rainfall- 1500mm
SOIL REQUIREMENT
- Soil PH: – 5-10.
- Suitable for well-aerated and well-drained soils.
- well cultivated in infertile soil.
- Soursop and sugar apple – cultivated in a wide range of soil from sand to clay.
AGRONOMIC PRACTICES
Propagation
- Seedlings
- takes a month to sprout due to heavy seeding.
- Germination can be hastened by soaking in water 3 days.
- Germination percentage- 90-95%.
- Budding plant
- All varieties can be propagated in budding.
- Wedge drafting is most suitable.
Spacing
- Spacing:– (5m * 4m)
- Needed of plant: – 500 plants / ha , (200 plants / ac).
- Hole size:- (60*60*60) cm
Fertilizer application
- Urea, TSP, and MOP are used as fertilizer.
- Compost is used as organic fertilizer.
Irrigation
- Water is applied daily until one year for plants.
Weed management
- Weeds should be removed in a circle of about 1m around the tree.
PEST AND DISEASES MANAGEMENT
Dieback
- This is the most visible disease in Annona cultivation.
- Control:- pruning, Apply fungicide
Anthracnose
- Damage the quality of fruits.
- Control:- pruning. Apply water and fertilizer properly
Scale insect
Control: – Field sanitation, Removal of excise, Apply pesticide.
- Mealybug, fruit fly, squirrels and bats damage to the Annona cultivation.
SPECIAL PRACTICES
Pruning
- Not fruiting branches and dead branches should be removed by using pruning.
Pollination
- Fruiting is weak in Annona cultivation due to flowers don’t pollinate incorrectly.
- To avoid this, artificial pollination must be done. But this is a difficult task practically.
HARVESTING




- Get yield in 3-4 years from seed born plants.
- Get yield in 2 years from budding plants.
- Potential Yield: –
- Seedling -15-25 fruits/ plant/ year.
- Buddings-25-40 fruits/plant/ year.
check out my other article:Wood Apple Cultivation