Can you eat the seeds of the sugar apple (Annona squamosa), the king of tropical fruits? Can you grow it as a potted plant? How do you grow it? Which regions are suitable for growing it? How many years until it bears fruit?

Sugar apple, also known as custard apple, scaly ball fruit, and Buddha-head fruit, is a common fruit in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Hainan and other parts of China. Because of its high nutritional value and the fact that regular consumption can help activate brain cells and provide other benefits, it is deeply loved by people. So, can you eat the seeds of the sugar apple (custard apple)? Can you grow it as a potted plant? How do you grow it? Which regions are suitable for growing it? How many years until it bears fruit?

The seeds cannot be eaten, but they can be planted. The specific growing method is as follows:

1. Wash the seeds clean, then soak them in water, just enough water to submerge the seeds. Change the water every day and soak for 6-8 days until no impurities can be seen.

2. Choose a pot of appropriate size without drainage holes (or seal the hole at the bottom of the pot), fill it nine-tenths full with potting soil, and spray some water on the surface so that the top layer of soil feels moist.

3. When planting, place the seeds with the sprouting point facing down, arranging them neatly in circles from the outer rim of the pot gradually toward the center. Sugar apple seeds have a smooth surface and are not easy to pick up, so a little patience is needed.

4. Next, use wheat rice stone or other small stones to spread a thin layer on the surface. Spray back and forth a few times with a watering can so that the soil and seeds are completely moistened. Then it is time to wait for germination. Remember to spray water once a day.

5. After about three weeks, the seeds break through the soil and grow into seedlings.

Sowing time:

In regions with higher winter temperatures, sugar apple is best sown in August to September, immediately after the seeds are harvested and dried, because fresh seeds have a higher germination rate and the seedlings have a longer growth period, which is conducive to cultivating strong seedlings. To cultivate strong seedlings, before sowing the seeds can be soaked in 200 mg/kg gibberellin for 24-36 hours, which can advance emergence by 3-5 days; after the seedlings have 6 leaves, spraying the leaves twice with Aiduoshou at 5000-6000 times dilution can effectively increase the rate of strong seedlings. Because sugar apple seedlings are relatively sensitive to frost, special attention must be paid to cold protection and heat preservation for autumn-sown seedlings. In other southern subtropical regions, spring sowing is best, generally after the local low-temperature rainy weather has passed and the weather is clear, warm and relatively stable.

Sowing method:

Stored sugar apple seeds should be sun-dried before sowing to promote germination. The nursery should be chosen in a sunny, well-drained, fertile sandy loam site, preferably on gently sloping flat land. Before sowing in the nursery, the land should first be deep-ploughed and sun-dried for 1-2 months, then decomposed organic fertilizer and a small amount of lime should be used as base fertilizer, broken up and mixed evenly, and then trenches should be made and beds raised. Both drilling and broadcasting can be used, with 7-8 kg of seeds per mu. Cover with river sand or fine soil, press lightly, then water thoroughly and cover with grass or plastic film. The seedbed should be kept moist, but it also fears waterlogging, so care must also be taken to strictly prevent excessive water, to avoid causing root rot. After germination, uncover the grass or plastic agricultural film to avoid bending the seedlings.

Suitable growing regions:

Sugar apple, also called custard apple, originated in the tropical regions of the Americas. It is cultivated in Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan, China, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China.

How many years until it bears fruit?

Seedling-grown sugar apple trees generally begin to bear fruit 2-3 years after planting. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from June to November. In addition, sugar apple is a crop harvested twice a year, meaning it can produce two harvests of fruit in one year. Through careful fertilization, pruning, and flower thinning according to the seasons, large and sweet fruits can be obtained. Picking at the proper moment when the sugar apple has just ripened is the only way to fully capture its aroma and sweetness.