How many years does a sugar apple tree take to bear fruit?
The scientific name of the sugar apple is custard apple (Annona squamosa). Because the shape of its fruit closely resembles the head of a sugar apple, it is also called "sugar apple" in Guangdong and Taiwan, China. The sugar apple tree is a deciduous small tree in the family Annonaceae and the genus Annona, native to the Americas, and in our country it is mainly distributed in Zhejiang, Taiwan, China, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Yunnan and other provinces and regions. So how many years does a planted sugar apple tree take to bear fruit?
1. How many years until a sugar apple tree bears fruit
The sugar apple is a crop harvested twice a year. Seedlings generally begin to bear fruit 2 to 3 years after planting, with the flowering period from May to June and the fruiting period from June to November. The ripe custard apple is pale greenish-yellow, and its surface is covered with soft, finger-sized, angular wart-like protrusions (formed by many mature ovaries fused with the receptacle), just like a Buddha's head.
A single sugar apple fruit basically weighs more than 500 grams. The sugar apple is loved by people for its milky-white flesh, which is soft, tender, purely sweet, smooth and refreshing. Amid a faint pineapple aroma, you can taste the flavors of many fruits, and even a hint of ice cream. The sugar apple has high nutritional value, and its flesh has the effect of clearing the throat and moistening the lungs. In addition, the sugar apple has a relatively high fiber content, which can effectively promote intestinal peristalsis and expel accumulated feces stored in the intestines.
2. Key points for growing sugar apple trees
1. Soil: Annona fruit trees have strong adaptability to various soils and can grow in soils ranging from sandy to clay loam. However, to obtain high yields, it is best to cultivate them in fertile, well-drained loam.
2. Light: The custard apple likes light and tolerates shade. With sufficient light, the plant grows robustly and the leaves are thick. Increasing light during the fruit development stage can improve fruit quality.
3. Water: The custard apple is relatively sensitive to water, and both too much and too little water are detrimental to plant growth. Irrigation should be carried out according to the different growth stages.
4. Fertilization: Some sugar apple trees only bloom but do not bear fruit, which is very likely due to insufficient nutrient accumulation in the tree. Fertilization is very important for sugar apple trees, and organic fertilizer should be applied according to tree size and different growth stages. Generally, fertilize 3 times a year.
That is all for the sugar apple tree. Friends who are interested can also check the market to see whether sugar apple fruits are for sale, though this fruit tree has not yet been planted on a large scale in the country, so the fruit may be relatively scarce.