Today
we’ll teach you how to plant soursop from seed! If you’ve ever
seen a soursop fruit, you know they are some of the most peculiar
looking fruits, and that’s one of the things that makes them so
special. Sourop, or guanabana (Spanish) is a tree that produces spiny
oblong fruits with a white, fleshy inside. The white fleshy part that
is found inside the fruit is the edible part, and is often used to
make yogurts and smoothies but can also be eaten raw. The taste can
be compared to that of a combination of pineapple and banana as well
as bubblegum for some people. The evergreen can reach to about 30
feet and needs plenty of space, sunlight, and warmth.
HOW TO GROW SOURSOP
CLIMATE:
THE
SOURSOP IS FOUND MOSTLY IN TROPICAL CLIMATES, THEREFORE NEEDS A VERY
WARM ENVIRONMENT. SOURSOP WILL SUCCESSFULLY GROW IN A WARM AND HUMID
GREENHOUSE.
TIME
TO HARVEST:
Depending
on the soil, climate, and other factors such as fertilizer, your
soursop tree should start producing flowers and then fruits within
3-5 years.
PLANTING
SOURSOP SEEDS
- Take
the seeds from a soursop fruit and soak them in warm water overnight.
The next day, plant them 1/2 inch deep in sterile seed-starting mix.
- Keep
the soil constantly moist by spraying it with water. It should
germinate within 2-4 weeks.
- If
you are planting outdoors, it’s best to wait until the tree is at
least 6 months old
- Once
the soursop has germinated, make sure you keep it in a partially
sunny location, a well drained soil, and protected from strong winds.
- Keep
at least 20 feet from other trees or plants and mulch heavily with
compost as soursop has shallow roots.
- Once
truck diameter reaches 1/2 to 3/4 inch, prune the tree back to 30
inches in height.
- Once
new shoots begin, choose the most vertical shoot to be the central
leader.
- After
cutting off any other growth, leave the central shoot (the most
vertical one) and force all other shoots into horizontal positions.
You can do this by using clothespins or twine!
FEEDING
YOUR SOURSOP TREE
- Feed
your soursop tree twice a year, once in the spring and once in the
fall.
- Give
it 1/4 pound of organic fertilizer twice a year in the first year.
- In
its second year and thereafter, feed it 1/2 pound of organic
fertilizer twice a year.
- It
is also recommended to renew the compost every year to keep the soil
moist and get rid of weeds.
MAINTAINING
YOUR SOURSOP TREE
- During
the tree’s second year, cut back the central leader by about a
third.
- Then,
wait for new shoots to begin beneath the cut, choose the best of
these shoots and force them outward. This will create a second tier
of horizontal branches
- The
soursop tree’s yellow blossoms should give away within 3-5 years.
Although it may seem like a long time, be patient as it is absolutely
worth it, and once it starts flowering, it will keep on going
constantly!
WHEN
TO PICK THE SOURSOP FRUIT
The
fruits are ready to pick once they loose their shine, turn from dark
to a yellowish green, and the spines stand up. You should also feel
the soursop fruit as it will be ready to consume once it is no longer
hard, but rather squeezable
After
picking the soursop fruit, you may enjoy them within 5 or 6 days,
after which they will start to deteriorate.
Make
sure to remove the black seeds as they are toxic! Enjoy soursop by
itself, in smoothies, yogurts, salads, sherberts, or drinks!
Your
tree will keep producing fruits, so make sure you maintain it
properly by fertilizing, keeping an eye out for overgrowth, and
removing any weeds!