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Soursop Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide
For those searching for a plant that will make its presence known, the soursop tree, or Annona muricata, is one of the best species to choose. This plant is native to the tropical regions of South America and has fruits unlike any other you have ever seen. These fruits not only have distinct shapes and textures, but they can also be quite large. And while the fruits are the main feature, the soursop tree also has impressive foliage, prominent yellow flowers, and an ability to bring a tropical flair to your garden.
- Interesting fruits with unique textures, shapes, and flavors.
- Provides a distinctly tropical look for your garden.
- Includes dense green foliage and large yellow flowers.
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Plant Care
Sunlight
Full sunlight conditions, six hours of light exposure or more, are best.
Watering
Both overwatering and underwatering can be an issue. Aim to water about once per week during the growing season.
Fertilizing
Add a balanced fertilizer about three to four times per year.
Planting and Care
Planting instructions
A soursop tree can survive in both full sun and partial shade conditions, but more sun makes for better growth in this plant. The area in which you choose to plant your soursop tree should also have slightly acidic soils and good drainage.
Begin the planting process by digging a hole that is as deep as the root ball is tall and twice as wide. After backfilling, be sure to provide a healthy layer of mulch above your plant’s roots to retain moisture in the soil.
Watering and nutrients
Giving your soursop tree the correct amount of water can be a challenge. While you’ll want to avoid allowing the soil to dry out completely, it can be just as bad to soak this tree too much. Try watering your soursop tree about once per week, and monitor the soil moisture to see if you need to change that rate.
Fertilization is a bit simpler for the soursop tree. All you’ll need to do on this front is provide a fertilizer with a 10-10-10 ratio about once every few months.
Pollination
In the wild, soursop trees usually rely on beetles and other insects to perform their pollination. However, pollination can be a struggle for those who grow this tree in garden settings.
While a single soursop flower contains both male and female parts, these parts develop at different times, making it unlikely that the pollen will be present at the same time that the female parts are ready for pollination. Often, the best solution is to collect pollen and then hand-pollinate your tree on your own.
Pruning
As always, you should use your pruning cuts to remove any part of the soursop tree that shows significant damage or signs that it is dying. You can also shape this plant for aesthetic purposes.
In most cases, it is best to prune a soursop tree just after the harvest is over. Timing your pruning for this period can reduce the amount of stress your plant experiences. However, the pruning needs for soursop trees are generally low, meaning you won’t need to make cuts too often.
Pest, diseases, and animals
There are a few health complications that can occur in a soursop tree. If you aren’t careful, one of these problems can easily cause your soursop tree to decline prematurely. Scale insects, mealybugs, and grubs can all infest a soursop tree and cause significant issues.
Disease issues can also be an issue for soursop trees. One of the most common problems that comes up is root rot. Root rot is often avoidable — the result of improper watering. Anthracnose and leaf drop can affect soursop trees as well.
Harvesting
The main reason to grow a soursop tree is to harvest its fruit. These fruits have the potential to ripen off the vine, which means it’s OK if you pick them a bit before they are ripe. However, the fruits will also give you some physical cues indicating that they are ready for harvest. When a soursop fruit is ready for picking, it will become softer to the touch and change from dark green to light yellow.
Achieving maximum results
When caring for a soursop tree, you’ll need to account for its shallow root system. The main challenge here is ensuring that those roots get all the moisture they need. Mulching is incredibly important for this species. It helps retain soil moisture, allowing the shallow roots to soak in all the water they need. You should also know that, as a tropical plant, soursop trees have a strong preference for humid conditions. Usually, the more humid the air is, the better a soursop tree will grow and develop fruit.
FAQs
Are soursop fruits safe to eat?
The seeds of a soursop tree are highly toxic, which leads some gardeners to believe that the fruits are not safe to eat. However, that is not the case. While you should avoid eating the seeds at all costs, it is entirely safe to eat the white flesh you find within the fruit. This flesh has an intriguing tropical flavor that can be hard to describe, but most people find it to be delicious.
In what climates can soursop trees grow?
Soursop trees come from tropical regions and enjoy the climatic conditions that are present there. As such, soursop trees love to have plenty of humidity in the air and are partial to warm weather as well. Soursop trees grow in hardiness zones 9 through 11 and cannot survive when the air temperature drops to near 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Based on those preferences, people living in southern states have the best chance of growing a healthy soursop tree outdoors.
How long does it take for a soursop tree to grow fruit?
One of the reasons why so many people love the soursop tree is that it not only produces tasty fruits but also does so in a relatively short time frame. In just over three years, you can expect a new soursop tree to begin developing viable fruits that will make for a good harvest. The relatively fast growth rate of this plant allows it to increase its size and fruit quantity faster than you might expect.
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Customer Reviews
I love my tree!Awesome! Thanks!
Sour sopGregory, Thank you very much for the sour sop tree . Yes, my family and I do really love it very much. Thanks for your help.
Soupsop plantI plant the soupsop in backyard. The plant have a new shout a new leaves come out .
Mature height |
25-30 ft. |
Mature width |
20-25 ft. |
Sunlight requirement |
Full Sun |
Growth rate |
Moderate |
Botanical name |
Annona muricata |
Shipping exclusions |
AZ |
Grows Well In Zones |
4-11 patio / 10-11 outdoors |
Growing Zones: 4-11 patio / 10-11 outdoors i Growing zones help determine if a particular plant is likely to grow well in a location. It identifies the average annual minimum winter temperatures across the U.S. provided as a map by the USDA.
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