Cherimoya "the most delicious fruit known to man" - Mark Twain

Kirimoja 'Annona cherimola' is a bushy exotic fruit tree from the Andes mountain range in South America. Cherimoya's exotic fruit is grown worldwide and is considered one of the finest fruits in the world.

Take care of Cherimoya

Despite its exotic origin, it is possible to grow Cherimoya at home. This fruit tree thrives best in well-drained soil and a sunny location.

The Kirimoja plant needs to be protected against frost and strong winds, even though it can withstand temperatures down to 0 degrees. The plant must be wintered cold, otherwise it will never bear fruit. Prune the tree regularly to shape it and promote fruiting. Remove dead or damaged branches.

Origin

Cherimoya ( Annona cherimola ) comes from South America, where it grows naturally in the mountainous regions of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. Nowadays, Kirimoja fruit is also grown in other subtropical areas around the world, such as Spain and California.

Appearance

Cherimoya is grown as an ornamental tree indoors, although the plant can grow up to 7 meters tall. The leaves are large, elliptical and shiny green. The fruit tree looks very exotic when grown indoors as a small ornamental tree.

Cherimoya can be pruned to keep a compact and bushy shape. The plant is deciduous and loses its leaves during the winter in cooler climates.

Fruits

Cherimoya fruits are heart-shaped, with a green and scaly skin. As the fruit ripens, it becomes soft, and the white pulp inside is sweet and creamy, filled with black, inedible seeds. The cherimoya fruit is often eaten raw, and its taste is reminiscent of a mixture of banana, pineapple and vanilla.

To give the best possible harvest, the tree needs to be cross-pollinated, as it is difficult for the flowers to pollinate themselves. This can be done manually with a brush if the tree is grown indoors. The flowers of the cherimoya are small and yellow-green, with a scent that attracts pollinating insects.

Proliferation

Cherimoya can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. If you sow seeds, it takes about three to five years for the tree to start bearing fruit. The seeds are planted in well-drained soil and kept moist but not wet. Cuttings can be used to get a fruit-bearing plant faster, but it is somewhat more difficult to succeed.

With the right care, you can enjoy both the exotic appearance and the tropical fruits of cherimoya. Buy Cherimoya fruit trees online and grow your own exotic fruits in Sweden!