SOUR SOP (ANNONA MURICATA) aka GUANABANA/GRAVIOLA

Description

SOUR SOP (ANNONA MURICATA) IS A RAPID GROWING, LOW BRANCHING, BUSHY,  EVERGREEN TREE THAT CAN BE FOUND GROWING IN MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES INCLUDING JAMAICA, THE WEST INDIES, MEXICO, NORTHERN PARTS OF SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AFRICA, CHINA, AUSTRALIA, AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA THAT INCLUDES THE PHILIPINES, MALAYSIA AND VIETNAM. IN THE UNITED STATES, SOUR SOP WILL GROW WELL IN HAWAII, AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE US SUCH AS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, TEXAS AND BOTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA.  ALTHOUGH PARTIAL TO TROPICAL CLIMATES, SOUR SOP WILL STILL THRIVE IN SUBTROPICAL AREAS BUT WILL NOT TOLERATE FROST OR COLD TEMPERATURES THAT DROP BELOW 30 F WHICH WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TREE WHILE TEMPS BELOW 26 F WILL RESULT IN DEATH
SOUR SOP TREES CAN GROW UP TO 30 FT TALL. LEAVES ARE SOMEWHAT ORNAMENTAL WITH A BRIGHT, GLOSSY GREEN COLORATION. THE FRUIT ARE IRREGULARLY SHAPED, RANGING FROM OVAL TO KIDNEY OR HEART SHAPED. WHEN THE FRUIT IS IMMATURE THE TEXTURE IS SOLID/FIRM, THE COAT IS SHINY GREEN, WITH A LEATHERY APPEARING SKIN THAT IS COVERED IN SMALL SOFT SPINY PROTRUSIONS. WHEN FIT (READY TO BE PICKED) OR RIPE, THE COLOR GOES FROM A DULL GREEN TO A PALE GREEN WITH A SLIGHT YELLOW TINT.  A GENTLE SQUEEZE OF THE FRUIT WILL GIVE UNDER PRESSURE WHICH INDICATES FRUIT THAT IS READY TO PICK. SOUR SOPS CAN GROW ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 12 OR MORE INCHES LONG AND CAN WEIGH UP TO 15 OR MORE POUNDS. THE FLESH OF THE FRUIT CONTAINS A CREAMY WHITE PULP WITH DARK BLACK INEDIBLE SEEDS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT SEGMENTS OF THE MILKY  PULP.  THE FLAVOR IS TART TO SWEET, WITH SUBTLE TROPICAL FLAVORS THAT ARE REMINISCENT OF BANANA , AND PINEAPPLE WITH HINTS OF COCONUT AND OTHER CITRUS FLAVORS. IN LATIN AMERICA, THE FRUIT IS OFTEN MADE INTO MILK SHAKES (BATIDOS). THE FLESH OF THE FRUIT CAN ALSO BE USED TO MAKE CANDIES, JUICES AND SHERBETS.
CULTIVARS WITH A LOWER FIBER CONTENT CAN BE GRAFTED BUT MOST COUNTRIES TYPICALLY PROPAGATE SOUR SOP FROM SEEDS WHICH REMAIN VIABLE FOR UP TO 6 MONTHS BUT WILL HAVE BETTER GERMINATION RATES WHEN PLANTED FRESH OR WITHIN 30 DAYS OF HARVESTING THE FRUIT. UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS, FRUITING FROM SEEDLINGS CAN OCCUR WITHIN 3 TO 5 YEARS.
SOIL:  WILL TOLERATE MOST WELL DRAINING SOIL. SOUR SOP IS SOMEWHAT SALT TOLERANT IF YOU LIVE ALONG COASTAL WATERS. YOUR PLANT WILL FLOURISH IN ORGANIC, RICH, WELL DRAINED, SANDY SOIL WITH A MORE ACID PH 5.0 - 6.5. MULCHING IS VERY BENEFICIAL IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THE WEATHER IS HOT AND DRY. AS YOUR TREE'S ROOT SYSTEM DEVELOPS, WIDEN THE MULCH LAYER UP TO 5 FEET OUTWARD FROM YOUR PLANT'S CANOPY AND REPLACE WITH FRESH MULCH EACH YEAR
WATER:  PREFERS REGULAR WATERING WITH JUST ENOUGH TO KEEP THE SOIL MOIST BUT NOT WET OR PESTS MAY BECOME A PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH DROUGHT TOLERANT, LONG PERIODS OF DRY WEATHER IN THE ABSENCE OF IRRIGATION CAN LEAD TO LEAF DROP.
FERTILIZER: 10-10-10 APPLY UP TO 1/2 LB OF FERTILIZER DIVIDED QUARTERLY THROUGHOUT THE FIRST YEAR OF GROWTH. INCREASE TO 1 LB DURING THE SECOND YEAR. MAXIMUM OF 3 LBS DURING THE THIRD YEAR OF GROWTH. THE REGULAR APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS CAN HELP YOUR TREE TO GROW FASTER IF YOUR SOIL IS DEFICIENT IN CERTAIN MINERALS.
SUNLIGHT: AT LEAST 6 TO 8 HOURS OF SUNLIGHT ONCE YOUR PLANT IS MORE MATURE (3 TO 6 MONTHS OLD IN THE GROUND OR IN A CONTAINER). TOLERANT OF PART SHADE BUT FRUIT PRODUCTION MAY BE AFFECTED. IF CONTAINER GROWN KEEP YOUR PLANT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF YOUR HOME.
AFTER REMOVING YOUR SEEDLING FROM THE PLASTIC BAGGIE, DO NOT REMOVE THE PLANT FROM THE BIODEGRADABLE CUP. CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE SOIL IS STILL MOIST. IF NOT, HYDRATE YOUR SEEDLING WITH DISTILLED, SPRING OR REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER. DO NOT USE TAP WATER WHICH CONTAINS CHLORINE WHICH MIGHT DAMAGE YOUR PLANT.
PLANT THE BIODEGRADABLE CUP WITH YOUR PLANT DIRECTLY IN YOUR NURSERY POT OR YOUR GARDEN LOCATION OF CHOICE. ANY GOOD QUALITY WELL DRAINING SOIL WILL ENSURE THAT YOUR PLANT THRIVES. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT GROWING YOUR SEEDLING, PLEASE MESSAGE ME RIGHT AWAY SO I CAN HELP.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: I RECOMMEND YOU GROW YOUR PLANT IN A 3 TO 5 GALLON PLASTIC NURSERY POT INITIALLY UNTILL YOUR PLANT BECOMES MORE MATURE (6 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR OLD).  PROTECT YOUR YOUNG PLANT FROM EXCESSIVE SUNLIGHT. KEEP THEM IN TEMPS OF 70 F TO 80 F IN FULL SHADE UPON ARRIVAL SO THAT YOUR PLANT MAY ACCLIMATE SLOWLY TO PREVENT SHOCK. THESE CONDITIONS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED FOR AT LEAST 1 TO 2 DAYS THEN GRADUALLY INCREASE THE AVAILABLE SUNLIGHT. ONCE YOUR PLANT HAS RECOVERED THEN POSITION IT SOMEWHERE THAT RECEIVES PART SUN. CHOOSE A LOCATION TO MINIMIZE EXCESS SUN WHICH MAY BURN LEAVES OR SHOCK A YOUNG PLANT THAT IS RECOVERING FROM SHIPPING STRESS. IF LEAVES ARE BECOMING BURNED THEN YOUR LOCATION WHERE YOU HAVE PLACED YOUR PLANT IS TOO SUNNY/HOT. ONCE YOUR PLANT IS FULLY RECOVERED THEN YOU MAY PLACE IT IN MILD TO MODERATE SUNLIGHT CONDITIONS UNTIL YOUR PLANT BECOMES MORE MATURE 6 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR OLD WHEN IT CAN HANDLE FULL SUN.
IF YOUR PLANT ARRIVES DAMAGED BEYOND VIABILITY THEN CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY WITH PICTURES OF YOUR PLANT STILL SECURED IN THE BOX SO THAT I CAN ADDRESS THE ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I DO MY BEST TO KEEP ALL MY CUSTOMERS HAPPY SO PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK BEFORE ALLOWING ME A CHANCE TO MAKE THE SITUATION RIGHT. HOWEVER, I CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE DUE TO FAILURE TO WATER YOUR PLANT, LEAVING IT IN EXCESSIVELY HIGH HEAT/SUNLIGHT OR LOW/FREEZING TEMPERATURES.