Quick stats
| Family | Annonaceae |
|---|---|
| Typical harvest | 13.3 t/ha |
| Varieties | 2 |
| Pests & diseases | 7 |
| Seasons | 3 |
Crop profile
| Growth habit | perennial |
|---|---|
| Days to harvest | 365+ |
| Main uses | Fruit; processing |
| Pollination | insect |
| Origin / where it grows | Tropics Americas; Africa/Asia |
Weather, soil & spacing
| Best temperature | 22–30 °C |
|---|---|
| Rainfall | 1200–2000 mm/yr |
| Altitude | 0–1200 m |
| Best pH | 5.5–6.5 |
| Soil type | Deep, well-drained loam |
| Row spacing | 700 cm |
| Plant spacing | 700 cm |
| Planting depth | 60 cm |
| Seed rate | kg/ha (check local recommendation) |
| Nursery days | — |
Simple notes for farmers
About the crop: This crop is perennial, which means once you plant it, the same plant can keep producing for many years. You can normally start harvesting about 365+ days after planting, depending on care and variety.
Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for fruit; processing.
Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by insect. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.
Where it grows: Tropics Americas; Africa/Asia It is grouped under: Fruits & Nuts.
Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 1200 to 2000 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 1200 metres above sea level.
Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 5.5 to 6.5. It does well in deep, well-drained loam. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.
Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 700 centimetres apart, and leave about 700 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.
Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 60 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.
Seed or planting material: Use good quality seed or healthy planting material. Follow local extension advice for the exact amount per hectare.
Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)
Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)
| # | Stage | DAP | Product | Rate | Targets (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basal | 0 | NPK 15-15-15 | 150 kg/ha | N: —, P₂O₅: 10, K₂O: — | Mix in backfill; keep away from stem |
| 2 | Vegetative split N | 90 | CAN 26% N | 150 g/tree | N: 10, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — | Apply in ring under canopy; water in |
| 3 | Pre-bloom balanced feed | 300 | NPK 17-17-17 | 200 g/tree | N: 10, P₂O₅: 10, K₂O: 10 | Light dose before flowering |
| 4 | Fruit fill K boost | 360 | Sulfate of potash (SOP) | 250 g/tree | N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: 15 | Prefer SOP for fruit quality |
| 5 | Micronutrient foliar (opt.) | 320 | Ca/B/Zn foliar (as label) | 0 — | N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — | Apply cool hours; supports set/skin |
Nutrient requirements
| Nutrient | Stage | Amount | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | Basal | 50 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Basal | 30 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Basal | 70 | kg/ha |
| N | Establishment | 20 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Establishment | 20 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Establishment | 20 | kg/ha |
| N | Vegetative | 40 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Vegetative | 30 | kg/ha |
| N | Flower_set | 15 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Flower_set | 20 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Flower_set | 30 | kg/ha |
| N | Fruit_fill | 10 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Fruit_fill | 40 | kg/ha |
| N | Maintenance | 30 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Maintenance | 10 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Maintenance | 30 | kg/ha |
Field images (picha shambani)
| Name | Country | Maturity | Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Soursop | KE | 900 | Aromatic pulp |
| Local soursop selection | TZ | 900 | Coastal adaptation; good pulp yield |
| Stage | Product | Rate (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basal | Compost (well-decomposed) | 5000 | Mulch rings/basins |
| Vegetative | CAN 26% N | 80 | Split 2–3× per year on young trees |
| Fruit fill | Sulfate of potash (SOP) | 60 | Boost K for fruit quality |
| Name | Type | Symptoms | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit fly | pest | Maggots in fruit | Baiting; bagging; sanitation |
| Fruit flies (Tephritidae) | pest | Stings; larval tunnels; fruit drop | Protein baiting, field sanitation, fruit bagging, timely harvest |
| Mealybugs & scales | pest | Honeydew; sooty mold; twig decline | Prune for airflow; control ants; oils/soft insecticides; conserve predators |
| Anthracnose (Colletotrichum) | disease | Leaf/fruit lesions; postharvest decay | Open canopy; protectants in wet periods; careful handling |
| Phytophthora root/collar rot | disease | Cankers; wilting; tree decline | Excellent drainage; avoid trunk wetting; phosphonates if needed |
| Fruit borers (Lepidoptera) | pest | Bored fruit; frass | Field sanitation; bagging; targeted control |
| Root-knot nematodes | pest | Galled roots; stunting | Organic matter; rotations/cover crops; tolerant rootstocks where available |
| System | Typical | Min | Max | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| orchard | 12 | 6 | 20 | |
| smallholder rainfed | 10 | 6 | 15 | Mature orchards; 40–60 kg/tree typical where well managed |
| irrigated/intensive | 18 | 12 | 25 | Improved cultivars, nutrition, and pruning |
| Country | Region | Planting | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| KE | Coastal lowlands | Mar–Apr | Aug–Dec |
| KE | Coastal lowlands (alt) | Oct–Nov | Mar–Jun |
| TZ | Coastal belt | Mar–Apr | Aug–Dec |
| Country | Region | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| KE | Coastal lowlands | High |
| KE | Cool highlands (>1500 m) | Low |
| KE | Frost-prone uplands | Low |
| TZ | Coastal belt & islands | High |
| UG | Warm lowlands (lake shore) | Medium |