Quick stats
| Family | Annonaceae |
|---|---|
| Typical harvest | 13.3 t/ha |
| Varieties | 2 |
| Pests & diseases | 7 |
| Seasons | 3 |
Crop profile
| Growth habit | tree |
|---|---|
| Days to harvest | perennial |
| Main uses | Fresh fruit; processing (juice, pulp); medicinal/traditional uses |
| Pollination | insect |
| Origin / where it grows | Neotropics; now grown in humid lowland tropics |
Weather, soil & spacing
| Best temperature | 24–32 °C |
|---|---|
| Rainfall | 1200–2000 mm/yr |
| Altitude | 0–1200 m |
| Best pH | 5.5–6.5 |
| Soil type | Deep, well-drained loam; high organic matter |
| Row spacing | 600 cm |
| Plant spacing | 600 cm |
| Seed rate | kg/ha (check local recommendation) |
| Nursery days | — |
Simple notes for farmers
About the crop: This crop has a growth habit described as "tree". You can normally start harvesting about perennial days after planting, depending on care and variety.
Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for fresh fruit; processing (juice, pulp); medicinal/traditional uses.
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: Neotropics; now grown in humid lowland tropics It is grouped under: Fruits & Nuts.
Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 24 and 32 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; high organic matter. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.
Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 600 centimetres apart, and leave about 600 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.
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 at planting | 0 | Compost + DAP 18-46-0 (light) | 5 kg/tree (compost) + 100 g DAP | 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 |