Plant family: Annonaceae
Plant origin: South America. Forbidden Fruits Nursery Variety developed this Cherimoya.
Fruit description: The Forbidden Fruits Nursery Variety of Cherimoya is the best ever ! The tree is fast growing, fruits in its first year, is cold hardy, gives a total abundance of fruit which has very few seeds and is of delicious eating quality. It surpasses all other cherimoya varieties. The cherimoya fruit is pale green. It weighs up to 500 g. There are several seeds within the flesh, about 1 cm in diameter. These are easily removed. The cherimoya is regarded as even more delicious to eat than the custard apple. The cherimoya flavour is described as a divine combination of the flavours of lemon, pineapple, banana, mango, papaya and passionfruit. The flesh is soft, white, fragrant, delicious, sweet and a little tart. It is very creamy, resembling custard.
Flowers: The flowers are green or pale yellow, and fragrant. They are unusual in that they have a short life, beginning as females and becoming male later the second day. The flowers are hermaphroditic having male and female parts. The pollen is not active for very long.
Growing conditions: The cherimoya tree is a dense spreading semi-deciduous small tree. It grows to 4 metres high, with attractive velvety leaves. The large long or heart shaped leaves are shed in late Spring before flowering. The young plant should be staked and protected from wind. The cherimoya prefers well drained soil and a mild not hot but sunny position. The Forbidden Fruits variety is cold hardy and prolific.
Pruning will help produce better fruit and make it easier to harvest. The tree must be strong to support the heavy and prolific crop and to protect the fruit and flowers. It also affects pollination
Uses: Eat the fruit of cherimoyas when very slightly soft (like a ripe avocado) but before the skin turns brown or splits. Remove the seeds, then puree the flesh and eat it like mousse or use in other desserts. You can freeze the flesh and enjoy it like ice-cream. Store ripe fruit in the refrigerator.
Medicinal uses:
Pollination requirements: Self – Pollinating. The flowers are green or pale yellow, and fragrant. They are unusual in that they have a short life, beginning as females and becoming male later the second day. The flowers are hermaphroditic having male and female parts. The pollen is not active for very long.
Harvest time The plant starts to fruit after 1 year. Harvest your cherimoyas when large and green. Store out of the sun. They can ripen after picking, at room temperature. They ripen faster in the presence of other fruit. The Harvest season is May to December.
Plant relatives Custard Apple, Brazil Custard Apple, Soursop, Ylang Ylang
Special features: Cold hardy. Very long fruiting season
Grown by method: Grafted Pot size: 6 litre
Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 2.5 metres high by 2 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 4 metres high by 3 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.
Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 6 litre
