Fruit seeds of custard apple (Annona sp)

Common name: Custard apple Scientific name: Annona sp Also known as: Indian pineapple Custard apple is a plant from the Annonaceae family, and it is semi-deciduous and may be deciduous. The tree is medium-sized, reaching up to 7 meters in height. The buds are located under the long, lance-shaped, sharp leaf petioles, which fall off before new growth appears. The root system is shallow. Flowers of the custard apple: Its flowers are lateral like grapes, and they appear singly or in pairs, characterized by a long flowering season. Fruit and seeds of the custard apple: The fruit is clustered, consisting of fused carpels with the pulp, and each carpel contains one seed. The fruit contains a large number of seeds. Custard apple planting season: The best time to plant is early spring, during March and April in Arab countries, or early autumn, from late August to early October. It can also be cultivated year-round in agricultural protected areas, enclosed or plastic-covered places where temperature can be controlled, and where the plant receives sufficient sunlight. Suitable climate and soil for custard apple: It tolerates cold weather and high temperatures and needs adequate sunlight. The best soil for planting custard apple is fertile loamy soil. It also grows well in clayey and sandy soils. It should be watered regularly. How to plant custard apple: It propagates in three ways: seeds, cuttings, and grafting. When planting by seeds, they are soaked in water for two days before germination, at a depth of 1 cm to 2 cm from the soil surface. The location should be protected from wind. The seedlings appear after three weeks. They should be watered well during growth, fertilized every three months, and pruned regularly to strengthen the plant for bearing heavy fruit. Custard apple usually bears fruit after three years of planting. Its benefits and uses: It is used as an ornamental tree in gardens, and its fruits are edible, sweet-tasting, and have health benefits. Original habitat of custard apple: Tropical regions of the American continent. It is also cultivated in Arab countries such as Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, and Palestine. It is grown in Saudi Arabia and many other parts of the world.