Tropical fruits: Soursop

Soursop is a fruit with an acidic taste, closely related to the sweeter custard apple. This page provides some basic information on the soursop.

Scientific name:	Annona muricata
Synonym	Annona sericea
Family:	Annonaceae
Order:	Magnoliales
Common names:	English: Soursop, Brazilian pawpaw, Prickly custard apple
	Spanish: Guanábana, Guanábano
	Dutch: Zuurzak
	German: Sauersack, Stachelannone
	Portuguese: Graviola
Origin:	Caribbean, Central America, South America
Distribution:	Caribbean, Central America, South America, South-East Asia
Evergreen or deciduous:	Evergreen
Flowers:
Leaves:
Fruits:	Fruits are 20 to 30 cm long. The green surface is prickly. The skin has a pattern of diamonds or squares, each with a soft bended thorn. Fruits can weigh up to over 2 kg. The taste of the fruit is slightly acidic (hence the name soursop) and can be compared with strawberry and pineapple mixed together. Inside the fruit is a white pulp with many seeds and fibrous membranes around pockets of flesh. The fruits contain vitamins C, B1 and B2.
Climate and weather:	The soursop likes a climate with high humidity and relatively warm winters. The temperature should never fall below 5 °C.
Pollination:
Height:	Soursop are small trees that can be up to 10 meters tall but usually smaller.
Crown size:
Blooming period
Type of soil:
Preferred pH:
Moisture:	Likes high humidity.
Light:
Growth rate:
Spacing (close range)
Spacing (wide range)
Canopy:
Propagation:
Insect pests:
Diseases:
Fruit development:
Harvesting:
Uses:	The fruit is difficult to eat as it is and is therefore usually squeezed out to juice.

Soursop