Description
Soursop Guanabana Trees produce one of the most striking, delicious, and nutritious fruits in the world. The 4 to 8 inch fruits are elongated and have a light green, segmented appearance that features a multitude of rounded spikes. Inside the ripe flesh is a creamy custard with flavors of banana, pineapple, and mango. The leaves can be made into tea that is said to have many health-giving properties, but use caution because the seeds and bark can contain toxins.
The Soursop Guanabana Tree can be grown in the ground in USDA Zones 9 to 11, or in a container in Zones 4 ?Çô 11. The trees have dark green leaves and bright yellow, fragrant blooms. They will grow in a range of soil types, but do best in a soil that is slightly acidic.
Soursop (Guanabana) Tree Care
The Soursop Guanabana Tree is low maintenance, easy to grow, and has the ability to boom and produce fruit at various times of the year. They are moderately fast growing, and reach sizes of between 25 and 30 feet tall, and up to 10 feet wide. Keep this mature size in mind when choosing a planting location. Dig a hole that is three times the width of the tree’s root ball, and only slightly deeper. Add organic material such as compost to position the tree so that the root ball surface is about 2 to 3 inches above the surface ground level. Back fill the hole and water in thoroughly.
You can also grow a Soursop Guanabana Tree in a suitable container with holes for drainage. Choose a pot that is at least 3 inches wider on all sides than the current pot, and plant with potting soil. When you water your potted Soursop Guanabana Tree, be sure to let it drain fully. The best practice is to water outside, but you can also water your tree in a shower or bath, so the soil can drain properly.
Fruit & Harvesting
Pick your Soursop Guanabana fruit when the segments are fully formed and the fruit is a light to bright green. Wait a few days until the fruit yields slightly to a firm squeeze. When cut into, a perfectly ripe Soursop will have the consistency of creamy, dense pudding and the flavor will be sweet, tangy, and something like a combination of pineapple, banana, sweet orange, and tropical mango. Do not eat the large seeds. The flesh has a vey slight acidity and a dessert-like taste. Under-ripe fruit will be dry and slightly astringent, while overripe fruit will be more watery and less flavorful.
Soursop Guanabana Trees can also be used to make tea from the green leaves, and this tea is said to fight infection, fortify the immune system, aid in sleep, and provide pain relief. Soursop Guanabana leaves are also traditionally used to treat headaches, colds, back pain, and eczema.
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