Giant Soursop Plant - Arusha
Soursop (Annona muricata)
Soursop is an oval, heart-shaped or oblong fruit that has a deep green skin with many short, fleshy spines. The flesh is white, juicy and aromatic with a cottonlike texture. Embedded with brown seeds, it has a flavour like pineapple and mango. The tropical fruit is often eaten raw, or it can be incorporated into drinks, sorbet/ice cream, jellies and jams or candies.
In tropical conditions it grows vigorously and seedling trees will fruit within 2-3 years. In the subtropics it requires substantial protection from cold winds and will not tolerate frosts. The tree prefers deep well drained semi-dry soil.
Soursop trees will turn any space into a tropical getaway indoors or out. This low maintenance tree is perfect for containers. If you live in an area that gets too cold for this tree simply place it in a pot and bring it indoors once the weather starts to get cold.
Plant Care
- Soil: Prefers rich, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5.
- Watering: Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist. Reduce watering slightly during the cooler months.
- Temperature: Thrives in temperatures between 25°C and 30°C. Protect from cold drafts and frost.
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Fertilising: Fertilize with a balanced NPK ratio like 10-10-10 every three months during the growing season. Consider additional applications of organic compost or manure.
- Pruning: Prune to maintain a manageable size and shape, and to remove dead or diseased limbs. This helps enhance airflow and light penetration.
- Mulching: Use organic mulch to help retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weed growth.
- Pest Control: Monitor for pests such as borers, mealybugs, and scale. Manage pests using appropriate organic or chemical methods.
- Flowering and Fruiting: Produces large, fragrant flowers that turn into spiky, large fruits. The fruit ripens several months after flowering.
- Potting: Suitable for large containers but requires diligent care in watering and feeding to thrive.
- Feeding Regime: Additional potassium during the flowering and fruit development stages can enhance fruit quality.
Disclaimer:
This is generic advice only and your results may vary.
We ship our plants and garden supplies throughout New Zealand. Due to the increased costs of shipping and packaging, we now apply a minimal delivery charge. After offering free shipping for three consecutive years, we find it necessary to adjust this policy to align with current market conditions. However, we have lowered our prices to help offset this change.
Please note, we do not ship plants or garden supplies internationally from New Zealand. We do export plants and tissue culture materials from our overseas nursery, which requires a minimum order. Please contact us at hello@exoticanz.com to discuss your specific requirements.
Shipping (per plant)
Auckland & Northland: $20
Rest of North Island: $25
South Island: $45
Rural Address: Additional $5
Shipping Garden Supplies
Auckland & Northland: $10
Rest of North Island: $15
South Island: $20
Rural Address: Additional $5
Delivery
- Our plants are available for shipment throughout the year, depending on stock levels. Typical delivery times range from 5 to 7 business days, although they can take up to 10 business days depending on the destination.
- We take extra care in packaging; most of our plants are secured in bespoke inserts and shipped in individual boxes to ensure they arrive undamaged.
- Deliveries are scheduled once a week, typically on Monday. If you place your order over the weekend, we aim to dispatch your plants on the following Monday. This scheduling allows our team to prepare your order thoroughly and ensures the courier has sufficient time to deliver your plants safely, avoiding any unnecessary delays over the weekend.
- All orders are shipped via courier track and trace service (not signature required)
- We cannot deliver to PO Box addresses.
- If you have a rural address, please contact us beforehand to discuss the best delivery options and avoid any potential issues.
Additional Delivery Information
- We dispatch our plants year-round, as most are shipped with soil. During the winter months, we closely monitor weather conditions and may temporarily delay shipments if the weather is particularly severe. Our packing process includes adding insulation when necessary to protect the plants against temperature extremes.
- In summer, we ensure that plants are thoroughly watered before they leave our nursery. Occasionally, we may need to ship plants bare-rooted, particularly when they cannot be comfortably re-potted into smaller packaging for shipping. We will always discuss this with you in advance if your plant needs to be shipped in this manner.
- It's important to note that shipping can be a stressful experience for plants, often due to spending several days in a dark, confined space. While most plants withstand this with little to no stress, some may experience leaf drop. However, they generally recover quickly with some additional care, including proper watering and gradual reintroduction to light after arrival.
