Pink Sugar Apple Plant - Sweetsop
Sugar Apple (Annona squamosa)
Sourced from a rare variety of Pink Sugar Apple or as it famously known as a Sweetsop. The Pink Sugar Apple is different from the Red, Purple or Yellow variety as it is more cold tolerant, a smaller plant, sweeter in taste and has a lower seed to flesh ratio. The exquisite taste of Pink Sugar Apple is very closely related to the cherimoya. The fruit are typically baseball to softball size, and they taste like sugary sweet custard. The pulp may be eaten raw and tastes aromatic, sweet, with a custard-like flavour; it is also used to prepare juices, jellies, and compotes. The Sugar Apple is consumed as a fresh dessert fruit or used for preparing juices and ice creams.
The Pink Sugar Apple can grow to 3m high with an equal spread, and bears fruit that resemble a small pink artichoke. Cut the fruit open and you'll find white flesh with a custard like flavour. Sugar Apple can be planted in a large pot.
Sugar Apple is self-pollinated, and they are true to type. Growing sugar apple from seed typically produces fruit within 3 years. However, in NZ, with ideal conditions and the right climate it will fruit after 3+ years.
Plant Care
- Soil: Prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
- Watering: Water frequently to maintain moist soil, especially during the growing and fruiting seasons.
- Temperature: Ideal temperatures are between 25°C and 30°C. Protect from cold drafts and frost.
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Fertilising: Fertilize with a balanced NPK like 10-10-10 every three months during the growing season. Additional compost can be beneficial.
- Pruning: Prune to maintain shape and remove dead or damaged limbs. Helps improve fruit size and quality.
- Mulching: Use organic mulch to help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth.
- Pest Control: Monitor for scale insects and mealybugs, treating with organic pesticides as needed.
- Flowering and Fruiting: Produces fragrant flowers, followed by large, sweet fruits that are ready to harvest when they soften and the skin turns slightly yellow.
- Potting: Suitable for large containers with good drainage. Ensure frequent watering and nutrient application.
- Feeding Regime: Additional potassium during the fruiting season enhances fruit sweetness and production.
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.
