Custard apple (Anona squamosa L.) is a small group of edible fruits of genus Annona and family Annonaceae are collectively known as annonaceous fruits. It is one of the most delicious fruits mainly consumed fresh. Annona fruits are formed by fusion of pistil and receptacle into a large flashy aggregate fruit.

Custard apple fruits have morphological affinity for each other but each type is unique in its taste, flavor, pulp color and texture. The Custard apple fruits originated in tropical America and are widely distributed in tropics and sub tropics. It is hardy, tolerant to drought, salinity and saline irrigation water to certain extent. It grows very well even on shallow soils. It also sheds off leaves during stress period to evade moisture loss from plant tissues through transpiration and thus most appropriate fruit crop for rainfed region.

Custard Apple Varieties Available In Kenya

  • Hybrid
  • Washington
  • Balanagar
  • Red Sitaphal

Custard Apple Farming Returns In Kenya

Custard apple plants can be highly productive, with a mature tree producing an average of 100 fruit weighing between 300 โ€“ 400 grams. This translates into 30 to 40kg per tree. In the local market, the price per kilo ranges from Ksh 80 to Ksh 130 per kilo during the offseason. A farmer with an acre containing 300 plants can earn between Ksh 720,000 to Ks 1,170,000. Isnโ€™t this a good amount?

The fruits have a high demand in both the local and export markets. Before understanding the dynamics of the export markets, farmers should try to target the local market. They can sell their produce in open-air markets, supermarkets, groceries, and food parlors in different parts of the country.

Custard Apple Seedlings In Kenya

Custard apple is planted from seedlings but it can also be planted from seeds which take longer time to mature.

LIST OF FRUIT SEEDLINGS AVAILABLE: https://farmerstrend.co.ke/shop/

They can also be propagated vegetatively through cuttings, layering, grafting or budding.

It is recommended to plant at the beginning of the rainy season for proper establishment of the plant.

Custard Apple Seedlings can be obtained at Fruit Africa Nurseries or Farmers Trend Nurseries by contacting 0724-559286 / 0790-509684 / 0752-452939

Climatic requirements for custard apple farming in Kenya

Custard apples are tropical in origin and grow well in hot and dry climate with varying degrees of difference. Custard Apple requires hot dry climate during flowering and high humidity at fruit setting. Flowering comes during hot dry climate but fruit setting takes place on onset of rainy season. Low humidity is harmful for pollination and fertilization.

The Custard Apple withstands drought conditions cloudy weather and also when the temperatures go below 15 deg.cent. Annual rainfall of 50-80 cm is optimum, though it can withstand higher rainfall.

For pollination and fertilization, low humidity is detrimental.

Soil Requirements on Custard Apple Farming In Kenya

Custard apple can be grown all types of soil. It can grow best in shallow and poor classes, so it does not require a deep soil. The drainage soil should be proper, as it suffers from water-logging.

They are best suited to sandy loam soils, but well-structured clay loams are suitable. Although the main feeder roots are relatively shallow, at least 1 m of well-drained soil without heavy clay or rock is needed to avoid root rot and ensure good tree performance. Where the topsoil is less than 1 m deep, plant the trees on mounds.

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Where possible, avoid soils where tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, capsicums and ginger were previously grown. These crops are potential hosts of the disease bacterial wilt, to which custard apple is also susceptible. The disease threat is worst in poorly drained soils.

The tree tolerates moderately acid to neutral soils (pH 5.5โ€“8.5). Its tolerates salinity to great extent, but does not withstand alkalinity. The tree suffers from water-logging and roots are very sensitive
to stagnation. It tolerates drought to an extensive extent.

Custard Apple Farming On Sloppy Land

Slopes of up to 15% are suitable provided the orchard is designed to minimise erosion. Steeper slopes present a major erosion risk and make it difficult to operate machinery safely. Avoid these wherever possible.

Manure and fertilizer

To maintain plant health and vigour manuring is important. Custard apple trees are application of manure and fertilizers are improving the vigour, yield and fruit quality.

Propagation methods on custard apple farming in Kenya

Custard apple is propagated by three methods of seed, budding and grafting can be prepared.

  1. Seed: Custard apple is commonly propagated by seeds.
  2. Budding: It can also be propagated by chip and shield
  3. Grafting: Whip grafting has been found successful for improving the yield and quality.

Propagation of custard apple is generally done through seeds. For rain-fed conditions, seedlings can be raised in polythene bags filled with garden soil and planted in the field at the onset of monsoon when they attain height of about 20-25 cm. Seeds can also be sown directly in the field in the well prepared pits in the beginning of monsoon and at the appropriate height and girth, they can be soft wood grafted when new growth emerges after one year.

Propagation by budding (chip and shield) and whip grafting has been found successful for improving the yield and quality. Budding is done when sap starts flowing.

How to plant custard apples

Holes of 60 cm x 60 cm x 60 x cm size are dug, onset of the rains, refilled with soil and FYM (1: 1). Planting distance of custard apples is kept at 3 m x 3m.

Training and pruning

The training and pruning are not practiced in annonaceous fruits, but leaf shedding and production of floral buds on new shoots indicate the necessity of some amount of training and pruning.

Only few scaffold limbs are allowed to develop and other branches are removed. Subsequently very old and weak branches are thinned out from time to time for giving place for new and young branches. Pruning should be, however, be carried out when the plant is to put forth new growth
in early after dormancy

Irrigation

Custard apple does not require irrigation to produce fairly good crop provided effective water harvesting is affected be developing microcatchments in rainy season. Irrigation to plants during flowering and fruit development is essential. However, in absence of water harvesting in post monsoon period two or three irrigations help in better quality of fruits and higher production.

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The fruit set, yield per plant and quality are superior in irrigated plants with more edible pulp/segment. Plants receiving regular water grow luxuriantly with each bearing. Pruning, fertilization and irrigation are quite essential to get maximum yield. In regions having limiting
water, pitcher, trickle or drip irrigation systems help in judicious use of water.

Fruits are raised in rain-fed areas in low rainfall areas. Land shaping to divert rainwater near the plantation may be taken up. Contour terraces, contour bunds and micro-catchments also help in efficient water use. Ploughing and mulching of the plantation during rainy season helps better conservation of moisture.

Flowering and Maturity Of Custard Apples

It takes about three years for plants to come into bearing and five or more years to develop full canopy. An average plant bears about 2000 flowers and the fruit set is about 2-3 per cent. Fruit set is better where humidity is high.

Pests and Diseases of custard apples

It is affected by diseases such as bacterial wilt and the most common pests being the trunk borer, fruit borer, mealy bugs, scale insects, fruit boring caterpillar, leaf spot and seed borer.

They are controlled by selecting disease-free planting materials and using biological, cultural and chemical methods to deter pests and diseases.

Importance of custard apples

It is very hardy, medium in growth and decidious in nature. The fruits are generally used as fresh, while some products or mixed fruits like custard powders, ice-creams are prepared from the fruits. Besides high nutritive value, it has also a high medicinal value. Unripe fruits, seeds, leaves and roots are considered and used in medicinal preparations.

Tips to successful custard apple farming in Kenya

An integrated crop management approach is recommended. This requires willingness to either employ specialised consultants for pest monitoring and water management or to learn these monitoring systems yourself.

During harvesting peaks, large quantities of fruit must be handled in a short period. This requires good organisational and labour management skills.

Pruning and hand pollination are essential operations in most orchards. As the trees are large, these operations require the extensive use of ladders, particularly in mature orchards. This requires a certain level of physical fitness and agility.

Knowledge of marketing and a commitment to quality throughout the entire production and marketing system are becoming essential if returns are to be maximised. Regular communication with people in the market chain, as well as other growers, is an integral part of this process.

To be successful, the orchard must be run as a business. This is a complex operation requiring many skills such as the ability to:

  • interpret information supplied by pest management and irrigation consultants;
  • interpret results of leaf tissue and soil analyses and correctly apply the recommended fertilisers;
  • record the cycle of tree growth and fruit production;
  • maintain accurate farm records;
  • manage labour efficiently;
  • become involved in market development by the industry;
  • monitor receipts and expenses and maintain good financial records.
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As production and marketing technology changes, it will also help if you are prepared to experiment with new ideas.

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