Do Atemoyas Like To Be Pruned?

[Fiddler]

I planted an atemoya about six months ago and it's growing well, even fruiting. However, the branches sure do look long and leggy. Should I be pruning them back, or just leave them as they are?

[luak]

I do prune mine heavily in the spring every year.

[beefyboy]

I would never let a young tree like that fruit yet. Have to let that root system spread out and establish. You will be giving up heavy crops in a few years do to short term impatience for a few subpar fruit. They do get leggy so just like mango trees cut them back just a shade and let them establish a fuller canopy.

[TheDom]

With a newer tree I like tip pruning and stripping the next few leaves off when a branch gets a little over a foot long. I usually cut it back to about a foot long and pop off the next 2-4 leaves to encourage new branching. More branching means more fruiting later.

[Mugenia]

Not to hijack the thread, but I have a bunch of atemoya trees on my property.  I have the African pride variety.  Do they require  hand pollination?  Thanks folks!

[beefyboy]

That is exactly what i meant by a fuller canopy, more fruit. No different then a mango tree or almost anything else. Most important is that root system and keeping it mulched 3 foot out from trunk so a 6 ft total spread kept weed free. Many times the canopy will seem slow in growth or dormant until that root system spreads out so be patient.

[Guayaba]

I agree with the process of pruning branches and stripping leaves in April. This works well for me and I finally have many flowers opening every day, so there is enough flowers in both male and female stage to hand pollinate with. Trimming branches also tends to keep more flowers near larger main branches that can support the large fruit.