Custard Apple Pollination Question

[Johnny Redland]

I live in south Florida. I have two custard Apple trees that are flowering for the first time. Do these trees need to be hand pollinated or will they fruit naturally? I have bees on the property as well, FYI. I don't want to miss my window. Also, if they need to be hand pollinated, can someone offer the details of this? Thanks!

-Jon

[mike rule]

Jon.... What varieties are these Custard Apples ?? Some require hand Pollination others don't but if you want more fruit hand pollinate.... You can always remove fruit if you get too many takes........ Mike

[Johnny Redland]

Jon.... What varieties are these Custard Apples ?? Some require hand Pollination others don't but if you want more fruit hand pollinate.... You can always remove fruit if you get too many takes........ Mike

It's San Pablo. Do I have to hand pollinate? If so, please explain?

[JF]

Yes. You will get little to zero fruits if you ignore it. Follow these simple steps
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YTaBVR-YrQc

[Johnny Redland]

Yes. You will get little to zero fruits if you ignore it. Follow these simple steps
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YTaBVR-YrQc

But again, I'm in south Miami Florida, almost in the Florida Keys. The gentelmen in the video remarks that hand pollination is not necessary for locations like mine, let alone the fact that I have bee hives on my land. He is also discussing Cherimoya rather than custard Apple. That said, I understand it can't hurt but I'd also hate to start a practice that isn't necessary, seeing as this is my first go around. I may mark a few flowers I don't hand pollinate and see how they produce. I guess that's the only way to truly know.

[TheDom]

Bees are irrelevant, Annona reticulata (called custard apple here in the US) is pollinated by nitidulid beetles, just like sugar apple, cherimoya and atemoya (which are called custard apples in Australia). Sure, custard apples will set fruit here in FL without hand pollination, but you will get more fruit and larger fruit set with hand pollination.

You mentioned this is the first time these trees are flowering. How large are they?

Yes. You will get little to zero fruits if you ignore it. Follow these simple steps
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YTaBVR-YrQc

But again, I'm in south Miami Florida, almost in the Florida Keys. The gentelmen in the video remarks that hand pollination is not necessary for locations like mine, let alone the fact that I have bee hives on my land. He is also discussing Cherimoya rather than custard Apple. That said, I understand it can't hurt but I'd also hate to start a practice that isn't necessary, seeing as this is my first go around. I may mark a few flowers I don't hand pollinate and see how they produce. I guess that's the only way to truly know.

[Johnny Redland]

Got ya. One tree is about 8ft and the other is about 4ft, both with about 2" diameter trunks

[Guanabanus]

Another year of growth first would be helpful.  Good mineral supplementation is helpful (including Boron, Calcium, and Zinc).  Maintaining some rotting fruit on the ground for Nitidulid beetles to multiply in is helpful.

[skhan]

Anyone know the best time of day to pollinate?

[Guanabanus]

The last hour or two before sunset.