Is removing all cherimoya leaves okay?

[AnnonaMangoLord45]

Hello, i recently stripped all but a few leaves on my cherimoya tree, I heard this from the guy I bought it from. Also, why is there blak stuff growing on the soil in that area, please send advice

Thanks, Matt

[alangr088]

From what I understand....you are supposed to do it in April. Not sure if you have seen this video, it helped me understand that process a bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL3N5kf_Muc

[JF]

Strip and prune in April. Prune again first week of August

[AnnonaMangoLord45]

crap, I pruned to early, will it live?

[marklee]

crap, I pruned to early, will it live?

Your cherimoya will be fine, some of mine are naturally losing leaves and new leaf buds are showing, just depends on climate, variety etc.

[TheDom]

crap, I pruned to early, will it live?

Yeah, it will be fine. As long as you don't hit kill temps the worst case scenario is you get a bunch of new growth too early, it gets cold and windy and the new growth dies off. It just means the tree wasted some energy.

[johnb51]

Do you do the same with atemoya?

[AnnonaMangoLord45]

speaking of which i should do that

[TheDom]

Do you do the same with atemoya?

Generally yes, whenever the temps start warming up and staying warm. For me in SWFL that's usually late February or early March. Usually once I start seeing new growth just starting to push on some of my annonas, AND I'm pretty sure we aren't going to hit the 40s again, I'll go ahead and defoliate and prune.

[Jani]

and what about sugar apple?

[JF]

This is the time to strip your Sugar apples, guanoabanas,  custard apples and ilamas. Cherimoyas & atemoyas in April

Stripping SA and soursop

[Jani]

JF when you say strip do you mean strip leaves or lightly prune as it seems in your pics?

[JF]

JF when you say strip do you mean strip leaves or lightly prune as it seems in your pics?

Jani
Both. This is for SoCal what we are doing is trying to induce flowers by May so we can hand pollinate. We need these fruits to ripen by late sept not in the winter

[Jani]

Thanks!

When should you fertilize after stripping, if at all?

[TheDom]

I've read a research article or two that suggested atemoya start taking up nutrients in earnest a few weeks before they break dormancy and start flushing out. I'd fertilize a few weeks before you plan on pruning and stripping leaves.

Thanks!

When should you fertilize after stripping, if at all?

[JF]

Thanks!

When should you fertilize after stripping, if at all?

I usually fertilize the young tree who had flowered poorly to kid start them. most of our anonas bloom heavy a month after striping & pruning.

[alangr088]

Simon gives good advice on how to prune your cherimoya on this thread from 2012. Did some heavy searching to find this. 

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=2461.msg34811#msg34811

[Rnguyen]

JF when you say strip do you mean strip leaves or lightly prune as it seems in your pics?

Jani
Both. This is for SoCal what we are doing is trying to induce flowers by May so we can hand pollinate. We need these fruits to ripen by late sept not in the winter

Frank, what's the purpose of the pruning in August? Won't the tree have fruit still growing on it?

Thanks
Rick

[JF]

JF when you say strip do you mean strip leaves or lightly prune as it seems in your pics?

Jani
Both. This is for SoCal what we are doing is trying to induce flowers by May so we can hand pollinate. We need these fruits to ripen by late sept not in the winter

Frank, what's the purpose of the pruning in August? Won't the tree have fruit still growing on it?

Thanks
Rick

Rick
Thats to control size....you've seen how fast they grown in 2 years at my house..I wait until they set fruits and prune

[Rnguyen]

JF when you say strip do you mean strip leaves or lightly prune as it seems in your pics?

Jani
Both. This is for SoCal what we are doing is trying to induce flowers by May so we can hand pollinate. We need these fruits to ripen by late sept not in the winter

Frank, what's the purpose of the pruning in August? Won't the tree have fruit still growing on it?

Thanks
Rick

Rick
Thats to control size....you've seen how fast they grown in 2 years at my house..I wait until they set fruits and prune

Makes sense. Thanks Frank!