reconsidering rootstocks for Annonas

[FlyingFoxFruits]

have been reconsidering what I'll be using as rootstock for Annonas....

here are some changes this year (with notes)

Illama is no longer going to be grafted onto Cherimoya (this year I will only use pond apple of a special variety that is supposed to have a better compatibility for grafting) we had too many failures with cherimoya rootstock...I had quite a few reports of trees that spontaneously died after growing to about 3ft tall, and experienced the same thing myself.

(i'm curious how A. reticulata works as a rootstock for illama over the long run..I had some grafted onto this, and it seemed to work well...but I sold all those trees, and have no idea if they ended up like the ones on cherimoya stock).

other than that, I might start using cherimoya less for sugar apple....I have had great results using sugar apple for sugar apple.

so far cherimoya seems good for atemoya, sugar apple and reticulata.

comments, thoughts, and ideas are appreciated.

[jmc96]

Thank you for your observations. I'll be keeping a closer watch over my Ilama on Cherimoya I grafted only a few months ago. So far it is growing strong and vigorous. 
 My one Ilama seedling is in it's second year and is touching the roof canopy of the polyhouse which is 10ft high. I've never experienced a stronger growing Annona Sp. Do you think the growth differentiation might have something to do with the incompatibility? If I had anymore Ilama seedlings I'd be grafting Ilama onto Ilama for interest sake.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

I have illama grafted on illama....that is the best option if you can do it..it grows very nicely....but it's much harder to find illama seeds than pond apple seeds in my area...and harder to germinate illama seeds in my experience.

Thank you for your observations. I'll be keeping a closer watch over my Ilama on Cherimoya I grafted only a few months ago. So far it is growing strong and vigorous. 
 My one Ilama seedling is in it's second year and is touching the roof canopy of the polyhouse which is 10ft high. I've never experienced a stronger growing Annona Sp. Do you think the growth differentiation might have something to do with the incompatibility? If I had anymore Ilama seedlings I'd be grafting Ilama onto Ilama for interest sake.

[JF]

Adam, I have them on both and in my climate cherimoya stock works well with Ilama. After 3 years experimenting I have not notice any dieback or any other problems. I will stick with cherimoya stock much easier to procure in my area. Thx

[TREESNMORE]

I grafted all of my atemoya on cherimoya this year.  I like to use custard apple on custard apple. I did put a few Ilama on cherimoya this year, although I lost one 3' Ilama on cherimoya. Didn't think about incompatability. Don't like to use sugar apple for rootstock. Some annonas won't fruit well with it as the rootstock. Sugar apple I use cherimoya. I don't use pond apple but two of the big time expert nurseries grafters use it.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

Adam, I have them on both and in my climate cherimoya stock works well with Ilama. After 3 years experimenting I have not notice any dieback or any other problems. I will stick with cherimoya stock much easier to procure in my area. Thx

thanks for the info JF....maybe it's like pond apple...some cherimoyas are just better for rootstock...I might have got a strain that was incompatible with my illama.

[Guanabanus]

It could well be that Annona reticulata growing in well-drained soil with sufficient Calcium and other minerals would be O.K. as a rootstock, but it is worthless in any soggy or mucky soil.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

It could well be that Annona reticulata growing in well-drained soil with sufficient Calcium and other minerals would be O.K. as a rootstock, but it is worthless in any soggy or mucky soil.

thanks for your comments, I always appreciate them!

I'm looking forward to your speech at our fruit club in Orlando this coming April!!!!!

the last speech you gave was definitely my favorite fruit club speech ever!