Grafting onto cherimoya (A. cherimola), the ultimate annona rootstock?

[Ethan]

Great job Mark, after the grafts take, that is going to be one awesome tree to see when it is covered in fruit.

[Californiatropicals]

Hey there Ethan!

Just wanted to see what your experience has been with cherimoya as a rootstock? I just deterimined my sugar apple graft onto cherimoya is successful. Does the cherimoya rootstock impart any vigor to other annona's that you're aware of?

BTW, the Sugar apple wood I grafted  is  from a "red" seedling I got from you, The original plant is starting to produce flowers.

Sugar apple seems to be slower to grow in my climate. Hoping that cherimoya rootstock will boost it.

[Ethan]

Wow CT, your red is already flowering, that is awesome! 
So far my sugar apple grafts seem to be growing fine on cherimoya rootstock, I have not noticed any extra vigor but the plants are healthy.  I think since cherimoya can handle more cold that it will impart some cold tolerance to the roots but the SA scion will not gain in cold resistance (I believe).  I have a friend that grafts all his annonas very high, 5'-6' above the soil, his reasoning is, at that height, the scions are above the frost line.  So in case of a hard freeze the more delicate scions should be safe as the cold tolerant rootstock shrugs off the cold.  The same gent is also using a cherimoya variety that he found than has handled down into the teens on various occasions.  I hope at some point to get some pure genetics from him for my rootstocks!

Keep up the good work!

[Californiatropicals]

Wow CT, your red is already flowering, that is awesome! 
So far my sugar apple grafts seem to be growing fine on cherimoya rootstock, I have not noticed any extra vigor but the plants are healthy.  I think since cherimoya can handle more cold that it will impart some cold tolerance to the roots but the SA scion will not gain in cold resistance (I believe).  I have a friend that grafts all his annonas very high, 5'-6' above the soil, his reasoning is, at that height, the scions are above the frost line.  So in case of a hard freeze the more delicate scions should be safe as the cold tolerant rootstock shrugs off the cold.  The same gent is also using a cherimoya variety that he found than has handled down into the teens on various occasions.  I hope at some point to get some pure genetics from him for my rootstocks!

Keep up the good work!

Lol it was flowering!  but it keeps dropping the flowers when they get about half size.. so it's probably still not completely ready. I was hoping the more vigorous cherimoya would push sugar apple.  though if it doesn't get root rot in the winter due to cherimoya rootstock it will probably do pretty well in most climates.  Lots of fun and exciting to try all this stuff!

A cherimoya that handles down to the teens is quite impressive!

[Bush2Beach]

The first Annona scions I received this winter were 2 Lisa Atemoya scions. They have both pushed and are farther along than I would expect . They were grafted around Feb. 1st. Hoping all my cherimoya grafts look this nice in 1 month.

[Bush2Beach]

My Atemoya grafted on Cherimoya all grew well this year . The Lisa pictured in the previous post grew to 6 ft. and I removed flowers in spring and fall.
Any fruit holding on your fancy grafted Cherimoyas?

[sc4001992]

I know this is an old post, but would like to know if anyone has a successful "annona muricata (soursop/guanabana) on cherimoya" that Ethan said he was able to do.

I would like to try a few different varieties but wanted to know if anyone has a grafted plant now. I got a golden soursop so I would ilke to graft it on my cherimoya if it will be compatible.

Thanks.

[Seanny]

I have soursop grafted to cherimoya.
The soursop top is bigger than the cherimoya rootstock.
The tree would break without a stake.

I have the same soursop grafted to pond apple.
It’s not growing well.

I have the same soursop grafted to cherilata interstock, to cherimoya rootstock.
It’s growing well but too early to tell if soursop would grow bigger than rootstock.

[sc4001992]

ok, thanks for the response. Then I will graft some on my larger cherimoya rootstock tree. I would like to graft some now, so I have a backup in case the tree dies. I have a sentimental seedling soursop that a friend grew from seed, came from Panama. The other one is a golden soursop that I need to make backup tree. Good to hear it grows well on cherimoya.

[Seanny]

Ugly graft union

[sc4001992]

Your grafted tree looks very healthy.

[Rob From Sydney]

I'd agree. Good job - it's a beauty. You should get it in the ground!

[Seanny]

I don’t have in ground spot so I’m keeping the soursop in pot and below the roof to block frost in winter.

Here is soursop on pond apple.
It’s not doing well.



Here is sousop on cherilata on cherimoya.
It’s doing well but the graft union is getting fat.



I’m still looking for a good rootstock for soursop.
Any recommendation?

[MadFarm]

I cannot personally confirm but I have heard A. Montana makes good rootstock for muricata. Is there a reason for not using muricata rootstock? Looking for more cold tolerance?

[Seanny]

In the past the trees defoliated then died from frost and cold rain.
I’m trying out rootstocks that could handle a few days of rain in the winter.

[MadFarm]

Maybe try root stock from a different pond apple source. There are known incompatability/ poor growth issues if the wrong A. Glabra rootstock is used. Good luck

[Rob From Sydney]

I cannot personally confirm but I have heard A. Montana makes good rootstock for muricata. Is there a reason for not using muricata rootstock? Looking for more cold tolerance?

I've heard this too. Supposed to give soursop greater cold tolerance. Must test!

[Orkine]

I have soursop doing very well on Pond Apple.
Grafted 6 or so years ago and has fruited the last 2 years.
They handle we conditions very well but drop leaves and sometimes fruitlets under cold stress.
One variety seems seems to handle the cold better than the other.
Unfortunately, these weren’t named varieties. 
I also have a younger graft l, about 20 months or so, of Whitman soursop also on pond Apple.  I don’t know how it will handle a freeze yet.

[Seanny]

@Orkine

My pond apple rootstocks are from seeds you gave me.
Maybe i need to graft to a bigger pond apple rootstock.

[Orkine]

Perhaps.

I have access to several Pond Apple trees at work, perhaps these could be a different enough type if you want to start more seeds.