Good Annona varieties for Riverside CA (was 9b) - 10a now in 2023 USDA Hardiness

[love_Tropic]

Looking to know some good Cherimoya and Atemoya varieties for Riverside, CA that can fruit well. The weather in riverside is hot 100+ summer and cold winter nights (mid 30s)...  mostly some thing like a desert weather OR is it too much for Annona to manage ?

[spaugh]

I think Dr white is the most hardy and prolific and vigorous.  The smooth skin types are not as tough.

[MasonG31]

I would plant a seedling from a really good cherimoya.  If the fruit turns out to be no good, you'll have a nice, strong rootstock to graft onto.

[spaugh]

A couple things about doing it that way.  The cherimoya tree gets pretty large before fruiting.  Like 10ftx10ft with a 6in+ trunk.  And at this point they are a lot more difficult to top work than say an avocado.  They dont like to be stumped when they are this large size.  They can but it seems to generate new suckers from the ground and the old stump can die off.  Just something to keep in mind.  The variety change over on these trees is sort of a pain.  I have several i need to do and theres not a great way to do it. 

[love_Tropic]

Thank you for the details... I am thinking to get a grafted one, Atkins have some good collection, but not sure which one can survive Inland SoCal.
Also, reading Cherimoya can fruit 3-4 years,  really early for a fruit tree.
Any idea on Gefner Atemoya?

[love_Tropic]

A couple things about doing it that way.  The cherimoya tree gets pretty large before fruiting.  Like 10ftx10ft with a 6in+ trunk.  And at this point they are a lot more difficult to top work than say an avocado.  They dont like to be stumped when they are this large size.  They can but it seems to generate new suckers from the ground and the old stump can die off.  Just something to keep in mind.  The variety change over on these trees is sort of a pain.  I have several i need to do and theres not a great way to do it.

Thanks Brad for sharing good info.  on pretty much everything about Fruit trees! 

[Jaboticaba45]

My uncle is out in Riverside, and he has a nice cherimoya seedling that is fruiting for the first time...think it was 4 years old?
Definitely graft so you can have a named variety.

[greenerpasteur]

Here is a farm in Riverside with 10 acre, and 1600 trees

https://youtu.be/yDBZ9uLJFJU

It's in Vietnamese but you can auto translate in English sub.

Most of it is AP, Geffner. I would imagine other variety would do well too.

[Groovyfruit]

Our climate in Redlands is similar to Riverside--
Is it better to grow an Atemoya like AP or Geffner, and then possibly graft, or to grow a Cherimoya and then possibly graft?

[greenerpasteur]

Our climate in Redlands is similar to Riverside--
Is it better to grow an Atemoya like AP or Geffner, and then possibly graft, or to grow a Cherimoya and then possibly graft?

They are all grafted on cherimoya rootstock.

[mcoambassador]

I think Dr white is the most hardy and prolific and vigorous.  The smooth skin types are not as tough.

I’d support @spaugh’s suggestion. I tried four cherimoya this week and Dr What was hands-down the best of the bunch, versus Pierce, Bays and Fino de Jete. It’s also reportedly the most heat tolerant variety known, which is a growing need.

YMMV.

[Rugger930]

I’ve been growing annonas in Riverside, CA for past five+ years now. Each season with its own trials and tribulations; however, I’ve been able to determine ( from my own humble experience) which have done relatively well with the climate here. As the previous entrances stated, the aforementioned cherimoyas have thrived aside from the Fino and the El Bumpo which wither away within the season. Middle of the road are the Chaffey and Australian. As far as the atemoyas, Geffner doesn’t miss a beat, along with the ppc and dream annona. All do well, provided there’s at least a 1-2inch trunk. The reticulatas having done surprisingly well; however, the sugar apples appear to suffer both in heat and cold. Rollinias actually do alright also. Also one can select seedlings that are heat and cold tolerant and choose an appropriate root stock for grafting (ie knight,  mountain soursop for m) which takes me to the ilamas now which do moderately well on more hardy rootstock. . Hopes this helps. Good luck!

[Longranger]

I have planted and fruited about 30 cherimoya and atemoya varieties over a span of 35 years in Orange and San Diego counties. Some I have tried on 3 different properties. Most have done very well. The most important variable for me has been the quality of the rootstock. In my conditions anything grafted to a really strong cherimoya rootstock has done well. Dr White, Fino de Jete, El Bumpo, and Pierce have given the highest fruit quality. My current property has enough room that all the varieties are on individual trees as opposed to multigrafted trees. Still trying new cultivars as I find them. Looking forward to adding more in future years.

[mcoambassador]

I have planted and fruited about 30 cherimoya and atemoya varieties over a span of 35 years in Orange and San Diego counties. Some I have tried on 3 different properties. Most have done very well. The most important variable for me has been the quality of the rootstock. In my conditions anything grafted to a really strong cherimoya rootstock has done well. Dr White, Fino de Jete, El Bumpo, and Pierce have given the highest fruit quality. My current property has enough room that all the varieties are on individual trees as opposed to multigrafted trees. Still trying new cultivars as I find them. Looking forward to adding more in future years.

For reference, which varieties didn’t work so well? Any especially susceptible to heat, frost, drought, or flooding?

[Longranger]

@mcoambassador my trees have had the good fortune to have only rare exposure to either light frost or extreme heat residing 5 to 15 miles from the coast. Luciida, Nata, and Orton have been weak growers for me. Other than those all other varieties have thrived and fruited well on strong cherimoya rootstock. For me rootstock vigor has trumped variety in determining how an individual tree has done. With late summer heat all of my cherimoya have shown some stress such as burned leaves and burned fruit when not under the canopy. Not growing it now but Booth has been my most bullet proof variety in the past.

[Talon Ruecker]

This Cherimoya variety is known for its tolerance to high temperatures. It can handle heat better than other varieties and may be suitable for Riverside's hot summers.

[Paulish]

I have planted and fruited about 30 cherimoya and atemoya varieties over a span of 35 years in Orange and San Diego counties. Some I have tried on 3 different properties. Most have done very well. The most important variable for me has been the quality of the rootstock. In my conditions anything grafted to a really strong cherimoya rootstock has done well. Dr White, Fino de Jete, El Bumpo, and Pierce have given the highest fruit quality. My current property has enough room that all the varieties are on individual trees as opposed to multigrafted trees. Still trying new cultivars as I find them. Looking forward to adding more in future years.

Interested to see a list of the 30 varieties you're growing. Do you happen to have Rudy #1/RH1?

[Paulish]

Obligatory post to remind everyone to keep an eye out for cherimoya variety Rudy #1 aka RH1. An excellent hybrid selection that will hopefully be found and propagated before it disappears forever. Please let me know if you have or know anyone who might have Rudy #1. Thanks

[love_Tropic]

How long does it take to grow cherimoya from seed to fruit? Did anyone try it and how's its fruit quality?
Any suggestions for good variety to grow from seeds?

[Reedo]

How long does it take to grow cherimoya from seed to fruit? Did anyone try it and how's its fruit quality?
Any suggestions for good variety to grow from seeds?

Under good conditions, I've had them flower at 3-4 years. I've heard a few folks speculate that seedlings' fruit improve as the tree matures, and not to give up on them if they're a little bland the first few years it fruits.

In regards to the original question, Pierce cherimoya has been my favorite so far (California, 9b). It has a great, sweet, complex pineapple flavor. Honeyhart grown at a friend's place (also 9b) has also been very good. Cherimoyas multigraft easily, so getting started with a seedling or grafted plant, then multigrafting  when it's about 3-4' tall is an easy way to taste a bunch of varieties and choose you own favorite.

[love_Tropic]

How long does it take to grow cherimoya from seed to fruit? Did anyone try it and how's its fruit quality?
Any suggestions for good variety to grow from seeds?

Under good conditions, I've had them flower at 3-4 years. I've heard a few folks speculate that seedlings' fruit improve as the tree matures, and not to give up on them if they're a little bland the first few years it fruits.

In regards to the original question, Pierce cherimoya has been my favorite so far (California, 9b). It has a great, sweet, complex pineapple flavor. Honeyhart grown at a friend's place (also 9b) has also been very good. Cherimoyas multigraft easily, so getting started with a seedling or grafted plant, then multigrafting  when it's about 3-4' tall is an easy way to taste a bunch of varieties and choose you own favorite.

Thank you for the suggestions. I too like Pierce! growing several seeds of booth, pierce and dr. white. looking for Fino de Jete seeds!