How to Grow Soursop Trees

• The soursop tree can reach height of 30 feet and is soil tolerant, although it flourishes in well drained, sandy soil with a pH of 5-6.5.
• A tropical specimen, this low branching and bushy tree does not tolerate cold or strong sustained winds. It will, however, grow at sea level and up to elevations of 3,000 feet in tropical climes.
• A rapid grower, soursop trees produce their first crop three to five years from seeding. Seeds stay viable for up to six months but better success is met by planting within 30 days of harvest and seeds will germinate within 15-30 days.
• Propagation is usually through seeds; however, fibreless varieties can be grafted. Seeds should be washed before planting.

Soursop Tree Care

• Soursop tree care involves copious mulching, which benefits the shallow root system.
• Overly high temps from 80-90 F. (27-32 C.) and low relative humidity cause pollination issues while slightly lower temps and 80 percent relative humidity improve pollination.
• Soursop trees should be irrigated regularly to prevent stress, which will cause leaf drop.
• Very little pruning is required once the initial shaping is attained. You should only need to prune out dead or diseased limbs, which should be done once harvest is over. Topping the trees at 6 feet will facilitate harvesting.

Harvesting Soursop Fruit

• When harvesting soursop, the fruit will change from dark green to a lighter yellowish green tone. The spines of the fruit will soften and the fruit will swell.
• Soursop fruit will take between four to five days to ripen once picked. Trees will produce at least two dozen fruit per year.

Soursop Fruit Benefits

Besides its pleasant flavor, soursop fruit benefits include 71 kcal of energy, 247 grams of protein, and calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus — not to mention it’s a source of vitamins C and A. Soursop can be eaten fresh or used in ice cream etc.