Tropical Fruit · Brix 18–25% · Container Growing · Zone 10

How to Grow Sugar Apple from Seed
Annona squamosa — Custard Apple

One of the sweetest fruits on Earth — sugar content of 18–25% Brix, higher than most tropical fruits. Native to the Caribbean and Central America, now cultivated across tropical Asia. Grown as a container tree in temperate climates.

25% BrixMax sugar content
20–60Seeds per fruit
Zone 10Min +4°C
3–5 yrFirst fruit from seed
Annona squamosa Sugar Apple fruit on tree ripe bumpy green
SALE
−40%
SKU: P33b · Oreshka Seeds
Sugar Apple — Annona squamosa
7 PCS fresh seeds · Tropical fruit tree · Annonaceae
€7.50 €12.50

7 seeds per pack · In stock (12 packs) · Ships worldwide in 2–3 days

Detailed Buy

The plant

What is Sugar Apple — and Why Is It One of the Sweetest Fruits on Earth?

Annona squamosa is a small deciduous tree, 3–6 m in open ground, native to the Caribbean, Central America, and tropical South America. Over the past 500 years it has spread across tropical Asia — India, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam — where it is grown commercially at significant scale. In Southeast Asian markets it is ubiquitous; in European supermarkets it is virtually unknown.

The fruit is unmistakable: a compound structure made of individual berry segments fused together, covered in distinctive rounded scales (hence the species name squamosa). When fully ripe, the segments separate easily from each other, exposing white to cream-coloured fibrous-creamy pulp of extraordinary sweetness. Brix sugar content measures 18–25% — comparable to the sweetest varieties of table grape and significantly higher than mango (14–18%) or pineapple (12–16%).

The pollination problem: Annona squamosa evolved with a very specific pollinator — small Nitidulid beetles (Carpophilus spp.) that are the only pollinators that can reach the recessed stigma inside the flower. In tropical gardens these beetles are present naturally. In a European greenhouse or indoor environment they are absent — meaning hand pollination is not optional, it is the difference between fruit and no fruit. A soft brush transferring pollen between flowers in early afternoon can produce full fruit crops on container trees.
Oreshka Seeds — Expert Note

Fresh seeds give best germination — Annona squamosa seeds lose viability rapidly in dry storage. Sow within 2–3 weeks of receipt. Scarify lightly and soak 24–48 hours before sowing. About our collection →

Quick facts

Annona squamosa at a Glance

Native RangeCaribbean, Central America · tropical Asia
Fruit Sugar18–25% Brix — exceptionally sweet
USDA ZoneZone 10 · min +4°C (container or tropical)
First FruitYear 3–5 from seed in container
LightFull sun · min 6 hours daily
In EuropeContainer plant · indoors in winter

Growing guide

How to Grow Sugar Apple from Seed — Step by Step

Requires warmth throughout. No cold period. Scarification + 24h soak before sowing recommended.

  1. 01
    Scarification — Scratch the Seed Coat
    Lightly rub one side of the seed with 120-grit sandpaper until the shiny surface is dulled — do not cut into the seed interior. This breaks the impermeability of the hard seed coat. Without scarification, germination takes 4–6 weeks; with it, 2–3 weeks. Alternatively, skip scarification and extend the warm soak to 48 hours.
  2. 02
    Warm Soak — 24 to 48 Hours
    Place scarified seeds in warm water (30–35°C) for 24–48 hours. Change water once after 24 hours. Seeds that sink to the bottom are viable. Keep the soak water warm — place the container near a heat source or use a thermos flask. Cold water (below 20°C) reduces the effectiveness of soaking.
  3. 03
    Sow 2 cm Deep — Bottom Heat Strongly Recommended
    Use individual 10–12 cm pots with free-draining, fertile mix (loam:perlite:compost 2:1:1). Sow seeds 2 cm deep with the scarified side down if possible. Cover with a clear plastic bag or propagator lid to maintain humidity. Maintain 25–30°C — bottom heat mat is strongly recommended. Without bottom heat at 25°C+ germination is slow and erratic. Initial germination position can be in low light or darkness.
  4. 04
    Germination — 2 to 6 Weeks
    Germination at 25–30°C: 14–42 days. It is erratic — seeds from the same pack can sprout anywhere in this range. Maintain consistent warmth (not below 22°C at night) and humidity. Remove plastic cover gradually when shoots reach 5 cm. Move immediately to full sun. High humidity is critical in the first month — dry air causes leaf drop even in seedlings with established roots.
  5. 05
    Growing On — Indoor / Greenhouse Culture
    In temperate Europe: Annona squamosa spends summer outdoors in full sun (once temperatures exceed 20°C reliably) and overwinters indoors or in a heated greenhouse at a minimum of 10–15°C. It is deciduous — it drops leaves in cool or dry conditions, which is normal dormancy. Water regularly in summer, reduce significantly in winter. Repot every 2–3 years to a maximum of 60-litre containers. Annual hard pruning after fruiting encourages branching and next year's flowering wood.
  6. 06
    Flowering, Hand Pollination, and First Fruit
    First flowers appear in year 3–5. Flowers are fragrant, creamy-yellow, 2.5–3.8 cm long, produced along the branches. In temperate growing conditions, hand pollination is essential — use a soft brush to transfer pollen between flowers in early afternoon when flowers are most receptive. Successful pollination is visible within 1–2 weeks as the flower base swells. Each fruit takes 4–5 months to fully ripen, reaching 10 cm diameter with white sweet pulp and 20–60 glossy black seeds.
Pro Tip — From the Oreshka Collection

Hand pollination technique matters more than most guides admit. Annona squamosa flowers are protogynous — the stigma (female part) is receptive in the afternoon of day one, but pollen (male) is not released until day two. To hand pollinate successfully: collect pollen from day-two flowers (creamy, slightly opening) with a brush. Transfer immediately to day-one flowers (tightly closed, with a green-cream colour). The stigma surface is sticky and receptive — even a brief contact deposits enough pollen. Do this on 3–4 consecutive days across multiple flowers for the best fruit set. A single successful pollination produces a full fruit — and the wait is worth it.

Compare

Sugar Apple vs. Cherimoya vs. Atemoya

Feature Annona squamosa
Sugar Apple · P33b		 Annona cherimola
Cherimoya		 Atemoya
squamosa × cherimola hybrid
USDA ZoneZone 10 · +4°CZone 9 · −5°C (slightly hardier)Zone 10 · +4°C
Fruit textureSegments separate · fibrous-creamSmooth, fused pulp · creamyBetween both parents
Sugar content18–25% Brix (highest)14–18% Brix16–20% Brix
Fruit surfaceBumpy scales · segments visibleSmooth, fused scalesIntermediate
Heat toleranceExcellent — tropical originsModerate — highland originGood
From seedAvailable (our stock)Available as seedsHybrid — grafted only

Avoid these

Common Mistakes When Growing Sugar Apple from Seed

Germinating at room temperature (below 22°C)

Annona squamosa requires sustained warmth for germination — below 22°C, seeds may rot before germinating. Use a heat mat set to 27–30°C. This single step transforms unreliable germination into consistent results.

Not hand pollinating indoors

Without the natural Nitidulid beetle pollinators present in tropical gardens, indoor-grown Sugar Apple produces no fruit without hand pollination. This is the most common reason container-grown trees flower prolifically but set no fruit.

Letting the tree get too cold in winter

Below 10°C, Annona squamosa drops all leaves and enters dormancy. Below 4°C, root damage begins. Below 0°C, the tree dies. In temperate climates, bring indoors before night temperatures fall below 12°C — earlier than most growers expect.

Overwatering in winter dormancy

When the tree drops its leaves in autumn (natural dormancy response to lower temperatures), reduce watering to once every 2–3 weeks. Overwatering a dormant Annona squamosa causes root rot rapidly.

Crushing or ingesting the seeds

Annona squamosa seeds contain annonaceous acetogenins including squamocin, which are mildly toxic if the seed is crushed or chewed. The pulp is safe; the seeds should be swallowed whole and passed naturally if accidentally ingested, or — better — removed before eating.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I grow Sugar Apple outdoors in Europe?
Only in Zone 10+ climates: Canary Islands, Madeira, southern coastal Spain (Málaga, Alicante, Murcia), Sicily, and parts of southern Portugal. In northern Europe (UK, Germany, France north of the Loire, Benelux, Scandinavia), Annona squamosa must be grown as a container plant. Summer outdoors in full sun; winter indoors or in a heated greenhouse at a minimum of 10–15°C. This works well — container trees fruit regularly in northern European conditions with proper care.
How does Sugar Apple taste?
Annona squamosa fruit has a distinctive sweet, fragrant flavour — most often described as vanilla custard combined with pineapple and banana. The flesh is white to cream-coloured, fibrous-creamy in texture, and extraordinarily sweet with Brix sugar content of 18–25%. A ripe Sugar Apple smells intensely fragrant before you cut it open. It is eaten fresh — segments separate naturally when ripe, and the pulp is scooped around the seeds with a spoon. Refrigerate and eat within 1–2 days of picking.
Does Sugar Apple need hand pollination indoors?
Yes — in temperate climates, indoor-grown Annona squamosa has no access to its natural pollinators (Nitidulid beetles) and produces no fruit without hand pollination. Pollinate in early afternoon using a soft brush — transfer pollen from day-two flowers (releasing pollen) to day-one flowers (stigma receptive). Successful pollination is visible within 1–2 weeks as the flower base swells. This is the single most important technique for fruiting container Sugar Apple trees.
How many seeds does a Sugar Apple fruit contain?
Each Annona squamosa fruit contains 20–60 hard, glossy black seeds, each approximately 1–1.5 cm long, embedded in the white pulp. The seeds contain mildly toxic compounds (annonaceous acetogenins including squamocin) — do not crush or chew them. The pulp is completely safe to eat. Seeds extracted from ripe fruit can be sown immediately for best germination results.
What is the difference between Sugar Apple and Cherimoya?
Annona squamosa (Sugar Apple) has bumpy, separated scales on the fruit surface and the segments pull apart easily when ripe. Annona cherimola (Cherimoya) has smoother, more fused scales and a more uniform creamy texture without segments. Cherimoya is slightly more cold-tolerant (Zone 9, −5°C) and generally preferred by chefs. Sugar Apple has higher sugar content (18–25% Brix vs 14–18%) and is more heat-tolerant. The hybrid Atemoya combines traits of both.
How large does Sugar Apple grow in a container?
Container-grown Annona squamosa is typically kept to 1.5–2.5 m with annual pruning after fruiting. In open tropical ground it reaches 3–6 m. A 40–60 litre container supports a fruiting tree producing 5–15 fruits per season with hand pollination. Root-prune and repot every 2–3 years to maintain vigour. Hard pruning by one-third after the fruiting season encourages branching and next year's flowering wood.

Grow One of the Sweetest Fruits on Earth — 7 Fresh Seeds

Annona squamosa · 18–25% Brix · Container or tropical garden · Hand pollination guide included · Ships worldwide

Buy Seeds — €7.50 → Sale −40% · SKU P33b · 7 PCS · Annona squamosa · Oreshka Seeds