Use with caution
Eat only the creamy pulp and remove the seeds first. Like other Annona seeds, atemoya seeds are toxic, so seed the pulp before eating or blending and never crush the seeds into food.
Atemoya
Annona x atemoya 'Gefner'
fruitAtemoya (Annona x atemoya Gefner) is a hybrid of sugar apple and cherimoya, bearing large, heart-shaped, pale-green fruit with smooth, low-seed, custard-like flesh whose flavor blends vanilla, mango, and a hint of citrus. Gefner is the leading commercial variety because it sets fruit readily. The tree, 25 to 30 ft tall with drooping branches, is slightly hardier than sugar apple, having survived brief temperatures around 26 F, but it is still limited to tropical and near-tropical lowlands. Its flowers favor cross-pollination, so hand-pollination is often used to boost the crop.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 7 days
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Harvest
~4 yrs
to first harvest
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Difficulty
medium
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
15-25 ft apart
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Planting Depth
Set at the same depth as the container, keeping any graft union above the soil line; do not bury the trunk
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Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Deep, rich loam, well-drained
Hardiness Zones
Zones 10 – 13
When to Fertilize
No feeding until established, then several times through the warm season
Fertilizer
Balanced fruit-tree fertilizer with micronutrients (a 6-10-16 type mix is recommended)
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant atemoya in full sun in deep, rich, well-drained loam; good drainage is essential, as waterlogging is fatal, though it tolerates soils from sandy loam to heavy clay. Irrigate during flowering and fruit set for the best yield and quality, and protect ripening fruit from heavy rain, which can split it. Because its flowers open female then male and self-pollination is rare, many growers hand-pollinate in the afternoon to ensure well-shaped fruit. Hold off on fertilizer until the tree is established, then feed through the season. Trees begin bearing in about 3 to 4 years.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
Aug 13 · Year 5
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
Year 1
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Banana — A tropical companion that buffers wind and adds humidity
- Comfrey — A nutrient accumulator for a mineral-rich mulch
- Lemongrass — A clumping tropical grass that mulches the root zone and deters some pests
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
The most common pest, in cottony clusters on fruit; rinse off, use horticultural oil, and control ants
Damages the seeds within the fruit; remove and destroy affected fruit and keep the orchard clean
A Phytophthora rot at the base in wet soil; plant high with excellent drainage and avoid trunk injury
🌾 Harvest & storage
Harvest atemoya when creamy lines appear around the raised areoles of the skin and the fruit lightens slightly; picked too early it will not ripen. It softens to ready in a few days at room temperature. Cut or break open the ripe fruit and spoon out the smooth flesh, removing the toxic seeds.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Atemoya is rich in vitamin C and natural sugars, with smooth, sweet, custard-like flesh tasting of vanilla and mango. It is eaten fresh and chilled, or blended (seeds removed) into desserts.
⚠️ Toxicity & safety
Eat only the creamy pulp and remove the seeds first. Like other Annona seeds, atemoya seeds are toxic, so seed the pulp before eating or blending and never crush the seeds into food.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.