Annona cherimola 'Fino de Jete'
fruitFino de Jete is one of the finest cherimoyas, a custard apple selected in Spain and well suited to mild coastal climates like Southern California. The heart-shaped, scaly green fruit hides smooth, creamy white flesh so rich and fragrant that Mark Twain famously called the cherimoya the most delicious fruit known to man - it tastes like a blend of banana, pineapple, and pear with a custard texture. Fino de Jete is more cold-tolerant and productive than many cherimoyas, on a small, briefly deciduous tree. It is the most demanding fruit in this group: it needs a narrow band of mild winters and moderate summers, and in cultivation the flowers must be hand-pollinated to set good fruit.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 5 days
Harvest
~4 yrs
to first harvest
Difficulty
hard
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
15-25 ft apart
Planting Depth
Top of the root ball level with the soil surface
Soil pH
6.5-7.5
Soil Type
Loamy, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 9 – 11
When to Fertilize
2-3 times a year during active growth
Fertilizer
Balanced fertilizer
Cherimoya is subtropical and particular about climate: it grows best in zones 10 and warmer mild areas (and zone 9 with freeze protection), thriving only where winters are gentle and summers are not extreme - in the United States that means chiefly coastal Southern California. It dislikes both frost and harsh inland heat and dry winds. Plant in full sun (light afternoon shade in hot areas) in deep, loamy, well-drained soil, 15 to 25 ft from other trees. Water regularly through the growing season and ease off as the tree drops its leaves in late winter dormancy. Feed a couple of times a year with a balanced fertilizer. The key task is pollination: natural pollinators are absent in the United States, so to get good fruit you hand-pollinate, collecting pollen from afternoon flowers and brushing it into receptive morning flowers the next day.
Direct sow
Apr 15
Projected first harvest
Sep 12 · Year 5
Year 1
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Cluster in leaf axils and on fruit - blast with water, treat with horticultural oil, and control the ants that farm them
Treat stems and leaves with horticultural oil and prune encrusted wood
Bag developing fruit and pick promptly at maturity, clearing fallen fruit
A soil fungus in poorly drained or formerly wooded ground - plant in well-drained soil and avoid overwatering
Grafted cherimoyas begin bearing in about 3 to 5 years, and in California hand-pollinated fruit is harvested from roughly January to April. Pick when the fruit lightens to a paler green and gives slightly to gentle pressure (like a firm avocado), then let it finish softening indoors for a few days until it yields to a light touch. Handle carefully, as the skin bruises and blackens. Eat the soft flesh with a spoon and discard the hard black seeds.
About 75 calories per 100 g with 3 g fiber, 13 mg vitamin C, 287 mg potassium, and vitamin B6. The rich, sweet, custard-like flesh is best eaten fresh with a spoon or blended into drinks and frozen desserts.
The sweet ripe flesh is the only part eaten. The hard black seeds, as well as the leaves and bark, contain natural compounds (annonaceous acetogenins) that are toxic if crushed and ingested - never eat or grind the seeds, and keep them away from children and pets.
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.
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Year 5