A step by step guide for custard apple farming:
Today, we are discussing the Profitable Custard Apple farming techniques, cultivation of sugar apple, Sitaphal or Sitafal farming, planting methods, care, yield, and harvest.
Introduction:
Custard apple (Annona squamosa ) Â also known as Sitaphal in India, is a delicious dry land fruit. The fruits are low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, and Sodium and high in Vitamin C, Manganese, Iron, and Potassium. Their nutritional value makes them ideal for maintaining optimum health.
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Climatic Condition for Sitaphal or Custard Apple:
Custard apple (Sitaphal) flourishes best in the dry and hot climate. It requires light soil and is generally grown on the slope of hills. The plants are raised from seeds and bear fruit in about 3 to 4 years. The plant flowers from April to May and bears fruit between August and November. The major climatic factors limiting the commercial production of custard apples are temperature and humidity. Warm, well-protected, frost-free sites in districts receiving a predominantly summer rainfall are most suitable.
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Other Names of Custard Apple:
Sharifa, Sitaphal (Hindi, Manipuri),
Katal (Assamese),
Sitapalam (Tamil),
Sita phalamu (Telegu).
Varieties of Custard Apple:
Balanagar,
Arka sahan,
Barbados seedling,
Kakarlapahad,
British Guinea,
Mahaboobnagar,
Saharanpur local and Washington.
Best Soil for Sitaphal or Custard Apple Farming:
Before planting custard apples, it is important to understand the land and climate attributes they need to flourish. Custard apples grow best in sandy loam soils, but well-structured clay loams are also suitable. Although the tree’s main feeder roots are relatively shallow, at least 1 m of well-drained soil without heavy clay or rock is needed to avoid root rot and ensure good tree performance. Where the topsoil is less than 1 m deep, plant the trees on mounds. If possible, avoid soils that have previously grown these crops: tomato, potato, eggplant, capsicum, and ginger.
These crops are potential hosts of the disease bacterial wilt, which custard apple is also susceptible to. The disease threat is worst in poorly drained soils.
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Plantation and Spacing of Custard Apple:
Custard apple planting is done during the rainy season. The pits of 60x60x60 cm at spacing 4×4 m or 5×5 m or 6×6 m depending on soil type are dug prior to monsoon and filled with a good quality FYM(Farmyard Manure), single superphosphate, and neem or Karanj cake under dry conditions and with drip irrigation system planting at 6×4 meters has given good growth and better fruit setting.
If planting is done spacing of 5 X 5 meters then 400 plants will be required for one ha. i.e. for 5 acres, you will require 800 plants.
Planting material of Custard Apple:
Grafts and budded plants. Vijaya Phyto Farms Pvt. Ltd. produces ‘ready-made’ (ready to bear plants) grafted custard apple planting material that is capable of producing commercial yield from II years of planting.
Water requirement for growing Custard Apples:
Uniform soil moisture throughout fruit set and fruit development ensures high yields and helps prevent fruit splitting. Irrigation is essential if high-quality fruit is to be grown. In areas with good summer rainfall, a water reserve of 5 megaliters per hectare of the orchard is necessary to maintain production in a dry year. As custard apples are sensitive to salt in irrigation water, water salinity should not exceed an electrical conductivity of 800 micro Siemens/centimeter (µS/cm). It is essential to irrigate plants during flowering and fruit development to achieve superior fruit quality (more edible pulp/segment). Drip irrigation is very useful in Custard Apple Farming.
Manures and fertilizers requirements of Custard Apple plants:
It is uncommon to apply manures and fertilizers to custard apples but it shows a good response to fertilization in terms of vigor, yield, and quality. Fertilizer application can extend the longevity and check the decline of trees.
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Training and pruning of Custard Apple trees:
Training to a single stem when grafted or budded plants are grown. A little pruning is required to develop a good crown by timely removal of misplaced limbs to build a strong framework. It results in better yields over a long period of time.
Harvesting Procedure of Custard Apples:
Trees start yielding from 3rd year. Single crop(4-5 pickings) from August to October in South India and September to November in North India.
The Yield of Custard Apples:
You can expect an average yield of 7 tonnes/ha. In high-density planting, the yield is 25 tonnes/ha. However, the yield of the Sitaphal crop depends on soil type, variety, water source, and other orchard management practices.
The bottom line of growing Custard Apples:
Custard Apple Farming or Sitaphal Farming is the best profitable crop with low investments and care.
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Need a guidance on sitaphal farming. Please advise more on Custard apple farming.
Sitaphal trees are hardy and can survive in drought conditions as well. However, the quality of fruits and size of the fruit would be good with frequent irrigation. In many nurseries, you get some varieties of custard apple seedlings/sapplings. Now a days, a variety without seed is also becoming popular. Visit your local nursery for plants.
Babu
Jagdish Reddy,
50 yrs i lived away from India.
Retired Doctor in Florida.
I love Farmimg etc.I bought 50 Ackers near St.Lucia county , close to Vero Beach-Tropical .Wanted to grow/develop fruit farm.
Sithafal/jack fruit etc.Hobby/Commercial to support charities.
any help from you,
dr.doddapaneni,MD
Seetafal is best plant. We planted in three acres in high density 1250 plants in three acres.
Want to Cultivate seedless custard apple.
Even we love to grow seedless custard apple. We heard there are some nurseries in Telangana, who are supplying seedless custard apple saplings. We will update soon about the nurseries and consulting services of farming.
I’m not sure if my question was successfully posted so I’ll repost my query-
I have five 2 year old custard apple plants which I grew from fruit seeds. However, the leaves started to turn palish months after I transferred them to soil. Please advise if the planes need fertilizer/insecticide and timely pruning for robust growth? What should be the method and frequency of aforementioned care?
Soil zone- Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
When you transplant, did you sufficient moisture in the root system?. If you are growing commercially, it is always recommended to go with custard apple saplings/seedling from good nurseries. In some cases, Low nitrogen in the soil may cause this. Check with any soil testing people make sure the soil is fertile.
Which variety is suitable for Warhad region in Maharashtra and what should be the spacing.
Here is complete information about: CUSTARD APPLE FARMING PROJECT REPORT.
Balanagar seems to be doing very well in Maharastra Region.
I am from Tumkur district. Where can I buy fruits plants near to me. I am looking for Seetapal, Guava, Fig, Nerale, Cashew, Mango, Nimbe fruits in larger quantities. I need plant varieties information on these.
I am looking to grow these above fruits trees in 4 archers land. Please suggest.
Mr. Darshan, please visit IIHR, Bengaluru for all types of horticultural plants.
I am from Anantapur district, underground water is very less in our area.these plant is suitable for our region ?
and how much it will cost for 5 acres.
Please advise that the only custard apple tree with me in Delhi is producing some small black fruit. Advise manure & upkeep for good fruiting.
I have 6 acres of dry land with sufficient water suppl, in Western part of Chittoor Dist. AP. I want your advice on density of plantation, varieties that fetch max. rate in the market etc., Please guide me….
What is the best variety of custard apple
please suggest best fertilizer to better growing for custard apple and laxman fal.
I am in solapur., maharashtra state. I have a sitaphal tree which is 3 to 4 years old. I had beared 3 fruits and 4 buds. All the fruits have fallen down. And the buds also fallen down. What should I do so that the fruits will grown at it’s full length?thanking you
Shete
Thanks for good information
I want to know the tolerable EC, SAR, RSC of Irrigation water for custard apple farming
Should Sitaphal be grown in pairs only . I have a small farm and have planted only 1 Sitaphal tree which I got from a local nursery .Should I plant one more at a 5 or 6 mtr distance from it ?
What is the lifespan of Custard Apple Tree. How many years a Custard Apple Tree gives fruits? I have a 25 yrs old tree which is not fruiting since past 3-4 years. I have done hard pruning, but no use. Pls let me know on this.
Rgs,
Rajan Lohagaonkar
Please let me know the best seedless varieties of Custard Apple.