How to Grow Custard Apple

Updated June 2026

A warm-season fruit for the home garden across the warmer US.

Custard Apple is a rewarding warm-season crop for backyard growers.

When to plant

Plant Custard Apple in spring once the soil has warmed and all frost has passed. In the warmest regions a second crop is possible in late summer. See your region on the custard apple page for exact timing.

Varieties

Sugar Apple, Annona squamosa, very sweet (Florida fruit nurseries)
Atemoya 'Geffner', Sets fruit well without hand-pollination (Florida fruit nurseries)

How to grow it

Sun & soil: full sun, rich well-drained soil with even moisture.
Spacing: about 19.7 ft between plants.
Sowing: sow about 8 in deep.
Water: roughly 2.6 gal per plant every 5 days in hot weather.

Pests & problems

Watch for Mealybug. In humid regions, Anthracnose and Root rot can appear, so space for airflow and water at the roots in the morning.

Harvest

Custard Apple is usually ready to harvest within roughly 36 months once established. Pick regularly to keep plants productive.

When to plant in your region

Pick your region to see exactly when to plant custard apple where you garden.

See what to plant this month

Pick your region for a month-by-month calendar tuned to your climate.

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