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How to Grow Soursop Trees

Today we'll teach you how to plant guanabana trees, aka soursop tree, from seed! 
Course: Tropical Fruits
Cuisine: Soursop
Keyword: guanabana, how to grow, soursop, tropical fruits
Yield: 1 tree
Cost: $5

Instructions

  • Take the seeds from a guanabana fruit and soak them in warm water overnight. The next day, plant them 1/2 inch deep in sterile seed-starting mix.
  • Keep the soil constantly moist by spraying it with water. It should germinate within 2-4 weeks.
  • If you are planting outdoors, it's best to wait until the tree is at least 6 months old.
  • Once the soursop has germinated, make sure you keep it in a partially sunny location, a well drained soil, and protected from strong winds.
  • Keep at least 20 feet from other trees or plants and mulch heavily with compost as soursop has shallow roots.
  • Once trunk diameter reaches 1/2 to 3/4 inch, prune the tree back to 30 inches in height.
  • Once new shoots begin, choose the most vertical shoot to be the central leader.
  • After cutting off any other growth, leave the central shoot (the most vertical one) and force all other shoots into horizontal positions. You can do this by using clothespins or twine!

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