Custard Apple Farming Complete Details For Profits

Sharifa (Sitaphal) is a type of fruit found in autumn, which is also commonly known as Sharifa (Sitaphal), Sugar Apple or Custard Apple. Although it was earlier believed to be a fruit native to India, the tree was introduced long ago from other countries and later cultivated throughout India. This fruit also grows on its own in South India. Custard apple farming is most common in Brazil and India and is one of the most important fruit crops.

How To Do Custard Apple Farming 

To grow custard apples, use traditional seed transplanting or prepare saplings in a polyhouse and transplant them in the field. In the direct seeding method, two seeds are sown per pit at a depth of 2 to 3 inches. After 15 days of sowing, when 2 to 4 leaves appear, unwanted plants should be removed. Moreover, one plant should be kept per hill. The traditional method of growing the custard apple tree is by seed propagation. This is the most commonly used propagation method. However, this method has several disadvantages, such as low germination rate, high genetic variability, late onset of harvest, and tall plants that are difficult to handle.

Plant Propagation By Shield Budding Or Grafting Method 

If the custard apple plant is to be prepared for maintaining the purity of good varieties and for rapid growth and early harvest, then it should be prepared through cuttings. While the plant prepared through seed starts bearing fruits after four to five years. The shield budding and grafting method is used to prepare its plant through cuttings. Both these methods are done at different times. January to June is suitable for shield budding, and October and November for grafting. Instead of preparing its pen, it can also be planted by buying it from a registered nursery in the market. Buying and growing the plant saves time and the fruits also start bearing quickly.

Ideal Climate And Temperature: 

The Sharifa (Custard Apple) plant does not require any special climate. But custard apples are a tropical climate tree. Due to this, the areas with dry weather are suitable for custard apple farming. For its good yield, choose only the area of a dry and hot climate because its plants grow easily in high heat. But prolonged severe cold is not suitable for this. Because due to excessive cold and frost, its fruits become hard and do not ripen. A temperature of up to 40 degrees is ideal for maturing and developing its fruits. But it needs a normal temperature for germination. Its plant tolerates even 40-degree temperatures. But when flowers and fruits are formed on it, at that time the temperature is more than 40 degrees, then both its flowers and fruits start falling.

Soil Needs For Custard Apple Farming 

Custard apple farming can be done in infertile, stony soil having pH levels of 7 to 8 with the help of the New Holland 3230 tractor. It can be grown in almost all types of soil, but loamy soil with proper drainage is most suitable for good yield. At the same time, it cannot be cultivated in waterlogged black clay soil because of the insects that arise due to water logging, and the possibility of many types of diseases increases in the plants. Therefore, for custard apple farming, choose land with good drainage soil whose pH value is 5.5 to 7.

Sowing Method In Custard Apple Farming 

Before planting custard apple plants, pits must be prepared in the field and:

• Prepare two feet wide and one-foot-deep pits in the flat area, keeping a distance of three to four metres.
• Prepare the pits in a row and keep a distance of three metres between each row with the help of a Farmtrac 45 tractor.
• After the holes are ready, add an appropriate amount of organic and chemical fertilisers and mix them well in the soil.
• Rinse the pits.
• Before transplanting the plants in these prepared pits, treat the plants with organic chemicals and transplant the prepared saplings of custard apples in these ready pits.
• After transplanting the plants, fill the holes with soil and press the soil well from all sides by hand.
• The most suitable time for transplanting plants is July because it is the rainy season. During this time, the plants get the ideal environment for growth.

Irrigation Requirement 

Custard apple plants can easily handle extended periods of drought. But the plant needs to be watered in summer, as excessive heat can cause it to drop its leaves and fruits. So do its first irrigation immediately after transplanting. If seeds have done planting, keep irrigating at an interval of 2 to 3 days to maintain sufficient moisture in the field till the seeds germinate. But when the plant becomes year-round, then the plant should be irrigated at an interval of 15 to 20 days. In the winter season, it should be watered in 20 to 25 days; in the summer season, its plant must be irrigated once a week.

Fruit Harvesting, Yield And Benefits

Sharifa (custard apple) plants start bearing fruits two to three years after sowing in the field. The period of formation of their fruits is very long. Its fruits take four months to form. Its fruits start ripening after September. Harvest it in fully ripe and hard condition.

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