Ben,

Don't collect the flowers, but just collect the pollen. I check both in the morning and in the evening. I found that usually, there are more male flowers in the morning, and more female flowers in the afternoon. The female flowers turn to male overnight. Most of the time, though, there are some of both at the same time. Hand pollination works well for me.

Last summer, I did not pollinate. But we are at 800ft, and overnight, we usually get midst and dense fog. This certainly contributed to the massive fruit set I got without one single hand pollination. The theory is that the fog helps the female part to remain receptive when the pollen ripens. So if you can simulate midst at night, then you will get lots of pollination.

Axel

The above followup was added by Axel on January 10, 2000 at 1:15 pm PST.

I agree, raising the humidity should help. As an alternative, if you can get a Soursop to grow in your area, they are natural pollinators for Cherimoya. I believe the Soursop comes true from seed, so get some and start sowing.

The above followup was added by Tom on January 10, 2000 at 3:12 pm PST.

Ben mine started flowering too, just last week so we are about on the exact same scedule, they are too small to get any fruit but the flower from last week shows no signs of falling off, of course if it turns to a fruit it will because the tree is so small : ), but the point is I have so many millions of different insects and bugs here that I'm sure something will pollinate them, by the way I have this idea that a cherimoya flower smells exactly like something else but I don't know what, maybe strawberry scented shampoo :p?, My cherimoya called "Fino de Jete" has turned into the strongest growing cherimoya I have by a long margin, I dont know why it should grow so much better then the others?, I also pretty much lost a young seedling in the 37-39c heat yesterday

Jason

The above followup was added by Jason on January 10, 2000 at 10:07 pm PST.

My previous post on pollination mentioned the Soursop. It should have said the Sweetsop.

That's how the Atemoya's naturally came about, Cherimoya X Sweetsop by the pollination compatibility in nature.

Jason,

I picked up a "Fino de Jete" in October. Mine is not doing anything right now because of our winter. It is a Spanish Cherimoya that is genetically different than California Cherimoyas. I hope mine performs like yours does.

The above followup was added by Tom on January 11, 2000 at 7:19 am PST.

Ben if you want to try hand pollination, just store your pollen in a film cannister in the refrigerator until you need it. Should keep a couple of days, maybe weeks, maybe even longer. Also maybe not at all, but it is worth a try.

If you have it put a small packet of dehydrated silica gel (if already opened I think you need to put it in the oven at 400°F for half an hour) and it should keep longer. If kept near freezing many plants' pollen will keep for months.

You're not thrashing this subject to death, I wasn't here before and found Axel's tip about humidity enlightening. I am going to need to know all this in a few years when my 1" high Booth seedling grows up!

Jason save those seeds for us!

-Luen

The above followup was added by Luen on January 11, 2000 at 7:34 am PST.

Tom you mentioned Fino de Jete is from a different genetic line then the Californian ones, are all the Californian cherimoyas in the same situation as most of the western worlds fruit?, ie. all of them came from one handfull of seed from one tree/area that a lone botanist brang back 100 years ago?.

Because the Fino de Jete seems to suit my conditions so much better, it's not 10% faster growing or 20% or 50% more like 300% at the moment, I don't know if that will always be the case. Is the variety "Spain" anything like it? since the Spanish grow that one as well in the same place as Fino de Jete perhaps I should be investing in some "Spain" plants as well?

Jason

The above followup was added by Jason on January 14, 2000 at 4:15 pm PST.

Jason,

Keep watching and see if it continues to outperform your other Cherimoyas.

As far as I know in So. California, the vigor among varieties can be somewhat different but not as much as you are experiencing.

The two main varieties grown by a Cherimoya expert here in So. California are
Pierce and Fino de Jete.

The Spain variety is also known as Mcpherson. It is a vigorous tree that grows to 10 meters.

The above followup was added by Tom on January 16, 2000 at 8:01 am PST.

I have many trees but no fruits Please tell me what is Soursop and where to get them?
for natural pollination?

How do I know when the followers are male and female?

Thanks

The above followup was added by Dat on May 09, 2004 at 11:41 am PST.