Custard Apple - Purple / Red
Annona squamosa (purple variety)
Common Names: Purple Custard Apple, Red Sugar Apple, Purple Sitaphal
Local Name: Seetha Pazham (Tamil), Sitaphal (Hindi), Sharifa (Urdu)
Family: Annonaceae
Origin: Tropical Americas; purple variety selected in cultivation
Plant Type: Perennial semi-deciduous tree
Variety: Purple/Red — striking purple-red skin with sweet, creamy white pulp
Average Lifespan: 15–25 years
🌿 Botanical Description
| Growth Habit | Small semi-deciduous tree with open, irregular canopy |
| Plant Size | 3–7 meters tall; canopy spread 3–5 meters |
| Leaves | Alternate, simple, oblong-lanceolate, 5–15 cm long; thin, pale green |
| Flowers | Greenish-yellow, fleshy, pendulous, 2–3 cm long; solitary or in small clusters |
| Flower Characteristics | 3 thick outer petals; protogynous; emit sweet fragrance to attract beetle pollinators |
| Fruit | Round to heart-shaped, 6–10 cm diameter; knobby surface with distinct areoles; purple-red skin |
| Fruit Color | Deep purple to reddish-purple when ripe; white creamy pulp inside |
| Seed Characteristics | Numerous dark brown to black seeds, 1–1.5 cm; hard, smooth, toxic if crushed |
| Root System | Shallow, fibrous root system |
☀ Growing Conditions
| Climate | Tropical to warm subtropical; needs warm, dry period for fruiting |
| Temperature Range | 25–35°C ideal; frost-sensitive; needs warm winters |
| Rainfall Requirement | 500–1500 mm annually; dry period needed for flowering |
| Soil Type | Well-drained sandy loam to loam; tolerates poor, rocky soils |
| Soil pH Preference | 5.5–7.5 |
| Sun Requirement | Full sun (6+ hours daily) |
| Spacing | 4–6 meters between trees |
| Irrigation Method | Drip or basin irrigation; reduce during dormancy |
| Water Requirement | Moderate during fruiting; drought-tolerant when dormant |
| Can it Grow in Pots? | Yes, in 20–40 liter pots; compact size makes it suitable |
🌾 Cultivation & Care
| Fertilizer Schedule | 3 times per year; pre-flowering, during fruiting, post-harvest |
| Recommended Organic Fertilizers | FYM, vermicompost, neem cake, bone meal, wood ash |
| Pesticide Frequency | Monitor regularly; treat as needed |
| Recommended Organic Pesticides | Neem oil for mealybugs and scale; fruit bagging for borer protection |
| Mulching Practice | Organic mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds |
| Training System | Open center; keep low for easy harvest and hand pollination |
| Pruning Time | During dormancy (January–February in India) |
| How to Prune | Hard prune to promote new flowering wood; remove dead and crossing branches |
| Common Pests | Mealybug, fruit borer, scale insects, fruit fly |
| Common Diseases | Anthracnose, black canker, dieback, fruit rot |
| Disease Prevention & Remedies | Good air circulation, fruit bagging, copper fungicides, remove infected parts |
🌸 Flowering & Fruiting
| Flowering Months | April–July (India); on new growth after dormancy |
| Fruiting Season | August–December; fruits ripen progressively |
| Days to Harvest | 100–140 days from flowering |
| Harvest Indicators | Fruit turns deep purple, areoles separate slightly, yields to gentle pressure |
| Average Yield per Plant | 20–50 fruits per tree (mature); 15–40 kg |
| Pollination Type | Cross-pollination by beetles; hand pollination recommended |
| Pollination Notes | Hand pollination dramatically improves fruit set (from 5% to 60%+) |
🌱 Pollination & Propagation
| Pollination Details | Protogynous flowers; beetle-pollinated; hand pollination highly recommended |
| Propagation by Seeds | Seeds germinate in 3–6 weeks; may not produce true purple fruit |
| Propagation by Cuttings | Difficult; air layering possible |
| Propagation by Grafting | Softwood grafting on A. squamosa seedling rootstock; fruits in 2–3 years |
💧 Environmental Impact & Sustainability
| Water Usage | Low to moderate; drought-tolerant |
| Soil Conservation Practices | Grows on marginal and rocky soils; helps utilize wasteland |
| Organic Practices Used | Minimal inputs needed; panchagavya, jeevamrutha |
| Companion Plants | Leguminous cover crops, short-duration vegetables as intercrops |
| Biodiversity Benefits | Flowers support beetle pollinators; fruit feeds birds and bats |
💰 Economic Importance
| Commercial Production Regions | India (Maharashtra, AP, Gujarat), Thailand, Philippines |
| Market Uses | Premium fresh fruit, specialty markets (purple variety commands premium) |
| Processing Uses | Pulp, milkshakes, ice cream, traditional sweets |
| Market Value (Approx.) | ₹80–200 per kg (purple variety premium); grafted plants ₹200–500 |
🌿 Cultural Significance
| Symbolism | Custard apple (Sitaphal) named after goddess Sita; considered auspicious in Hindu culture |
| Traditional Uses | Fruit eaten fresh; seeds used as insecticide; bark and leaves in traditional medicine |
🍈 Nutritional Information
| Calories | 94 kcal per 100g |
| Dietary Fiber | 4.4 g per 100g |
| Vitamin C | 36 mg per 100g |
| Vitamin A | 33 IU per 100g |
| Iron | 0.6 mg per 100g |
| Potassium | 382 mg per 100g |
| Antioxidants | Contains acetogenins, anthocyanins (purple skin), flavonoids |
| Other Key Nutrients | Magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin B6, thiamine |
🌿 Medicinal Uses
| Anxiety & Sleep | Not a primary use |
| Immune Support | Good vitamin C content supports immune function |
| Anti-inflammatory Properties | Leaf and bark extracts show anti-inflammatory activity |
| Heart Health | Potassium and magnesium support cardiovascular health |
| Digestive Health | High fiber aids digestion; fruit pulp is easily digestible |
Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for medical advice.
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