Q: I have had a sugar apple tree for three or four years. How can you tell when the fruit are ripe? Any fertilization tips for this fruit tree?

K.G., Cutler Ridge

A: Look for color changes on the fruit rind. Between the segments, it should start to turn white, yellow or red, depending on the variety. An easier way to tell is to squeeze it gently. When it gets a little soft (gives a little), pick it and let it ripen on your kitchen counter. It will be soft when ripe. If the fruit is allowed to ripen on the tree, it may fall apart but is still edible.

You can fertilize with a fruit tree fertilizer (8-3-9), 6-8-9, 6-6-6, or ``palm special'' (8-2-12). If you use a slow release fertilizer, it can be applied two to three times a year during the growing season.

Fruit trees also benefit from a nutritional (citrus or micro-element) spray two to four times a year. For more information on growing sugar apples (annonas), read fact sheet http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG330.

Adrian Hunsberger is an entomologist/horticulturist with the UF/IFAS Miami-Dade Extension office. Write to Plant Clinic, 18710 SW 288th St., Homestead, FL 33030; e-mail aghu@ifas.ufl.edu

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