The cherimoya is a sub-tropical fruit tree that is native to the Andean mountain valleys of Chile.  The fruits are prized for their rich, complex flavor and their creamy custard-like flesh.  The flavor has been described as a combination of pineapple, papaya, passion fruit, banana, mango and lemon into one luscious delight.   While the trees are indigenous to the highland areas of South America, they have proven to be quite at home here in Southern California.  Ideally located in the coastal foothills within 15 miles of the coast, and at elevations of up to 1500 feet, these trees will need to be protected from temperatures that get down to 25F.  When choosing a place to plant your cherimoya, look for a southeast-facing site that has a free draining, medium soil of good fertility.   Dig your planting hole twice as wide and deep as the nursery container in which your tree comes.  Next, amend the soil in the bottom of the hole with several heaping handfuls of a good organic compost and mix into it 5 cups of both landscape mix and worm castings and two cups of azomite.  Then place your new tree down into the hole and carefully backfill the soil that you removed, stopping to add more compost, landscape mix, worm castings and azomite with every 8” of added soil. Gently pack the soil around your new tree, the soil level, in relation to the trunk, should be right around where it was, when the tree was in it’s container.  Cherimoyas have a slow developing root system, and will need to be staked up for a couple of years while they are finding their way, and growing out into their new home.  Water deeply, once a month during the warmer, dry months and let mother nature take over during the cool, rainy season. Flowering occurs in mid to late summer, and the fruit will then be ready for harvest, January through early April of the following year.   It is important to maintain uniform soil moisture from flowering through fruit harvest, this will help to optimize the quality  and lusciousness of your fruits.