From the Tropical Fruit News, Rare Fruit
Council International Miami RFCI
by Gene Joyner
Guava
The guava, Psidium
guajava,
is a popular fruit native to tropical America and found throughout most
regions of the world in tropical areas. The guava tree is not very
large, usually only reaching a height of about 25 feet and so is well
suited for smaller landscapes. It can even be kept as a large bush and
produce adequate amounts of fruit. Leaves are large, coarse, light to
dark green. The bark is reddish brown and flakes off reveling a smooth
gray bark beneath. In many people's opinion this peeling bark
characteristic is one of the attractive features of the tree.
There
are many named varieties of guava available and the following are a few
you may encounter: PINK INDIAN, RUBY SUPREME, WHITE CROSS, RED CROSS,
PATILLO.
Trees grow very quickly, often three to four feet in a
single growing season and are commonly propagated by seed, rooting of
cuttings, air layers or grafting. When grown from seed, seedling trees
take about two years to reach fruiting size. The best growth is
attained in full sun, trees will grow in heavy shade but produce few
fruit. Most trees grow well over a wide variety of soils, but prefer an
acid pH for best growth. Trees should be fertilized about every three
to four months with a citrus or fruit tree-type fertilizer and periodic
pruning to improve the shape of the tree is recommended. Trees will
take some salt spray, but are not recommended for highly exposed
locations on seaside or Intracoastal areas.
Fruit in guava can
be quite variable but are usually either round or pearshaped. In all
but one or two varieties, the fruit skin at maturity is a bright yellow
and internal pulp is yellow, white, pink or almost red. The pulp
usually contains large numbers of small hard seeds which can be eaten
along with the pulp. Pulp quality is quite excellent and guavas are
well appreciated for fresh eating and also for use in preserves,
jellies, jams or beverages. The white fleshed varieties tend to be
slightly more acid than the pink or dark colored varieties. Fruit
season in the tropics is year round but in Florida most of the fruit is
produced from early summer through early winter. When cold weather
occurs, trees generally stop flowering for a few months before resuming
in the spring. Flowers on your guava are quite attractive, over an inch
across. You can find all stages of fruit on the tree from newly set to
full maturity, often at the same time during the warm months.
Trees
will be injured by cold weather and will freeze at about 28 degrees F
but will come back from the lower portions once the damaged areas are
pruned out.
Problems of guava include insects such as
caterpillars that attack foliage, scale insects, and the caribbean
fruit fly which attacks maturing fruit.
Some nutritional
problems, particularly a lack of minor elements, often occur on highly
alkaline soils and trees benefit from periodic applications of
nutritional sprays.
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