Guava - Tropical
The guava originates from an area extending from Mexico through Central America into South America. The guavas have been valued in South America for thousands of years, and their seeds have been found at Peruvian archaeological sites. It is more cold hardy than its name suggests, is easy to grow and has attractive foliage, fluffy white flowers over a long period and produces abundant sweet, juicy fruit.
Can be trimmed to form an informal hedge or screen. Guavas also make good container plants, or stand alone as a feature plant.
Vitamin C is very high and most of this is contained in the skin, it also has good levels of fibre, vitamin A, some niacin, potassium and ellagic acid.
How to Eat
Eat fresh. The fruit can be added to ice-creams sauces, jams, cakes, drinks and chutney.
A healthy tree in good soil should produce 3-50 kg of fruit per year.
Generic Fruiting Time
They grow best in the full sun.
They are not very wind tolerant and are fairly salt resistant in sheltered positions.
Warmer climate, can tolerate hot summer temperatures. It can grow in both humid and dry climates. Will tolerate a few degrees of frost, will recover from some leaf damage. Young plants are very frost tender.
Will grow best in fertile, moist deep loams but are tolerant of other soil types including clay or sand-gravel soils but will need good drainage in all soil conditions. Will tolerate a wide ph range
Young trees, in particular, need extra protection from freezing temperatures. Allow 5-8m between trees.
Young trees are nutrient hungry so will need regular applications of a balanced, complete fertiliser.
Trimming the main stems at the end will encourage new lateral growth and produce more fruit.
Generally have few problems but whitefly could be a problem in humid areas
Brief frost of -3°C