Guava
Psidium guajava · Myrtaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around guava and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Flowering
- Spring to summer, discreet white flowers
- Adult size
- 3 to 8 m in height, spreading habit
- Growth
- Fast to moderate
- Hardiness
- Frost-tender, tropical to subtropical climates (minimum 10–12 °C)
- Origin
- Central and South America
- Soil type
- Well-draining, fertile, slightly acidic to neutral
Care
Watering
Keep the soil regularly moist during growth and fruiting periods, avoiding waterlogging. During dry spells, increase watering frequency. Reduce watering in winter or during the dry season depending on your climate. Mulching helps retain soil moisture.
Light Exposure
Place your guava in full sun for optimal fruiting (minimum 6 to 8 hours per day). A light afternoon shade can benefit trees in very hot regions. Avoid windy locations that stress the tree.
Pruning and Structure
Prune lightly after harvest to balance the shape and remove dead or diseased wood. You can also reduce height to make fruit picking easier. Young plants benefit from pinching to encourage denser branching.
Fertilizer
Apply a balanced fertilizer or one slightly higher in potassium during the growing and flowering periods (spring-summer). Adding well-decomposed compost each year improves soil fertility. Reduce fertilizing in winter.
Soil Preparation
Prepare soil rich in organic matter, well-draining and slightly acidic. Add compost or well-rotted manure at planting time. Good drainage is crucial to prevent root asphyxiation and rot.
Diseases and Pests
Guava is generally hardy. Watch for scale insects, fruit flies, and mites in humid regions. Homemade soapy water sprays help control small pests. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
Did you know?
Originally from Central America, guava was adopted by tropical and subtropical populations long before modern colonization. Its fruit, extremely rich in vitamin C (sometimes 5 times more than an orange), was long considered a natural source of vitality in Africa and South Asia. In India and Egypt, guava became so important to fruit cultivation that people almost forget it's an American immigrant!
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Blue gumEucalyptus globulus
- MyrtleMyrtus communis
- MānukaLeptospermum scoparium
- Strawberry guavaPsidium cattleianum
- Snow gumEucalyptus pauciflora
- Woolly TeatreeLeptospermum lanigerum
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.