Position – Plant your guava tree in full sun and protect it from frost by covering it with a sheet or tarp. It can grow well in the garden or in a 50 to 60 centimetre pot. Keep it in a spot that isn’t subject to heavy winds. Plant them 2 to 3 metres from other trees and 5 metres from other guava trees.
Soil Type – Guava trees are not fussy about the soil conditions but prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH of between 5 and 7.
Fertiliser – To ensure good growth and fruit-bearing, guava trees need high nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. Plant your guava tree with a combination of potting soil and organic compost. Use a fertiliser with these requirements from your local hardware or nursery, and use it every 1 to 2 months while the tree is young. After that, 3 to 4 times per year is sufficient.
Use our volcanic rock dust to give your guava tree the required magnesium. Otherwise, get magnesium as well for maximum fruit production.
Mulch – Mulching with pine bark will assist in maintaining the acidity of the soil. This mulch is available from Just Berry Plants.
Watering – During warm weather and the growing season, water your guava tree generously 2 to 3 times a month. Water it for about 40 minutes. If you get 3 good monthly rains, you don’t need to water the tree. During the winter months, guavas are drought-resistant, so water sparingly. They have shallow roots that absorb water and nutrients rapidly.
Pruning – Remove any dead or crossing branches and any foliage or small branches that sprout on larger branches. Shape the tree as you like. Guavas fruit on new growth, so pruning will not adversely affect fruit-bearing.
Harvesting – The blooming season is in early spring. The fruit matures between 90 and 150 days after the flowers bloom. When your guavas are ripe enough to pick, they will exude their characteristic smell quite noticeably and give under light pressure.
