http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/ Hi Frogleg....I just bought packets of
Chilean guava from this place....$1.50 per packet.
Good luck....Pete


"Sniffer-Dog" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 15 Dec 2002 01:37:59 +0000, a strange species called
wrote:

Nick Maclaren wrote:

Growing them where? You CAN grow them in the UK, given a suitable
conservatory or frost-free greenhouse, but getting a crop from even
such relatively hardy tropical trees is pretty implausible.

Sorry to disagree Nick, but Guavas are a realistic proposition and can
be fruited under slightly heated glass - even in the UK. Fruiting
plants need to be kept lightly moist and can be fed with a general
purpose feed every 14 - 21 days from May to September. Ideal winter
temperatures are around 7C. min. rising to 15 -18C. by day. Plants
will be dormant at this time and should be kept slightly dry.

Flowering usually occurs in spring and it is possible to have a
moderate crop ready for picking in October from a March or April
flowering. The flowers are best hand-pollinated using an artist's
brush - failing that the tip of your forefinger will do. During
active growth in summer, watering can be increased and temperatures
can rise to 30C. or more provided the plants are misted to reduce the
risk of spider mite or mealy bug. However, a hot very steamy
atmosphere will reduce the quality of the fruit, with much of that
wonderful aroma being lost.

In southern counties, larger specimens carrying juvenile fruit can be
placed out of doors from mid-June to early September if given a warm,
sheltered, sunny spot close to a wall where they will benefit from
reflected heat by day and radiant heat at night. Temperatures need to
remain above 17C. for the fruit to develop properly so the plants
must be brought indoors before the nights become too cool. The fruits
will develop their best flavour if ripened at temperatures well above
22C - not difficult to provide in early autumn, especially if the
greenhouse is closed down early enough in the day.

I understand there are now a few hybrids using the hardier Brazilian
species - Psidium cattleianum. This is the 'strawberry guava'
carrying marble sized, dull, dark red fruits, which are very sweet and
tasty, but lacking the exotic aroma of the larger fruited varieties.
This is an exciting development because the strawberry guava is
moderately hardy in the South West and can be reliably fruited against
a warm sunny wall, if trained as an espalier. With the prospect of
warmer summers through global warming, such hybrids may eventually
become as easy to grow as apricots or peaches in the south.

Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK

Thanks very much for the info guys. I live in the UK and keeping them
heated and adequately lighted is not a problem indoors anyway. I
would like to try growing these.

You don't know of any places where I could purchase the seeds from
online do you?

Thanks for your help

Sniffer-Dog