Hello.

I just wondered if anyone knows where I can buy Guava Tree Seeds
online?

In particular I am looking for the Mexican Cream, Ruby X, Sweet White
Indonesian and the Red Indian varieties.

I would also be grateful for any info from anyone who currently grows
these or knows about these tropical trees. For example how difficult
are they to grow, what type of soil is best, temperatures, lighting
and humidity etc.

Thanks very much for any links and help.

Sniffer-Dog

"Sniffer-Dog" wrote in message
...

I would also be grateful for any info from anyone who currently grows
these or knows about these tropical trees. For example how difficult
are they to grow, what type of soil is best, temperatures, lighting
and humidity etc.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG045

Guava trees are relatively difficult to propagate by usual methods.
Consequently seed is still commonly used, although varieties do not
reproduce true to type this way. The easiest method is air layering, but it
is impractical when large numbers of plants are needed and the source of
material is limited. Veneer grafting and chip budding are successful only
when seedling rootstocks are young and vigorous (stem caliper should not
exceed that of a pencil) and the scion comes from terminal growth which is
still green and quadrangular. Leafy stem cuttings will root fairly
successfully in a mist box.

CLIMATE
Susceptibility to cold weather restricts guava growing in Florida to central
and southern coastal areas and a few warm areas in the interior. Small trees
may be killed by temperatures of 27-28°F, while older trees withstand short
periods of 25-26°F without much damage. However, if the top of trees are
frozen, they usually sprout from the ground and are back in production in
2-3 years.

PLANTING AND PRUNING
Under Florida conditions, commercial plantings are spaced 20 or 25 feet
between rows and between plants in the row. However, if provisions are made
to top and hedge as needed, distances can be shortened to 12 to 15 feet
between plants in the row. Guavas lend themselves well to pruning, which
facilitates grove management practices in close planting. Pruning hastens
flowering and fruiting by promoting vigorous flushes of new growth which
bear larger fruit.
The best time for planting trees is in early summer at the beginning of the
rainy season. Young plants can be expected to produce half a bushel of fruit
in the third year of planting, and mature trees will produce up to 8 to 10
bushels per year.


FERTILIZER
In all Florida soils, guava responds well to fertilizer applications. After
planting, fertilize each tree every 60 days with ¼ lb of a mixture
containing 8-10% nitrogen, 3-4% phosphoric acid, 8-10% potash and 4-5%
magnesium. The second year increase this to 1 lb of fertilizer per tree
every 60 days. Thereafter, use about 5 lbs of this mixture per year for each
inch of trunk diameter. For heavy bearing trees supplemental applications of
ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate may be desirable during periods of
heavy blooming, not exceeding 2 lbs per year for 10-year old trees.
Nutritional sprays containing zinc and manganese should be used 2 or 3 times
a year, depending on soil conditions and production. Copper should be
included in the sprays if copper-based fungicides are not used. In
calcareous soils, iron chelates specific for these soils may be needed.


PESTS
The parasitic red alga (Cephaleuros virescens) is troublesome in guavas,
particularly in some varieties under conditions of high humidity. Copper,
perhaps the best material for its control, should be sprayed as soon as the
first symptoms appear on the leaves.
Root-knot nematodes can cause severe damage to the roots of young trees in
sandy soils. Injury can be overcome to some degree by the use of
fertilizers, mulching and irrigation.

Guavas are attacked by several insect pests in Florida.

Guava whitefly (Metaleurodicus cardini) and scale insects: These can be
controlled with oil sprays containing 4-5 quarts of emulsifiable oil in 100
gal water or by a combination of oil (4 qts) plus 4 lbs of malathion 25%
wettable powder (or 2 pints of the malathion liquid, containing 5 lbs active
material per gal) in 100 gal water.

Caribbean fruit fly (Anastrepha suspensa): In recent years the larva of this
fly has been the most serious insect pest of guavas in south Florida. Larvae
hatch from eggs laid within maturing fruit and burrow through the ripe fruit
making it unsuitable for eating or processing. No satisfactory control for
the fly has been developed.

Guava moth (Argyresthia eugeniella): Although not as damaging as the
Caribbean fruit fly, the moth larvae spoil the ripe fruit by tunneling
through it. A satisfactory control has not been developed.

In article ,
Sniffer-Dog wrote:

I just wondered if anyone knows where I can buy Guava Tree Seeds
online?

In particular I am looking for the Mexican Cream, Ruby X, Sweet White
Indonesian and the Red Indian varieties.

I would also be grateful for any info from anyone who currently grows
these or knows about these tropical trees. For example how difficult
are they to grow, what type of soil is best, temperatures, lighting
and humidity etc.

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.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren,
University of Cambridge Computing Service,
New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England.
Email:
Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679

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

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

On Sun, 15 Dec 2002 05:46:07 +0000, Sniffer-Dog

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

Named varieties can only be purchased as growing plants since they
will not grow 'true' from seed. Although he doesn't list them, Terry
Read at Reads Nurseries may be able to help with these -

http://www.readsnursery.co.uk

You should be able to get seeds of both the traditional guava (Psidium
guajava) and strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum) from Chiltern
Seeds. They are relatively easy to raise and you should have
flowering plants in about 3 years and regular fruiting after a further
2 years.

I forgot to mention that guavas prefer mildly acidic compost and
appear to do best in equal parts ericaceous mix and JI No 2 to which
extra sharp sand has been added. A slightly sandy compost will help
prevent excessive build up of moisture around the roots - a condition
you need to avoid at all times.

Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK

In article ,
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.

Most interesting. I stand corrected. I wonder why both of my books
on the subject regard it as being so 'tropical' in requirements?
There aren't many plants that they classify like that which have
even a chance of producing much fruit in the UK.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren,
University of Cambridge Computing Service,
New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England.
Email:
Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679

Nick wrote,

Most interesting. I stand corrected. I wonder why both of my books
on the subject regard it as being so 'tropical' in requirements?

So many books rely upon 'old philosophy' that takes no account of
hands on experience. - largely because so many garden writers
pontificate about plants that are unknown to them. Writers in the
18th. and 19th. centuries advised upon the basis of a plant's origins,
ignoring (or ignorant of) the subtleties of local climate and
elevation. Umpteen plants, shrubs and trees are supposedly 'tropical'
in origin, but so many are remarkably hardy in warm temperate
climates. Those plants which are lesser known tend to be lumped with
seeming geographic contemporaries and are often tarred with the same
brush and classified as being difficult or far too tender.

There are few if any existing authors who's writings I trust and I
tend to take the published word with a vast pinch of salt until
personal experience either bears it out or (more often than not),
condemns it to hearsay, myth and total ignorance. With rare
exception, garden authors merely plagiarise that which has gone before
and add nothing new to the collective modern knowledge. I suppose
much the same could be said of many TV 'gardeners', but I don't really
want to open up that can of worms again.


There aren't many plants that they classify like that which have
even a chance of producing much fruit in the UK

I suspect there would be far more if the incognoscenti weren't so
widely published!


Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK

On Wed, 11 Dec 2002 23:34:43 +0000, Sniffer-Dog
wrote:


I just wondered if anyone knows where I can buy Guava Tree Seeds
online?

http://www.fruitlovers.com/seedlistforeign.html

Use Google to search on 'guava seed sale' This reference is from the
first page of results, and you may have to wade through sites
promoting the seeds as snack food, but I'm sure there are more 'for
sale' sites available.

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