Item Tag: Psidium

Guava Seeds, 30 Seeds, Psidium guajava, Tropical Fruit Tree, May be Grown In A Container, Organic To keep the cost down seeds are shipped non-machinable with stamps, no tracking.In colder climates – summer the plant outdoors and winter the plant indoors or in a greenhouse.Guava fruit trees (Psidium guajava) are not a common sight in North America and need a decidedly tropical habitat. In the United States, they are found in Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Florida and a few sheltered areas in California and Texas. The trees are very frost tender and will succumb to a freeze when young, although adult trees may survive short periods of cold.That said, the plants are attractive and produce deliciously rich, sweet fruits that are excellent fresh or in desserts. Given enough guava tree information, it is possible to grow these small trees in a greenhouse or sunroom and reap the benefits of their Vitamin C-rich fruits.The guava fruit grows on a small tree with a wide, short canopy and a sturdy single to multi-stemmed trunk. The guava tree is an interesting plant with mottled greenish bark and long 3- to 7-inch serrated leaves. Guava trees produce white, 1-inch flowers that yield to small round, oval or pear shaped fruits. These are more accurately berries and have soft flesh, which may be white, pink, yellow or even red and varies in taste from acidic, sour to sweet, and rich depending on variety.The guava plants thrive in any soil with good drainage and full sun for best flowering and fruit production.Guava fruit trees are tropical to sub-tropical and may achieve 20 feet in height. Growing guavas require cold protection and is not suitable outdoors in most zones of the United States. They must have shelter from freezing winds, even in sunny warm climates where occasional icy temperatures occur.Caring for a Guava TreeIf you are lucky enough to live in one of the regions where guava plants grow outside, the tree should be planted in well-drained soil where its roots have room to spread.Fertilize growing guavas every one to two months while young and then three to four times per year as the tree matures. Guava trees need a high amount of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash, along with some magnesium for maximum fruit production. An example is a formula of 6-6-6-2, worked into soils just prior to the onset of the growing season and then evenly spaced out three times during the growth period.Water frequently after planting and then keep mature trees moderately moist during the blooming and fruiting seasons. Once established, caring for a guava fruit tree is similar to any fruiting tree care.Growing Guava from SeedGrowing guava seeds, however, is a fun project and produces an interesting plant. You need to harvest seed from a fresh guava and soak off the flesh. The seeds can remain usable for months, but germination can take up to eight weeks. Boil the seeds for five minutes prior to planting to soften the tough outside and encourage germination.____________________________________________Growing tropical guava in a greenhouse or on a protected porch from seed is a fun project to try. In tropical climates, guava trees grow up to 12 to 14 feet tall, but kept in a container, they stay small enough for a covered porch or small greenhouse. Commercial growers use grafted trees to get specific fruit characteristics, but in the home garden, growing guavas from seed is a simple and fun way to add to the garden landscape. Grow guava outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9a through 10b. In the chillier zone 8 areas of the region, keep your guava tree in a pot on a sunny, covered porch in winter.Place guava seeds in a pot of boiling water, and boil for five minutes to break seed dormancy and speed germination.Fill a 4-inch nursery pot with soilless seed-starting mix.Press one guava seed into the center of the pot. Use your thumb to gently press the seed under the soilless mix, and cover it with 1/8 to 1/4 inch of the mixture.Soak the pot with water using a gentle misting spray or the soak setting on the hose to avoid disrupting the seed.Place the pot in a warm place with a temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Guava seeds germinate in two to eight weeks.Keep the soilless mix moist by watering when the top of the soil starts to feel dry under your finger.An alternative to boiling the seeds is to soak the guava seeds in water for two weeks prior to planting. Seed treatments, called stratification, allow the seed coat to soften and germinate. Different seeds require different pre planting treatment.In cool climates, placing the pot on a heating pad designed for seed starting helps maintain a consistent temperature of 65 F.