Although it is indigenous to the Americas, the strawberry guava (Psidium littoralei) also goes by the names cattley guava, purple guava, or Chinese guava. Strawberry guavas can reach heights of up to 14 feet (or 6 feet), which is between 2 and 4.5 meters. Although yellow fruits are also conceivable, this tree often bears red fruit, as its name suggests.
The strawberry guava’s fruit is a fragrant, luscious pulp containing seeds, just like the ordinary guava. However, this variety of guava is thought to have a strawberry aroma and is less musky in flavour. It can be consumed raw or used to make jam, jelly, juice, or puree.
Strawberry Guava Varieties
The Myrtaceae family includes the strawberry guava tree. The plant has shrubs from the same family that are closely related, despite the lack of known cultivars.
While the strawberry guava is an all-purpose plant that can do it all, there are other species you may use as well. In reality, you may choose from a wide variety of other species or combine them to make your tropical garden’s environment lush by finding them in South America’s tropical forests.
Although this particular species has no recognized cultivars, some of its natural variants include,
• Lemon guava and common guava are other names for Psidium guajava. This 10- to 15-foot-tall shrub is indigenous to the Caribbean and Central America. Although the fruits are just as luscious as strawberry guava, it isn’t as lush or hardy.
• Feijoa, also known as Acca sellowiana, is a fruit that is grown for both decorative purposes and for its flavorful, tart fruits, which the locals refer to as pineapple guava. The tree has a wider spread than the lemon guava and reaches a height of 12 feet. Additionally, it bears fruit more quickly than other species. They are tough plants with a great tolerance for cold and frost.
• Psidium cattleianum, often known as the strawberry guava and named for horticultural William Cattley, is a widespread shrub in Hawaii that, when fully grown, ranges in height from 6 to 18 feet. It is a favourite of many gardens in the warm southern regions of the country, from Florida to Southern California, because of its white flowers, deep leaves, and sweet-tasting fruits.
Plant Description
Strawberry is native to Brazil. It is a compact, evergreen, bushy shrub with rounded, smooth branches that can reach heights of 3 to 6 meters. The leaves of this plant are 5 to 8 cm long, smooth, shiny, and leathery. The white flowers are carried close to the stalks and have fluffy stamens. The fruit has thin, deep wine-red skin and is round, 2.5 to 4 cm in diameter (about the size of a small plum). The juicy flesh is thought to have the best flavour of any guava. Cherry guavas may grow in a variety of soil types, but they require good drainage. They do not enjoy the cold and cannot stand particularly heavy frost, although they can withstand colder temperatures than the typical guava.
Planting Details
When to Sow:
• Soil temperatures between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius are ideal for germination.
• Prepare seeds by soaking them for 48 hours
• Planting 5 mm deep, with a 4 m distance between plants.
• Sun in its fullness
• Wide tolerance for a variety of soil types, but good drainage is required; pH 5 to 7
How to Grow Strawberry Guava
You have two alternatives when it comes to cultivating strawberry guava:
• Either use seeds or branches. Shoots are the most typical method used by gardeners to plant them. Birds are the ones who disperse the seeds, and Hawaii has struggled with this issue for a long time. The shoots can be purchased from a nursery or you can acquire the seeds online. Here are simple instructions for planting strawberry guava.
• After the last frost in late April is when the seeds should be planted. When the soil is warm enough and manageable for work, that is.
• Make sure you can recreate the tropical environment that it is accustomed to in Brazil. A backyard, garden, or grass will all work.
• Simply watch out for its propensity to spread because it is an invasive species. as long as it receives sufficient sunlight.
• Make sure the soil’s pH does not go above 7. Rich, loamy soil is ideal for growing strawberry guava.
• After sowing the seeds, give them a quick drink of water. To ensure germination, the temperature must be maintained between 70- and 85 degrees F at all times.
• The seeds will begin to sprout and form little roots in the soil after 4 to 6 weeks. It may take up to 12 weeks for germination if the soil is poor or the temperatures are unstable.
• Until the plant takes root and starts to produce leaves, maintain a constant temperature and high humidity levels.
• The ripening and harvesting of the fruits might take anywhere from 3 to 5 months.
Strawberry Guava Plant Care
The flowers and fruit are perfect for enhancing your garden’s aesthetics. Here is a list of the plant’s requirements for soil, water, and sunlight.
• Heat and the Sun
The strawberry guava spreads quickly and thrives in direct sunlight. It thrives in warmer climates, usually between 70 and 85 °F (21 and 29 °C).
• Water
The tree requires consistent, adequate irrigation. Guava red trees need proper water even if they can withstand brief droughts. For the berries to ripen properly, they require considerably more water throughout fruit growth. Once the plant reaches maturity, regular irrigation at least once per week is sufficient to ensure healthy development.
• Soil
Strawberry guava requires loamy to sandy soil that is well-drained and has an acidic pH between 5 and 7. Additionally, the soil ought to be moderately warm and quite rich in organic matter. Cooler soil temperatures may prevent seeds from germinating.
• Fertilizing
Three times per year—in the spring, summer, and fall—the plants require fertilizer. For the greatest results, use a premium 6-6-6 ratio granular citrus fertilizer
• Pruning
Although the strawberry guava plant naturally maintains its shape, a little pruning might go a long way if you’re planting it for landscape purposes. They are naturally attractive in shape. But you can remove any branches that are invasive or spread beyond the boundaries. If you want bushier growth, tipping the branches will also result in that. After the fruit season has passed, the best time to prune is in the fall.
PESTS
Fruit flies, black scale, ants, and root-knot nematode can all cause damage to the berries. The easiest technique to keep fruit flies away when growing in a container is to cover the potting soil with a layer of aquarium gravel or coarse sand.
By covering, you’ll prevent flies from depositing their eggs on the topsoil and from emerging after hatching. By routinely trimming a few branches to improve ventilation and provide more sunshine for the lower limbs, the black-scale infestation can be minimized.
Pruning will control the black scale and make the leaves drier. Set natural traps consisting of boric acid and sugar water to control ants. They won’t be able to climb the tree because of the answer.
Trees cultivated in sandy soil are susceptible to root-knot nematodes, notwithstanding their rarity. They are difficult to control and can harm the fruit. The easiest method to avoid them is to create the right circumstances for growth and provide regular irrigation and fertilization to keep the trees healthy and the pests at bay.
Diseases
Plants like strawberry guava can develop an algal leaf spot. The best preventative measures are, of course, high-quality fertilizer, frequent watering, and appropriate soil drainage. Air circulation will be improved by pruning the plants, and humidity levels will be managed by enough sunlight.
Harvesting and Storing Strawberry Guava
• Harvesting
In mild regions, strawberry guava trees generally bloom all year round. The greatest season is spring, though. After the flowers have completed blooming, the fruit needs between 90 and 150 days to thoroughly ripen. Fruits taste better when they are allowed to ripen on the tree.
After being transplanted, the trees continue to develop and, 2-4 years later, begin to bear fruit. Although the trees can live up to 40 years, after 15 years they start to produce less fruit.
• Storing
It is better to store the berries when they are still green if you wish to store the fruit. They won’t go bad if you store them in the refrigerator for three to five weeks. Within a few days, bruises form on overripe berries. Wrapping the fruit in plastic and putting it in the refrigerator or cold storage is the best way to preserve strawberry guava fruit.
Applications
The majority of strawberry guavas are consumed fresh, off the tree. The skin, flesh, and seeds can all be consumed. However, because of the seeds’ extremely hard hardness, they are frequently swallowed whole or cast aside.
Sliced strawberry guavas can be added to salads, sprinkled fresh over ice cream, or blended with yoghurt and porridge.
The little fruits can also be juiced and frozen into popsicles, or they can be combined without the seeds into fruit drinks or smoothies.
Strawberry guavas can also be cooked into jams, purees, and pastes for use in baked products and fruit leather in addition to fresh applications. The jams can also be spread on toast.
In addition, they can be cooked into syrup and added to iced tea, sparkling water, and mixed drinks. In addition to the fruits, the leaves can be used to produce tea by steeping them in hot water.
Ginger, lemon, and other tropical fruits including mango, strawberry, pineapple, and watermelon, as well as creamy cheeses, combine well with strawberry guavas. The fruits only last 2 to 3 days on average before becoming bad. The fruits should be kept at room temperature until they mature because they will continue to ripen off the tree. They must be kept in the refrigerator until they are fully grown.
Benefits and Uses of Strawberry Guava
• Strawberry guavas contain therapeutic properties in both their fruits and foliage. Science has discovered a variety of uses for this unassuming shrub, in addition to the tasty fruits, landscape designs, and lovely blooms.
• The plants recently discovered anti-microbial, antiseptic, and antibacterial capabilities are what piqued the pharmaceutical industry’s interest. It is regarded as an excellent source of fibre, which aids in digestion. The fruits speed up wound healing since they are high in vitamin C.
• The fruit’s seeds can also serve as an excellent substitute for coffee beans, which brings us to our final point. The good news is especially welcome for those who enjoy coffee but avoid caffeine.
• The seeds can be roasted and ground to create a flavorful brew that is far superior to decaffeinated coffee in terms of flavour.
Strawberry Guava Market
Guava is in high demand by market vendors, fruit sellers, and manufacturers of fruit juices, so farmers who have it can sell it to them. You can raise the value of your strawberry guava business by using the fruit to make pies, jam, jellies, beverages, sauces, fruit leather, and other products.