Growing pineapple guava in your backyard; Edible landscaping for Georgia

Post date: Jun 28, 2020 1:16:50 PM

Growing pineapple guava in your backyard; Edible landscaping for Georgia – Atlanta Garden

by Subra Kugathasan

Although I have been growing fruit trees for the last 2 decades, It was flattering when I was asked to write a blog about fruit trees by Uma and Ganesh. I have had several successes and failures, so where to start and which fruit tree to pick? Finally, I decided my first blog should be about growing pineapple guavas. Why did I choose this one to write? There are more than 10 reasons (I am listing only few), that every one of you in the group should grow one. There is no known pest to pineapple guavas and deer hate them. It is evergreen, drought tolerant and each year you are awarded with a bucketful of very tasty nutritious flowers & fruit. Can this get any better? Especially in places like Australia & New Zealand where it is very popular and expensive to buy than the Indian guavas. Here in the US, it is hardly known at all, which is a real shame because the fruit is incredibly delicious and very healthy. 1. Carefree: This is one unfussy plant. Still, they have their preferences. Pineapple guava does well in USDA zones 7-11. My tree survived without protection during the 2014 polar vortex we had in Atlanta when the temperature dropped to 6 degrees (wind chill got down to minus I think). They enjoy full sun, if they are planted in full sun an area with afternoon shade is preferable. One of my trees only gets 6 hours and fruits well and that indicates they will perform even with ½ day sun. Once established (I would say about 3 years for the tap root to get to the water table), they’re quite drought-tolerant. They’re self-fruitful for most part (I will talk about the cultivars towards the end), but fruits set better if there’s another plant nearby.

2. Interesting and attractive Foliage: Pineapple guava is a handsome (pretty if you wish to call, do not care) shrub with thick, oval, silvery-green foliage. It is evergreen. This is extremely important to someone who likes some texture and color year-round like me (I bet you are too). It’s a substantial plant that can be pruned into tree form or double as a boundary hedge. I have 2 plants; one is in a bush form (picture) and other one I am trying to prune into a tree form. This evergreen shrub can easily reach heights of 12-15 ft if not pruned. However, you can grow them in large pots too. I was at an outdoor bar in Savannah once, and they had it as accent plants (because they are handsome plants, didn’t I say that) in large pots in the patio. It was in late September, and I found the trees were loaded with fruits. I just ate them so much; I did not have room for dinner that night! 3. Beautiful, interesting and flamboyant flowers: In the spring the flowers arrive (In Johns Creek / Cumming area, it blooms in early May and the plant will be loaded with blooms by mid-May – see attached picture) and put on a pretty fabulous show, the bush becomes a show of fireworks. The bush is literally covered

in red, white on the backdrop of green leaves. The white edible sepals are thick marshmallow-like pillows of sweet melt in your mouth like cotton candy. The passion-flower like blossoms are some of the sexiest blooms I’ve ever seen. Sugary pink petals are pulled back and down over the stem allowing rose red stamens with gold tips to fan out. I’m not alone on this one; bees, butterflies, and birds appreciate them as much as I do. 4. Edible fruit and flowers!: Yes, those fabulous flowers are completely edible. You can eat them right off the plant, toss them into a salad (imagine that presentation), add them to iced tea, or make jelly. I have done it all. The smell and fragrance of the flowers are beyond comparison but it is very much a preview of the smell of the fruit. Let us talk about the fruits next. They have a fruity-sweet-with-a-little-tangy flavor. Those looking for Indian / Mexican guava taste initially get disappointed, but quickly they learn to like it because pineapple guavas are the tastiest. The fruit will show up in the summer and is ripe in fall when they drop off of the shrub. I pick them from the ground or from the bush and eat them over a month period starting late September. Initially, a bit sour and tangy, and each day pass by you can appreciate the increasing sweetness. When I come home from work, I go directly to the bush and pick a handful before I even enter into the house during the season. It’s a simple task to cut the little fruits in half and scoop the fleshy insides with a spoon. I think they have their own flavor, but I’ve heard it described as pineapple-ish, minty-ish, or…like a guava.

5. Very nutritious: Pineapple guava is a rich source of calcium, dietary fiber, vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin C, vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6, folate, vitamin E, vitamin K, iron, carbohydrates, protein, zinc, potassium, manganese and magnesium. Make sure you insist to your child / grandchild that they eat the whole fruits with the seeds. Excellent remedy if you / your child if they experience constipation. It has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s anti-oxidant properties only can be matched with few others I know of. Excellent source of folate, so highly recommended to pregnant women. Vitamin E helps the sperm count in Men. Can it get any better folks!

6. Container friendly: That’s right, pineapple guavas have no problem living in containers, so a small-space garden is a non-issue. It will fruit even kept in containers, but you may have to bring inside to prevent the roots freeze over during the ‘below freezing’ days.

7. Few factoids:

Origins: The pineapple guava also known as Feijoa shrub is native to South America. The plant was introduced to Europe, New Zealand and the US around the early 1900s.

Adaptive Climate: Grows well in zone 7-11. However, in zone 7B like we have here in North Atlanta, I recommend we grow them in a pot if you bought them during the summer months, and only plant in Feb or March in the ground when the plant is in dormancy. The minimum chill requirement is 50 days in order to get flowering. You may find this as landscaping shrub in California. I was with visiting a park in San Francisco with few American friends (side trip during a conference), the park had several trees with ripe fruits. It was sad, no one knew what it was! For best fruit production it is recommended to plant in the south-facing position up against a building. None of my 2 trees are planted that way.

Pollination: The bi-sexual flowers are often self-incompatible so you must plant two or more named types together in order to get cross-pollination. I also thought that way and planted the second one. Before my second one started to bloom, I got fruits from the first one. The absolute best way though is to hand pollinate some of the flowers and ensure you get fruit, but I stopped doing that. There are also self-fertile cultivars like Coolidge and Apollo.

Feeding: Pineapple Guavas are heavy feeders and require good compost mulch in order to maintain production and replenish nutrients. Mulching ensures that the shallow roots are protected as well.

Soil: They prefer sandy loam, well-draining soil with lots of organic matter. Rest assured, they grow in clay soils like we have here in North Atlanta as long as they are not saturated in the winter. Again, adding compost to the soil is definitely recommended.

Pruning: Prune in Feb when it is dormant to meet your need but be careful not to prune too much in the summer and avoid sun-burned fruit. Some people prefer to hedge their plants which seems to work just fine and they still get a moderate amount of fruit.

Propagation: Pineapple Guava can be grown from seeds, cuttings, layering, and grafting. I have propagated from cutting as well as separating the suckers.

Cultivars: I find it hard when the nurseries do not tell you what cultivars these plants are. Also, they often mislabel them.

Coolidge – This early-ripening, self-fertile variety bears good crops of very large, dark green, tasty fruit.

Nikita – I yet to find a USA nursery sells them.

Apollo –Self-fertile, and will pollinate our other varieties!

Mammoth – As its name implies, Mammoth Pineapple Guava is a very large fruit, Sweet and flavorful, Mammoth is also early ripening.

Robert – A valuable, self-fertile, New Zealand variety, Robert is prized for its profuse flowers, large flavorful fruit, and compact growth habit.

Now, you want to grow pineapple guava, please keep these broad principles in mind!

1. Like any fruit tree, it takes 3-5 years to fruit. if you do not have patience, do not try to grow fruit tress including pineapple guavas. I tend to baby my fruit trees during the first 3 years like watering, staking them, mulching heavily in winter etc., then ignore them once established.

2. Like any fruit tree, there is a high risk for the plant not to survive during the first year. Be prepared. Like anything else in life, several factors are involved. The cultivar, health of the seedling you plant, the soil, the sun exposure, PH of the soil.

3. Like any fruit tree, the first-year growth is minimal, the second-year growth is under par, but it leaps in 3rd year.

4. Like any fruit tree, the chosen spot may not work well for the first time. Be prepared to move the plant when it is dormant to another spot.

5. Like any other fruit tree, they like sun (minimum 6 hours), well drained, and composted organic rich soil. They do not like wet feet.

6. Do not over fertilize them, do not over water them. These principles applies to any tree.

So, anyone who has the will, patience and interest can grow pineapple guavas. Those who in fact start a tree this year 2020, I promise to host them for a pineapple guava tasting party at my house in early October! Respectfully, Subra Kugathasan.