The plant prefers high rainfall areas and can tolerate 4 - 5 months of drought. It can withstand some waterlogging and is reported to be tolerant of flooding and somewhat salt tolerant. It does best in cooler climates and can be grown in a hot house. It is well suited to container growing. The plant can grow on a variety of soils, although it does not like heavy clay soils.
Guava
Psidium guajava, commonly known as guava, is an evergreen tree native to Mexico. It grows up to 10 meters tall and produces highly scented, yellow, globose fruits with sweet-acidic pulp and kidney-shaped seeds. Guava is rich in Vitamin C and is often eaten fresh, but can also be used to make jams, jelly, and juice.
Psidium guajava
Mexico
- Guava is a tropical fruit that is native to Mexico. - It is an evergreen tree that can reach a height of 2 - 10 meters. - The tree branches close to the ground and often produces suckers at the base. - Guava is susceptible to frost but can recover by suckering from below the soil. - It thrives in high rainfall areas but can tolerate 4 - 5 months of drought. - Guava can grow on a variety of soils but does not prefer heavy clay soils. - It is reported to be tolerant of flooding and somewhat salt tolerant. - In cooler climates, guavas can be grown in a hot house or in containers. - The fruit of the guava is highly scented, yellow when ripe, and round in shape. - The flesh is sweet-acidic and contains many hard, kidney-shaped seeds. - Guava is rich in Vitamin C, with 2 - 5 times the content of fresh orange juice. - It is also a good source of Vitamin A. - The fruit can be consumed fresh or used to make various products such as jams, jellies, paste, juice, and nectar. - Seedling trees will start bearing fruit at around 2 years of age. - The leaves and bark of guava are used for dyeing and tanning in some countries. - Guava wood is heavy and strong, suitable for tool handles and carpentry. - The roots, bark, leaves, and immature fruits of guava are commonly used for gastrointestinal issues and diarrhea. - Crushed leaves can be applied to wounds, ulcers, and rheumatism. - Chewing guava leaves can help relieve toothache. - The leaf concoction can be taken as a remedy for coughs, throat and chest ailments, and mouth ulcers. - Guava trees can be propagated from seeds, cuttings, and suckers. - Vegetative propagation from superior plants is more common due to the variability of guava fruits. - The minimum spacing between guava plants should be 3 meters.
It will grow on a variety of soils, although does not like heavy clay soils. It seems able to withstand some waterlogging.
A small, branching, evergreen, Mexican native tree, attaining a height of 2 - 10 m. It branches close to the ground, and often produces suckers at the base of the trunk. The guava is suscep-tible to frost, (tolerant to - 2°C), but if not too severe, it will recover by suckering from below the soil. It does best in high rainfall areas, but will tolerate 4 - 5 months of drought. It is also reported to be tolerant of flooding and somewhat salt tolerant. It will grow on a variety of soils, although does not like heavy clay soils. It seems able to withstand some waterlogging. In cooler climates, guavas can be grown in a hot house, and are well suited to container growing.
The fruit are highly scented, yellow in colour when ripe and globose in shape. They are produced over a long period. The pulpy flesh is sweet - acid, and contains many hard, kidney -shaped seeds. It has 2 - 5 times the Vitamin C content of fresh orange juice and is also a good source of Vitamin A. The fruits are best eaten fresh, but can also be made into jams, jelly, paste, juice and nectar. Seedling trees will begin bearing fruit at about 2 years of age.
Nutritional composition of guava per 100 grams of edible portion is: Water - 83%, Energy - 62 calories, Carbohydrate - 15 g, Fat - 0.6 g, Protein - 0.8 g, Ash - 0.6 g, Calcium - 23 mg, Potas-sium - 289 mg, Sodium - 4 mg, Magnesium - 13 mg, Iron - 0.9 mg, Phosphorous - 42 mg, Chlorine - 155 mg, Sulphur - 105 mg, Silicon - 30 mg, Vitamin A - 280.U., Thiamin - 0.05 mg, Riboflavin - 0.05 mg, Niacin -1.2 mg, Ascorbic acid - 242 mgs and the digestion time is 3 hours.
In some countries, the tannin - rich leaves and bark are used for dyeing and tanning. Guava wood is very heavy and strong and can be used for tool handles and implements. It has a fine reddish to yellow grain and is used in carpentry and joinery. It also makes excellent firewood and charcoal.
Because of their astringency, the roots, bark, leaves and immature fruits are commonly used for gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and dysentry throughout the tropics. Crushed leaves are applied to wounds, ulcers and rheumatism and the leaves are chewed to relieve toothache. The leaf concoction can be taken as a remedy for coughs, throat and chest ailments, gargled to relieve mouth ulcers and inflamed gums. It can also be taken as a vermifuge and to promote men-strual flow.
Trees are propagated from seed, cuttings and suckers. When grown from seed, about 70% will grow true to type. Because of the variability of guava fruits, vegetative propagation from superior plants is more common. Minimum spacing between plants is 3 m.