Planting Guava Trees
Successfully establishing a young fruit tree starts with your planting site and method. Once a fruit tree is established, it needs little assistance to grow and bear fruit; but you’ll want to make sure you give your trees the right foundation.
NOTE: This is part 3 in a series of 8 articles. For a complete background on how to grow guava trees, we recommend starting from the beginning.
Soil
Guava trees need a soil pH of 5 to 7.
Contact your local County Extension Office for information about soil testing in your area, or purchase one of our digital meters for quick and accurate results.
Sunlight
Guava trees thrive in full sun, so choose a location that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Ideal growing temperatures of 68 to 86 degrees F.
Pollination
Self-pollinating. Honeybees do most of the pollinating but hand pollinating with a small paint brush may be necessary if bees are absent or limited. Guava will only bear about 15% of total fruit production without bees or hand pollinating. Fruit quantity will increase if you have more than one variety for cross-pollination.
Spacing
Give your Guava tree ample space to grow and spread its canopy without crowding. Typically, plant trees at least 15 to 20 feet apart to allow proper airflow and sunlight penetration.
Planting
- Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root system.
- You may fertilize your tree at time of planting.
- Plant your tree level with the soil line from the pot.
- Water your plant thoroughly.
- Keep the ground mulched around the trees to keep it free of weeds, but don’t cultivate so deeply that the surface roots will be damaged.
Planting in Containers
For optimal growth, it is important to utilize a high-quality potting mix that facilitates good drainage and aeration. When cultivating indoors, providing the plant with ample moisture, abundant sunlight, and maintaining ideal temperatures can enable it to reach its fruiting size. Additionally, it is advisable to transfer the plant to a slightly larger pot once it becomes root bound, allowing its roots to have more space to thrive and flourish.
