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modenacart
03-13-2008, 09:14 PM
Are guavas true to seed? Whats the best way to germinate them?

Richard
03-13-2008, 09:58 PM
Are guavas true to seed? Whats the best way to germinate them?

Short answer: true to seed: no. Easily rooted.

Longer answer:
There are true tropical guavas - Psidium guajava. Many cultivated varieties, the Thai Pink is the most well-received.
There are cattle guavas - Psidium cattleianum, a small seedy fruit which the natives largely ignored as a fresh fruit.
There are "pineapple guavas" - Acca sellowiana, the better cultivars are usually not found in nurseries but can be obtained from CRFG members.

Of the true Guavas, I will warn you that many non-tropical peoples do not care for any of the cultivars. You should try them first and make sure you have a variety you like. Here's a quick test: if you don't like the smell of Tamarind, you probably aren't going to like the Psidium guavas. Personally, I like guava fresh or sliced in a salad.

Just for fun, several nurseries and growers have cross-labeled all of these plants. This might help you:
Lemon, Strawberry, Raspberry "Guava" = cattle guava.

Lilith
03-14-2008, 06:34 AM
Thank you for that Guava primer, Richard!
I love guava. I go to the local latin market here and get Guava fruit shakes. They also make Lulo (Blackberry), Naranja (Orange), Tamarindo and several others, all equally yummy!

mskitty38583
03-14-2008, 08:14 AM
its suppossed to be good for the digestive track, and have all sorts of yummy things that are good for the body. i have never had the fresh fruit, but a lot of the natural teas, and juices i do drink have the juice. it is yummy. my mom dosent like it. but the girls and i do.

Richard
03-14-2008, 11:26 AM
Mskitty, there are so many things sold under the generic name "guava" it is hard to know what you're getting. Like any tree-borne fruit, they are a good source of fiber.

Here's a photo of some unripe tropical guavas on a young tree in my yard last summer. The largest of those shown is the size and color of a small Bartlett pear. I like to pick mine in the Fall when the skin starts turning yellow but not yet brown. The center core is seedy which is easily remedied with an apple or pear fruit-corer, or just eat out-of-hand. This particular tree is a selection of "Donrom" made by Paul Fisher of the CRFG.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=8634&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8634)

modenacart
03-14-2008, 08:22 PM
The guava we bought taste like pears and apples. Do you know what kind that might be? Thanks,

Richard
03-14-2008, 09:04 PM
The guava we bought taste like pears and apples. Do you know what kind that might be? Thanks,

Nope, there are a few hundred varieties. However, since you are in North Carolina I'm wondering if it was one of the cultivars from Florida, like the White Indonesian.

Do you have a copy of Cornucopia II: A Source Book of Edible Plants, by Stephen Facciola (http://www.amazon.com/Cornucopia-II-Source-Edible-Plants/dp/0962808725/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205546310&sr=8-1) ? Beginning on page 385 are listed 23 varieties and where to obtain them. Its really an amazing book.

Another idea to consider: find out from suppliers that are convenient to you what varieties they have, and then post here for various opinions on the flavor.

There are members of this site growing guavas, I guess if there is enough interest we can start trading guavas for other plants or banana bucks!

:2222:

modenacart
03-14-2008, 09:09 PM
I bought it at Harris Teeter. I don't know if that helps. I don't currently have that book.

Richard
03-14-2008, 09:42 PM
I bought it at Harris Teeter. I don't know if that helps. I don't currently have that book.

Here's pages 385-386, although I really recommend you buy the book.

mskitty38583
03-15-2008, 12:17 AM
i would be interested in one. would love to trade nanabucks for a guava.

Richard
03-15-2008, 01:16 AM
O.K. Mskitty, I'll root some of my variety and I'm sure other members here have some to trade or sell as well.

The plant is evergreen in the tropics but defoliates like a decidiuos tree with temperatures in the mid-35 F range. Mine is currently budding out from such an episode in January. It's supposed to need a frost-free zone, but hey -- my last name is Frost and it's doing just fine! But all jesting aside, many of the tropical guavas will survive a few mild frosts. Prolonged temperatures below 27 F will kill the plant to the ground, with some possibility of regrowth. If the roots freeze the plant is gone for good.

Supposedly the tropical guava only grows 10-12 feet high north of Florida, but my friend in San Marcos CA has one 25 feet tall.

Here's some more information: CRFG Tropical Guava Fruit Facts (http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/guava.html)

modenacart
03-15-2008, 09:35 AM
I can't tell which one it is by the pages. Thanks for the copy though.

bikoro child
03-15-2008, 09:56 AM
Here in France (more in the south) Acca Sellowiana is very common cause it's really hardy...It's called: Feijoa

mskitty38583
03-15-2008, 10:24 AM
richard that would be great! i appriciate it greatly. i would keep it in a pot and move it outside like a lot of people do their nanas. i love trees in the house anyways(tree hugger). thank you!!!!!:bananajoy::bananajoy::bananajoy::twonanners:

Richard
03-15-2008, 10:52 PM
A few of you have asked about Pineapple Guavas (Acca sellowiana, aka Feijoa sellowiana). This plant is in the same family as tropical guava (Psidium guajava), and also produces a tasty fruit! It is a hardy plant, I can personally vouch for the "Coolidge" cultivar being happy and productive in zone 9a (Yucaipa, CA). The "Nazemetz" cultivar is the best (and largest!) fruit I've tried.

Pineapple guavas do not come true from seed and so selected varieties are grafted on seedlings, or rooted from cuttings, or air-layered. I am growing "Nazemetz" and "Lickver's Pride" which I obtained as air-layers from Tom Del Hotal of San Diego. They will hopefully bear their first crop this year. "Nazemetz" and "Coolidge" are available from many nurseries across the U.S. For those of you that would like to trade some plants, I will try to grow some cuttings -- although other members here might already have some ready! Often two different cultivars or flowering individuals are needed to produce a crop. Seedlings of Coolidge are said to be good pollinators and produce fruit that is at least good enough for jam.

Here's some more information worth reading about A. sellowiana from Tom Spellman (http://www.davewilson.com/br40/sales_tom.html) at Dave Wilson Nursery.

Hardy to 12 degrees and native to the tropics of Central and South America, the pineapple guava was exported in the late 19th century to Australia and New Zealand where it has been an important commercial crop for more than 100 years. The fruit is sold domestically and to foreign markets worldwide.

Pineapple guava is a beautiful, evergreen shrub or small tree (growing to 15 feet), which may also serve as a landscape accent or backdrop due to its silvery-blue foliage and cinnamon-colored “peely”-textured bark. The flowers, borne in May and June, are 1-1/2" to 2 inches in diameter and striking crimson-pink on white. The thick waxy flower petals are edible, with a subtle flavor similar to a mild honeysuckle, making them perfect when used as a garnish or sprinkled on salads and desserts.

The fruit is ripe in the fall, from October to December. Oblong in shape, these fruits weigh from 1-1/2 to 6 ounces, depending on the cultivar. On the tree, the fruit is sometimes hard to spot, as it is the same silvery-blue color as the foliage, even when ripe. Harvest when the fruits begin to drop—don’t worry if they fall, they’ll be at peak flavor. In sunny locations, pick them up immediately, however, as ripe fruit on the ground is susceptible to sunburn. The flesh has the texture of a pear and tastes like a blend of pineapple, strawberry and banana.

Two good grafted cultivars are Coolidgi, developed by the Coolidge gardens in Pasadena, California, in the 1930s, and Nazemetz, developed by Paul Thompson at Bonsal, California, in the 1960s. Both have large fruit and are self-fruitful, but they produce much larger crops if cross-pollinated with each other or another variety.

chong
03-16-2008, 12:26 AM
We had a White Christmas last year, and coming back from a family gathering on Christmas Day, I noticed a red thing under the snow over my Feijoa. I wanted to find out about it then, but I was distracted by the unloading of foodstuff from the Jeep. The next morning, most of the snow was gone and I remembered about the red thing and saw this:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=8665&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8665&ppuser=567)

When I discovered that it was a little unfocused that evening, I went back and took this one:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=8666&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8666&ppuser=567)

Those petals are very tasty. Great with salads. The tree is probably 15 years old and around 7-ft tall. The problem was that, until two years ago, it was in a 5 gallon pot. It was only four feet tall and spindly then.

chong
03-16-2008, 12:40 AM
Nope, . . . . . . . . like the White Indonesian.

Do you have a copy of Cornucopia II: A Source Book of Edible Plants, by Stephen Facciola (http://www.amazon.com/Cornucopia-II-Source-Edible-Plants/dp/0962808725/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205546310&sr=8-1) ? Beginning on page 385 are listed 23 varieties and where to obtain them. Its really an amazing book.

. . . . . . . . . . :2222:

The pages you posted did not list any sources. Are they in a different section of the book? Thanks.

Richard
03-16-2008, 12:48 AM
The pages you posted did not list any sources. Are they in a different section of the book? Thanks.

The codes at the end of each entry represent sources which are listed alphabetically over many pages at the end of the book. You (chong) should buy a copy, I'm certain you'd enjoy it. In the meantime, let me see if it is feasible to put the references together here.

chong
03-16-2008, 01:41 AM
Yes, thank you. I will get one. Looks like I could use one. There are a lot of plants that I would like to obtain for personal enjoyment as well as to get information for folks in the Philippines for possible farming improvement opportunities. E.g., the Pili trees (Canarium Ovatum), where Pilinuts come from, are dwindling in numbers in the region where they are grown primarily.

Chong

Richard
03-16-2008, 02:44 AM
Below I posted this excerpt from Cornucopia II, containing descriptions of tropical guavas: Tropical Guavas from Cornucopia II (http://www.bananas.org/attachments/f8/594d1205548925-guava-guavas_from_cii.pdf). At the end of each listing are "suppliers codes". Here is a key to the codes:

{S} = seeds
{PL} = plants
{GR} = grafted

A41G : J.D. Andersen Nursery, Fallbrook CA. J.D. Andersen Nursery (http://www.jdandersen.com/)
D23M : Durling Nursery Inc. (wholesaler), Fallbrook CA. (no web site)
D57 : Exotica Rare Fruit Nursery, Vista CA. 760-724-9093. (dysfunctional web site)
E8M : Frankie’s Nursery, Waimanalo HI. Frankie's Nursery (http://www.frankiesnursery.com/)
G2M : Jene’s Tropicals, St. Petersburg FL. Jene's Tropical Fruit (http://www.tropicalfruit.com/)
G49 : La Verne Nursery Inc. (wholesaler), La Verne CA. Welcome to La Verne Nursery (http://www.lavernenursery.com/)
note – La Verne is infamous for mislabeling Psidium cattleianum as P. guajava.
H53M : Roger & Shirley Meyer, Fountain Valley CA. 714-839-0796. xotcfruit@yahoo.com
I74 : Oregon Exotics Nursery, Grants Pass OR. Oregon Exotics Rare Fruit Nursery (http://www.exoticfruit.com/)
I77G : Ornamental Edibles, San Jose CA. Ornamentaledibles.com (http://www.ornamentaledibles.com/)
I83M : Tom Del Hotal (formerly Pacific Tree Farms), San Diego CA. 619-454-2628.
J22 : Plant It Hawaii, Kurtistown HI. Plant It Hawaii, Inc. (http://www.plantithawaii.com/)
J29M : Ben Poirier, Fallbrook CA. 760-751-1605.
K8 : Royal Palm Enterprises, Kurtistown HI. Potted Plants from Hawaii - Royal Palms Enterprises - Tropical Plants Grown in Hawaii (http://www.rpetropicals.com/)
M17 : Tropical Fruit Trees, Largo FL. TEST:: Tropical Trees :: Homepage :: (http://www.troptrees.com/)
N84 : B & T World Seeds, Olonzac France. B and T World Seeds, seeds from over 35,000 different plants (http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/)
O19 : The Borneo Collection, Queensland AU. Exotic Tropical Fruit Seeds - The Borneo Collection - David Chandlee (http://borneocollection.netfirms.com/)
O53M : Chiltern Seeds, Cumbria UK. Chiltern Seeds rare flower heirloom veg and herbs - Chiltern Seeds secure online shop (http://www.edirectory.co.uk/chilternseeds/)
O93 : Peter B. Dow & Co. (wholesaler), Gisborne NZ. Dowseeds Home Page (http://www.dowseeds.com/)
P5 : Ellison Horticultural, Nowra AU. Ellison Horticultural Pty Ltd (http://www.ellisonhort.com.au/)
Q12 : The Inland & Foreign Trading Co., Singapore. http://www.iftco.com.sg/
Q32 : Bush Tucker Supply, Oronia Park AU. Outback Chef (http://www.bushtucker.com.au/)
R0 : Namdeo Umaji & Co., Mumbai IN. 022-372-5674.
S97M : Vivero Yautepec, Morelos MX. Bienvenidos al Vivero Yautepec - Un vivero diferente (http://www.viveroyautepec.com.mx/)

mskitty38583
03-16-2008, 09:16 AM
thank you very much richard. will be lloking at a few of these in the near future.

harveyc
04-27-2009, 06:50 PM
Pete and I have been discussing feijoa (Acca) lately. His are already blooming, mine are not. Has anybody else started growing these?

I've also been in contact with Mark Albert of Ukiah, CA (north of me) who has been growing feijoa for 30 years or so, trying dozens of varieties and seedlings. His favorite is a seedling which he has named Albert's Supreme and he has propagated this by seedlings with very good results to the point he has removed many named cultivars that are inferior. He did also mention that many that will perform well in SoCal don't do as well in his climate (we're both in USDA hardiness zone 9 and Sunset zone 14, but my weather is a bit warmer than his). I'm going to try some of his seedlings and possibly get scionwood of some of the many varieties he still has. I have only 4 plants now (2 named varieties and 2 seedlings) but want a few more.

Does anybody see this fruit sold commercially (and successfully). When I have seen it the fruit wasn't ripe and ripe fruit doesn't hold up too well, so it seems to have had a hard time getting marketed successfully. I believe it is a very unfortunate this fruit is not more widely known.

Here is another less-extensive thread where we discussed feijoa/acca more recently: http://www.bananas.org/f8/feijoa-7186.html

island cassie
04-27-2009, 07:40 PM
I have an unknown guava that has yet to get to fruiting size - and someone locally is offering "lemon guavas". Are they worth growing when you don't have much room left? Nice tasting fruit but nothing to go wild for. But from what I remember in Africa where we had a guava hedge, the fruit are good but are subject to a parasitic wasp which results in grubs in the fruit.

We get ripe fruit in the markets, and guava paste/jam in the shops as we did in Africa - meebos it was called and sugared strips were given out in schools with the milk. I guess they had more than I thought!!

jasonlotp
04-28-2009, 11:43 AM
I see tropical guavas often in asian markets. I've seen pineapple guava a grand total of 1 time in a Safeway. I bought one and it was delicious, if I had known they wouldn't be back I would have gotten more.

harveyc
04-28-2009, 12:14 PM
Jason, you can always go scouting around the community and look for landscaping along public areas to see if you can find acca/feijoa/pineapple guava. A friend of mine came to Davis for a year and said he found fruit that was overlooked by others passing by (university campus, I believe) and he said it was great.

jack hagenaars
04-28-2009, 12:32 PM
just for your info,I have a pineapple guava growing here...zone 8...and survived our cold winter...a little bit of leave drop,but not bad....it has flowered before but have not yet had fruit...the tree is about 5ft high and is about 7 years old....

jasonlotp
04-28-2009, 12:52 PM
Jason, you can always go scouting around the community and look for landscaping along public areas to see if you can find acca/feijoa/pineapple guava. A friend of mine came to Davis for a year and said he found fruit that was overlooked by others passing by (university campus, I believe) and he said it was great.

All through college I used to walk along a pathway at Cal Poly that was planted with pineapple guavas. Only a few weeks before I graduated did someone inform me that there were tasty fruit hiding on those trees. They were only 10 ft. off the path but the fruit blend in with the foliage if you aren't looking right at them.

I know someone nearby where I live now with a dozen trees growing in his front yard (Gregory the San Jose guava expert). I planted my Coolidge tree this year and hopefully sooner rather than later I will have fruit.

harveyc
04-28-2009, 01:15 PM
Hey, Jason, Cal Poly SLO class of 1980 here! :D I never did notice the feijoa there, though.

I also got some seeds of Gregory's guavas not long ago and am waiting for them to germinate.

conejov
04-28-2009, 02:38 PM
Thank you for the knowledge you guys are giving out I've wanted to grow a Guava because we always had them when I was growing up. how long does it take for them to start fruiting.

harveyc
04-28-2009, 02:44 PM
What kind are you talking about, Alex? I think either tropical guavas or pineapple guavas can fruit in a couple of years, depending on conditions. I planted a 1 year old acca/feijoa seedling last June and it has flower buds on it now. I haven't tried growing tropical guava from seed until my current attempt.

Patty in Wisc
04-28-2009, 04:39 PM
I posted last yr somewhere from an article on guava...they can fruit 2nd - 3rd year from seed. I got tiny seedlings of pineapple, & pink tropical from Gaylord (Virginia beach) back in 06 or early 07. They are huge now & I think they will flower. I also have lemon and giant ruby red supreme. They are all heavy feeders!
At a citrus expo in V.B Nov 06, we got a tour of a backyard growing about everything including pineapple guava which was ripe. We picked up ones off the ground & ate them. They were SOO GOOD. Taste like strawberry-banana & ? with texture of kiwi. Last yr I got some flowers on ruby but they fell off. Hope I get fruit from all this year.
Going to start fertilizing today.

jasonlotp
04-28-2009, 06:55 PM
At lunch today I just picked up another Feijoa in a 1gal, its supposedly from UC Davis Arboreteum's All-Stars but there site shows no varietal info. It was $8.99 and all this talk about guavas made me want more.
Harvey, I have a dozen or so young guavas mostly from Gregory, we live close by each other. I have a few Malaysian Red, Yellow Cattle, Red Cattle and a few others that I'm not too sure about.
Oh, and I'm Cal Poly class of 2004.

harveyc
04-28-2009, 09:41 PM
Thanks, Jason. You're a youngster! lol

Is there anything special about germinating tropical guava seeds (or feijoa, for that matter)? I've had tropical guava seeds in seeding mix on a propagation mat for a couple of weeks and am getting a little anxious.

harveyc
05-12-2009, 02:10 AM
New Zealand article from Pero pays $1000 for feijoa | Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/2382713/Pero-pays-1000-for-feijoa)

Christchurch businessman Mike Pero has paid $1000 for a feijoa in the shape of a kiwi.

Pero, who is best known for the mortgage brokerage firm that he founded and carries his name, bought the kiwi-shaped-fruit from a TradeMe auction which closed yesterday.

The seller, an Auckland woman, claimed the fruit fell from her tree on Anzac Day and said she could not believe her eyes when she saw the bids jump from $12.50 to $1000.

Pero, who is currently running SafeKiwi Escrow, said saving the feijoa seemed to be in line with saving Kiwis from losing money in a financial transaction.

"We took it a step further when we realised that $1000 was too much to pay one person for a piece of fruit. We thought we'd aim to get a second bite out of the feijoa by making our purchase price conditional on a $500 donation to The Child Cancer Foundation. We liked the synergy of money towards saving kiwis' lives in this case," said Pero.

Pero certainly paid more for the feijoa than he would have in the shops. Woolworths, for example, is currently selling feijoas for $4.98 per kilogram.

The auction closed at about 10:15 pm last night after about 5000 hits on the site and 362 watchers. The feijoa will travel south to Christchurch over the next few days. Pero plans to preserve the feijoa.

http://static.stuff.co.nz/1241399301/752/2382752.jpg

Lagniappe
10-14-2009, 07:57 PM
I ate my first feijoa today and it was great! I have many, in 3 gallon pots, with several fruit on each.

Richard
10-14-2009, 09:05 PM
I ate my first feijoa today and it was great! I have many, in 3 gallon pots, with several fruit on each.

:woohoonaner:

Yea, I love them too. Although the taxonomical name changed to Acca about 50 years ago.

Lagniappe
10-14-2009, 09:13 PM
Harvey pointed that out to me, but that name seems a bit unpalatable .
:ha::ha:

bikoro child
11-01-2009, 12:47 PM
What are the cultivars of feijoas that produce the biggest fruits?
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=26063&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=26063&ppuser=1162)

sunfish
11-01-2009, 06:03 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=26090&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=26090&ppuser=2868)

Does anyone know what variety of guava this is? That is a tennis ball to the right so you can tell the size.

Patty in Wisc
03-04-2010, 10:22 PM
Yikes, my feijoa has a ton of flowers starting!!! Last summer I counted about 20 but they all fell off when fruits were babies. I sure hope I get fruits..it's just too early for blossoms - still snow outside. I got it as a tiny seedling 3 years ago & it is 4ft X 4ft. Funny that the Ruby Supreme red right next to it dropped all leaves lately but has some new growth. The Lemon & Pink Tropical are growing well - hoping for fruit from them.
Harvey, what do you fert with? I been using my citrus fert.

harveyc
03-05-2010, 12:11 AM
Patty, truth be told, I don't fertilize very many of my in-ground hobby plants at all, sometimes giving them some K-mag. My soil nitrogen and phosphorus levels are pretty good and I have no need to push them. Things I grow commercially for profit usually get fertilized with UN32 or NpHuric along with potash and sometimes K-Mag.

Patty in Wisc
03-05-2010, 02:06 AM
Most of those ferts U posted, I never heard of LOL. There must be a big diff in potted & inground plants as far as ferts. Millet told me 3 yrs ago, that everytime I walk past my guavas, give them a shot of fert cuz they need it. They ARE heavy feeders....more like little piggys. I have a pineapple cutting rooting for a friend & I hope it takes...oh, they taste soooo good.

SoBe Musa
03-17-2010, 01:59 PM
Just got it from Homestead ,Fl they told me is Miami Red and Miami White...them i got home and search some little and i found some info...cut it be the same ?..

Here is the link for full story: link:Guava (http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/guava.html)

'Miami Red' and 'Miami White', large, nearly odorless and thick-fleshed, were released by the University of Miami's Experimental Farm in 1954.
In early 1952, Dr. J.J. Ochse imported into Florida air-layers of a seedless guava from Java. All died. In September 1953, the writer received air-layers from Saharanpur, India. One survived and was turned over to the Agricultural Research and Education Center, Homestead. Four more were ordered from Coimbatore but arrived dead. Willim Whitman brought in a grafted plant from Java in 1954 which grew well, fruited and was the source of propagating material. In 1955, Whitman obtained a plant of a seedless guava from Cuba and it bore its first fruit in 1957. Seedless guavas are the result of low fertility of pollen grains and self-incompatibility. The fruits tend to be malformed and the trees are scant bearers. Applications of gibberellic acid increase fruit size, weight and ascorbic acid content but induce prominent ridges on the surface..more
Miami RED
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/IMG_8713.jpg
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/IMG_8714.jpg
Miami White
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/IMG_8712.jpg
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/IMG_8719.jpg

sunfish
03-18-2010, 10:33 AM
Strawberry Guava
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=30261&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=30261&ppuser=2868)


Unknown

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=30263&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=30263&ppuser=2868)

Patty in Wisc
03-19-2010, 01:38 PM
Those all look so healthy. Mine can't wait to get outside. They look healthy except for a few leaves that turned brown & fell off on the lemon guava.

harveyc
03-19-2010, 04:09 PM
Hey, Patty, I just got a load of CAN-17 and fertilized some things with that and will give my poms and chestnuts a shot as soon as I am ready to irrigate a bit. You can read a bit about it at Calcium Ammonium Nitrate Solution (CAN17) (http://www.simplot.com/agricultural/plant/cal_ammon_nitrate.cfm). The nitrate form will be readily available to the plants.

For my potted plants I'm now using APEX 22-6-8 (plus minors) as it lasts 8-9 months so I don't need to add one more thing to my busy spring-fall schedule. It's about $1.25/pound and is worth the convenience.

I've got some guavas to go in the ground but am going to wait a bit more. Last year I planted my Ae Ae in the ground on 4/3 and we had frost the following day, later than we've had for 30-40 years.

SoBe Musa
08-22-2010, 05:32 PM
Hello,
What is going on and what can i do to end it..!!!
Guava Tree is about 5 years old into the second fruit season,the tallest branches are the most sick..
Thanks for all advise.

http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/IMG_1216.jpg
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/IMG_1243.jpg
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/IMG_1222.jpg
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/IMG_1246.jpg

Richard
08-22-2010, 06:19 PM
The plant is not sick. It is being attacked by insects. Try "Green Light Fruit Tree Spray".

SoBe Musa
08-22-2010, 09:51 PM
The plant is not sick. It is being attacked by insects. Try "Green Light Fruit Tree Spray".

Thank you Richard !

SoBe Musa
07-31-2011, 07:06 PM
[QUOTE=SoBe Musa;124097]Just got it from Homestead ,Fl they told me is Miami Red and Miami White...them i got home and search some little and i found some info...cut it be the same ?..

Here is the link for full story: link:Guava (http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/guava.html)

'Miami Red' and 'Miami White', large, nearly odorless and thick-fleshed, were released by the University of Miami's Experimental Farm in 1954.
In early 1952, Dr. J.J. Ochse imported into Florida air-layers of a seedless guava from Java. All died. In September 1953, the writer received air-layers from Saharanpur, India. One survived and was turned over to the Agricultural Research and Education Center, Homestead. Four more were ordered from Coimbatore but arrived dead. Willim Whitman brought in a grafted plant from Java in 1954 which grew well, fruited and was the source of propagating material. In 1955, Whitman obtained a plant of a seedless guava from Cuba and it bore its first fruit in 1957. Seedless guavas are the result of low fertility of pollen grains and self-incompatibility. The fruits tend to be malformed and the trees are scant bearers. Applications of gibberellic acid increase fruit size, weight and ascorbic acid content but induce prominent ridges on the surface..more
...Some Up Date:
Miami Red was given to a gardener friend.
Miami White, Few flowers two fruit,taste very sweet with some lemon flavor too.Also is growing in a pot.
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/IMG_1979.jpg
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/IMG_1987.jpg

sunfish
08-03-2011, 10:48 AM
:woohoonaner:

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=014.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/014.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

sunfish
08-05-2011, 12:33 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44880&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44880&ppuser=2868)

sunfish
10-19-2011, 08:45 AM
Tropical White

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46396&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46396&ppuser=2868)

SoBe Musa
10-19-2011, 10:50 AM
Just got it, Pineapple Guava and Strawberry Guava..Tony some advice.?Thanks
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/IMG_2834.jpg

sunfish
10-19-2011, 12:24 PM
Just got it, Pineapple Guava and Strawberry Guava..Tony some advice.?Thanks
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/IMG_2834.jpg

Heck you know more than me. The one on the left sure does not look like pineapple guava.

SoBe Musa
10-19-2011, 01:11 PM
Tony,That is what the label said..but you know mass production of tropicals..!!what do you think..?

sunfish
10-19-2011, 01:31 PM
Tony,That is what the label said..but you know mass production of tropicals..!!what do you think..?

I am pretty sure all pineapple guava have gray/silver underside of leaves .

sunfish
10-19-2011, 01:32 PM
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=pineapple%20guava%20underside%20of%20leaf&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.north-florida-garden-guide.com%2FAccasellowiana.html&ei=hBefTrmyN8vYiQLhuZVR&usg=AFQjCNHgFTTNZ3-36QURI6q5AKuUN8D66Q&cad=rja

sunfish
10-19-2011, 06:00 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46412&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46412&ppuser=2868)

chong
10-19-2011, 08:52 PM
Heck you know more than me. The one on the left sure does not look like pineapple guava.

I agree with Tony. The one on the left is a regular guava, not Feijoa (Pineapple Guava). I have a 15+ year old Feijoa, and the leaves are shinier on top, a little downy at the bottom, and the leaf ribs are not as pronounced. And as Tony pointed out, the underside down is a little grey.

sunfish
10-23-2011, 03:41 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46453&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46453&ppuser=2868)

sunfish
11-27-2011, 04:42 PM
<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=008-3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/008-3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=015-6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/015-6.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

harveyc
11-27-2011, 09:59 PM
How did it taste?

harveyc
11-27-2011, 10:00 PM
Was it stinky?

sunfish
11-27-2011, 10:27 PM
Was it stinky?

Taste great smelt pretty good :ha: pretty much seedless

harveyc
11-27-2011, 10:44 PM
Guava plant, 6' plus. FREE! (http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/zip/2723119398.html) wish it were 60 miles closer...

iz
11-29-2011, 12:20 PM
Banana Gallery - Guava (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47030)
Guava is a great container plant. Right at spring, they start blooming lots of flowers. In the mid summer, you get lots of baby fruit(i have the large sweet white fruit kind). Even when eaten unripe, they are already sweet and crunchy, just like the honeycrisp apple. You can wait until they are soft and ripe, but I like them sweet and crunchy. Best if grafted so you dont have to wait several years to have fruit. My first air layer this year was successful..keep the dirt moist on branch and it will start to root in the wounded branch. You can do root propagation too. It worked will too on mine.

lkailburn
01-22-2012, 12:06 AM
I'm joining the ranks of guava owners. I just picked up a ruby supreme guava from the local nursery. It's about 3.5-4' tall. That's a dwarf lisbon lemon next to it. Got them in the tub ready for a good rinse after getting them home from the nursery. The guava looks very healthy, and is pushing new growth everywhere! Any specific care tips are welcome, i'm going to treat it as i do other tropicals, mix up a pretty quick draining soil with decent amount of vermiculite and perlite, keep the soil moist never soggy, and fert with some citrus fertalizer whenever i get around to it, maybe once a month at most frequent.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47705&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47705&ppuser=10645)
Thanks

-Luke

Richard
01-22-2012, 12:24 AM
Luke, that sounds like a great plan. True guavas do very well with citrus food.

The Ruby guava is good tasting and a hardy plant. Typically the wholesale nurseries grow them from seed, selling some of the stock as plants and using the other portion for rootstock of more finicky varieties.

sunfish
01-22-2012, 12:32 AM
[QUOTE=lkailburn;186080]I'm joining the ranks of guava owners. I just picked up a ruby supreme guava from the local nursery. It's about 3.5-4' tall. That's a dwarf lisbon lemon next to it. Got them in the tub ready for a good rinse after getting them home from the nursery. The guava looks very healthy, and is pushing new growth everywhere! Any specific care tips are welcome, i'm going to treat it as i do other tropicals, mix up a pretty quick draining soil with decent amount of vermiculite and perlite, keep the soil moist never soggy, and fert with some citrus fertalizer whenever i get around to it, maybe once a month at most frequent.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47705&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47705&ppuser=10645)
Thanks


That size plant may fruit this year

venturabananas
01-22-2012, 03:51 AM
I've concluded that my favorite guava is lemon guava (Psidium littorale), followed by strawberry guava (another cultivar of Psidium littorale), followed by feijoa (at least good ones), with all the different tropical guavas (Psidium guajava) cultivars that I've tried bringing up the rear (though I love tropical guava juice and jam). The tropical ones I've tried don't have enough acidity to balance the flavor for my tastes. That's fortunate, because the tropical ones have fungus problems in my yard, which the Cattley varieties and feijoa don't have.

The size and quality of the fruit on my strawberry guava is highly variable. At their best, they are nearly golf-ball size and taste fantastic. At their worst, they are almost pea size and are sour and taste like turpentine. My lemon guava is more consistent and has much less of the sour and resinous flavors. Unfortunately, the birds prefer them, too, and they often get them before I can.

I sampled several different varieties of feijoa at a botanic garden and was surprised at how much they varied. Some were awful. Most were good to very good. Convinced me that a grafted, named variety is the way to go for me.

Have any of you propagated Cattley guavas from cuttings? I'm a novice at propagation. I tried it from green suckers and it failed. Do you need to use older wood?

sunfish
01-22-2012, 10:56 AM
Neighbors guava tree.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47715&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47715&ppuser=2868)

sunfish
01-22-2012, 10:58 AM
I've concluded that my favorite guava is lemon guava (Psidium littorale), followed by strawberry guava (another cultivar of Psidium littorale), followed by feijoa (at least good ones), with all the different tropical guavas (Psidium guajava) cultivars that I've tried bringing up the rear (though I love tropical guava juice and jam). The tropical ones I've tried don't have enough acidity to balance the flavor for my tastes. That's fortunate, because the tropical ones have fungus problems in my yard, which the Cattley varieties and feijoa don't have.

The size and quality of the fruit on my strawberry guava is highly variable. At their best, they are nearly golf-ball size and taste fantastic. At their worst, they are almost pea size and are sour and taste like turpentine. My lemon guava is more consistent and has much less of the sour and resinous flavors. Unfortunately, the birds prefer them, too, and they often get them before I can.

I sampled several different varieties of feijoa at a botanic garden and was surprised at how much they varied. Some were awful. Most were good to very good. Convinced me that a grafted, named variety is the way to go for me.

Have any of you propagated Cattley guavas from cuttings? I'm a novice at propagation. I tried it from green suckers and it failed. Do you need to use older wood?

Cattley Guava (http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/cattley_guava.html#Propagation)

Richard
01-22-2012, 11:10 AM
I've concluded that my favorite guava is lemon guava (Psidium littorale), followed by strawberry guava (another cultivar of Psidium littorale), followed by feijoa (at least good ones), with all the different tropical guavas (Psidium guajava) cultivars that I've tried bringing up the rear (though I love tropical guava juice and jam).

The lemon guava is very good. It turns out that "Psidium littorale" is just a synonym for Psidium cattleianum var. littorale (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?312940) and among Myrteae researchers is referred to as "yellow Cattley guava" and often by CRFG members as "yellow strawberry guava".

The red strawberry guava is the more common phenotype of Psidium cattleianum (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?312939). Myrteae researchers refer to it as "Cattley guava".

"Feijoa" is the common name in tropical Asia for the species Acca sellowiana (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?319761) which some Europeans and North Americans refer to as "Pineapple Guava".

Have any of you propagated Cattley guavas from cuttings? I'm a novice at propagation. I tried it from green suckers and it failed. Do you need to use older wood?

Use semi-ripe cuttings in a mist bed and keep the media temperature in the high 70's.

lkailburn
01-22-2012, 01:11 PM
Thanks Richard.

Tony that was going to be my next question, what is the flowering/fruting schedule for this type of guava in its normal habitat.

Here's some of the leaf growth
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47716&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47716&ppuser=10645)

Then there are these two growth shoots that are noticably different. Future flowers???
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47717&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47717&ppuser=10645)

-Luke

sunfish
01-22-2012, 01:17 PM
Thanks Richard.

Tony that was going to be my next question, what is the flowering/fruting schedule for this type of guava in its normal habitat.

Here's some of the leaf growth
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47716&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47716&ppuser=10645)

Then there are these two growth shoots that are noticably different. Future flowers???
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47717&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47717&ppuser=10645)

-Luke

Here in San Diego mine starts to flower in May

venturabananas
01-22-2012, 06:47 PM
Luke, the tropical guavas in my neighborhood have extended flowering and fruiting seasons that last for months. For example, my neighbor's has every stage from unopened flower buds through ripe fruit on it right now.

And yes, those are flower buds on your plant. Congrats.

Richard
01-22-2012, 07:15 PM
Thanks Richard.

Tony that was going to be my next question, what is the flowering/fruting schedule for this type of guava in its normal habitat.

Here's some of the leaf growth ...


Luke,

Those pictures are of Psidium guajava, which as a species goes by the common name of "Tropical Guava" or simply guava. The native habitat of this species is roughly central Mexico down through central South America -- essentially between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, although there is native habitat in intracoastal areas of the Atlantic as far south as Uruguay. It was not introduced to the eastern hemisphere until 1526 when a galleon full of seeds and plants made port in Manila.

In the native habitat, the flowering period can be 1, 2, or 3 times per year depending on regional climate and local soil. In San Diego we often see flowering in both Fall and Spring.

The fruits of P. guajava varieties in the native habitat range in size from mandarins to large oranges. Fruits grown elsewhere might be smaller due to (a) cooler weather, (b) improper nutrition, or both. Another reason for small fruit can be that the plant was mislabeled by the grower or nursery, and is instead a Cattley guava which produces golf-ball size fruit. There are also a few cultivars developed under cultivation in India which produce cantaloupe size fruit.

Nice growth you have going there, and yes those are flower buds in the lower picture.

sunfish
01-22-2012, 07:28 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47725&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47725&ppuser=2868)

This one has been flowering nonstop since May


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47724&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47724&ppuser=2868)

Richard
01-22-2012, 07:34 PM
Tony, it's that uranium phosphite fertilizer you've been using :ha:

sunfish
01-22-2012, 07:39 PM
Tony, it's that uranium phosphite fertilizer you've been using :ha:

I don't know but this tree just keep on making fruit.

Richard
01-22-2012, 09:30 PM
I don't know but this tree just keep on making fruit.

:birthdaynana:

sunfish
01-26-2012, 10:10 AM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47743&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47743&ppuser=2868)

venturabananas
01-26-2012, 12:11 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47743&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47743&ppuser=2868)

Show off! :ha:

sunfish
01-26-2012, 12:24 PM
Show off! :ha:

I can hear them drop from my living room.:08:

Dalmatiansoap
01-26-2012, 12:33 PM
Its a BASEBALL GLOVE Time:ha:
:woohoonaner:

venturabananas
01-26-2012, 12:33 PM
I can hear them drop from my living room.:08:

Nice! I can watch the birds eating mine before I can get to them from my living room. :ha:

lkailburn
01-26-2012, 02:01 PM
I've had some leaf drop since bringing home this guava, i figured it most likely just adjusting but i noticed this:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47744&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47744&ppuser=10645)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47745&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47745&ppuser=10645)

My first thought is anthracnose. I've got plenty of copper spray around if you guys agree with the assesment.

-Luke

Richard
01-26-2012, 03:53 PM
Looks more like heat and water stress.

lkailburn
01-26-2012, 04:09 PM
Hrm It could be water stressed. I have not yet repotted it, and have been keeping it probably a little on the dry side(i usually have a tendency to overwater). It's in the most consistent temp and most moist room i could spare. same room(opposite side of the room) as where i keep my cacao. Ambient temps are probably always 65-70 in the room, with a closed off vent on the other side of the room. I do have a very basic condescent grow light above the plant, but it's kept high, probably 2 to 2.5 feet higher than the tallest point of the guava which is on for 12hrs a day. I will look more closely at the soil


Thank you for the reply
-Luke

venturabananas
01-27-2012, 01:46 AM
Looks a lot like my avocado when it has Persea mites. I don't see any evidence of mites from the photo, but look closely just to be sure it is not that.

lkailburn
01-27-2012, 10:50 AM
Wow this guava acts fast. By the time i got home, it dropped 65% of its leaves. I heavily soaked the soil when i got home as it was dry. I haven't seen any signs of mites, BUT that reminds me and i cannot believe i forgot to mention this earlier. When we purchased the guava, the greenhouse guy did show me that there were a few aphids (maybe a dozen) on the new growth up top. So when we got home we set both the guava and the new lisbon lemon in the bath tub( the first photo above) and sprayed them down with Ferti-lome Triple Action Plus. Anyone have experience with the guava having a negative reaction to this spray or similar? active ingredients are pyrethrins, piperonyl butoxide, and neem oil.

I didn't even think of it because i have used this spray for most general purpose bug killing on a wide variety of plants and haven't had any issues. But i have had issues with hort oils causing my citrus to drop all young fruits(not sure if anyone else has that same reaction but none the less that's a different topic).

I'm sure this plant will bounce back, it may just be trying to adjust to the change in atmosphere.

Oh, and yes it was cold the day we brought it home, maybe low 40's high 30's but the plant was bagged up inside the greenhouse in garbage bags, and was only exposed for a few seconds to and from the car.

Thanks all,i don't mean to clutter up this thread too much

-Luke

Richard
01-27-2012, 11:37 AM
Products containing the three ingredients pyrethrin, piperonyl butoxide, and neem oil are an excellent choice for pest control on all plants, except cacti. I use them on over 700 varieties of produce and fruiting plants.

You are correct that going from a greenhouse with high humidity to the inside of your house with very low humidity was quite a shock for a tropical guava.

lkailburn
01-31-2012, 11:47 AM
sign well it slowed its dropping of leaves significantly after we watered it but alas, it's dropped most of them, 90% i'd say. too bad too because it had nearly a dozen flower buds, those are dropping as well. I'm just going to cross my fingers it bounces back in time.

-Luke

sunfish
01-31-2012, 08:58 PM
sign well it slowed its dropping of leaves significantly after we watered it but alas, it's dropped most of them, 90% i'd say. too bad too because it had nearly a dozen flower buds, those are dropping as well. I'm just going to cross my fingers it bounces back in time.

-Luke

I've let mine get to dry many times ,it always comes back.

sunfish
02-14-2012, 08:29 PM
How to Prune a Guava Tree Pt. 2 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bctw8j4wfwA&feature=related)

lkailburn
02-16-2012, 12:08 PM
It's not dead!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=47942&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47942&ppuser=10645)

-Luke

sunfish
03-07-2012, 08:55 PM
Now that my Guavas have been planted in ground they basically fruit year round

lkailburn
04-12-2012, 05:56 PM
Look what I found today! Was probably full bloom yesterday or so, looks past its prime, i just never noticed it until today. :-) First guava flower ever. Variety is ruby supreme.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48446&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48446&ppuser=10645)

-Luke

sunfish
04-12-2012, 09:26 PM
Look what I found today! Was probably full bloom yesterday or so, looks past its prime, i just never noticed it until today. :-) First guava flower ever. Variety is ruby supreme.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48446&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48446&ppuser=10645)

-Luke

Far out

Dmangologist
04-12-2012, 10:40 PM
Far out

Nice pic, I just found my first bloom on a Thai Pink today and there are a few more buds yet to open. My red and yellow cattleya are absolutely loaded with buds. I hope to have a great crop this year and protect them from the fruit flies with Surround. :bananas_b

DoctorSteve
04-17-2012, 06:39 PM
How do you know when to pick them?

I just got my wife a Tropical pink (what ever kind that is) and we are not sure when to pick them. We picked the first one when it was almost all yellow with the faintest of pink. We are letting the next one turn more or all the way pink and see how that tastes. I just don't want that dang bluejay to eat it.

sunfish
04-17-2012, 07:00 PM
How do you know when to pick them?

I just got my wife a Tropical pink (what ever kind that is) and we are not sure when to pick them. We picked the first one when it was almost all yellow with the faintest of pink. We are letting the next one turn more or all the way pink and see how that tastes. I just don't want that dang bluejay to eat it.

If you touch them and they fall in your hand their ready. No resistance when pulled from the tree.


When to Harvest Guava | Garden Guides (http://www.gardenguides.com/69838-harvest-guava.html)


How to pick guava - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IDAfK7YPHo)

DoctorSteve
04-17-2012, 07:32 PM
sounds good to me. I saw a pile of coconuts and some bananas in the background. They have all kinds of good fruit.

Dmangologist
04-18-2012, 08:53 AM
How do you know when to pick them?

Tropical pink guava are fully ripe when bright yellow. I prefer to eat guava just before they are fully ripe. Experiment to see when they taste best to you. The taste changes significantly from pre-ripe to fully ripe.

DoctorSteve
04-30-2012, 04:16 PM
So our guavas old leaves are yellowing but not all of them. The new and emerging leaves are doing fine. Is this something they do normally, or is something wrong?

sunfish
04-30-2012, 04:28 PM
So our guavas old leaves are yellowing but not all of them. The new and emerging leaves are doing fine. Is this something they do normally, or is something wrong?

It's normal for old leaves to die and fall

DoctorSteve
05-01-2012, 10:16 AM
That is what I was hoping.

sunfish
05-01-2012, 10:35 AM
Guava love being pruned. I pruned this one and three others down to a stub,grew back better than before

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=007-5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/007-5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

DoctorSteve
05-01-2012, 01:00 PM
Looks nice I can't wait until ours gets that big. It is basically a 3.5' stick right now. It looks like it may have a sucker at the base I might even cut that off and start another one.

Dean W.
05-02-2012, 08:57 AM
Guava love being pruned. I pruned this one and three others down to a stub,grew back better than before

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=007-5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/007-5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I have one in a pot. It's about 5' tall. Id like to cut it back now this makes me want to do that. Has anyone had any success in a pot? That would be the only way I could get away with growing one here.

sunfish
05-02-2012, 09:02 AM
I have one in a pot. It's about 5' tall. Id like to cut it back now this makes me want to do that. Has anyone had any success in a pot? That would be the only way I could get away with growing one here.

It will grow and fruit in a pot

Dmangologist
05-02-2012, 09:57 AM
It will grow and fruit in a pot

I have several in pots. I only have the large leafed tropical guavas in pots due to the fact that they are quite cold sensitive. The small leafed red & yellow guavas are scattered around my yard and have survived down into the low 20, the large leafed varieties are damaged below 30 and if small can be killed.

As far as trimming goes, I only trim tips of branches that are getting too long, otherwise they are not trimmed. The ones in the ground are topped every few years to keep the fruit easy to pick.

sunfish
05-05-2012, 03:07 PM
<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/Today/?action=view&amp;current=006-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/Today/006-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Tifny148
05-11-2012, 07:09 PM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiffany621/7179161334/sizes/n/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiffany621/7179163056/sizes/n/in/photostream/

I'm wondering why my Guava flowers start out beautiful then turn brown and fall???! Anyone have any advice/experience?

sunfish
05-11-2012, 07:46 PM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiffany621/7179161334/sizes/n/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiffany621/7179163056/sizes/n/in/photostream/

I'm wondering why my Guava flowers start out beautiful then turn brown and fall???! Anyone have any advice/experience?

Guessing too much or too little water ?

sunfish
05-11-2012, 07:46 PM
<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/Today/?action=view&amp;current=017-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/Today/017-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Dmangologist
05-13-2012, 10:55 AM
Guessing too much or too little water ?
Well said, that would be my assumption too.
Like tomatoes, guavas like even moisture but a bit less in the winter. Also when young, guava plants frequently abort their fruiting, and the buds and small fruit drop.

Dalmatiansoap
05-13-2012, 12:15 PM
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/IMAG4825.jpg
:nanadrink:

Tifny148
05-14-2012, 09:03 AM
so i noticed two small mushrooms growing in my pot with the guava tree. I hope its not diseased and maybe it was just too moist. Its been in the house because the weather is now finally warming up. Im hoping once its outside it may do a little better

Dmangologist
05-14-2012, 08:27 PM
so i noticed two small mushrooms growing in my pot with the guava tree. I hope its not diseased and maybe it was just too moist. Its been in the house because the weather is now finally warming up. Im hoping once its outside it may do a little better

Generally guavas grow in areas not conducive to mushrooms popping up. It just indicates high humidity and low light conditions, but not disease. It will love being out doors in dappled sun at first then increase the amount of sun it receives.

Dean W.
05-17-2012, 03:19 PM
Here's mine in a pot. I need to re-pot it and prune as well. It has a few burnt tips from drying out and falling over.
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee185/Dean_Wil/SDC11009.jpg

sunfish
05-17-2012, 03:28 PM
Here's mine in a pot. I need to re-pot it and prune as well. It has a few burnt tips from drying out and falling over.
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee185/Dean_Wil/SDC11009.jpg

Any buds ?

Dean W.
05-17-2012, 03:32 PM
No buds yet. Do you think I should cut it back, Tony?

sunfish
05-17-2012, 03:36 PM
You can or just pinch the growing tips.

Dean W.
05-17-2012, 03:38 PM
You can or just pinch the growing tips.

Cool, thanks!

DoctorSteve
07-06-2012, 10:15 AM
The guava I got for my wife has been flowering for the last week or so with many more to come. The problem is the flowers open dry out after about 2 and then fall off about a week later or sooner if I touch them. I have even been brushing the flowers with a small paint brush trying to increase pollination. Any Ideas?

Tifny148
07-06-2012, 10:27 AM
The guava I got for my wife has been flowering for the last week or so with many more to come. The problem is the flowers open dry out after about 2 and then fall off about a week later or sooner if I touch them. I have even been brushing the flowers with a small paint brush trying to increase pollination. Any Ideas?

I had the same problem. I used a qtip to pollinate them. Quite a few of my flowers dried out and fell off but I was still left with a good amount of flowers and actually have 4 fruit growing. I would suggest making sure your tree is properly watered, I think that helped me. Also, I moved my guava from direct sunlight because I wasn't sure if it was gettIng to much sun and causing the drying

venturabananas
07-06-2012, 11:23 AM
The ones I have are outdoors and they flower practically year-round, but whether they set fruit or not seems to be seasonal. Flowers produced in late winter - early spring don't seem to set fruit, for whatever reason.

DoctorSteve
07-06-2012, 12:38 PM
Also, I moved my guava from direct sunlight because I wasn't sure if it was gettIng to much sun and causing the drying

I will try that and see if it helps.

The ones I have are outdoors and they flower practically year-round, but whether they set fruit or not seems to be seasonal. Flowers produced in late winter - early spring don't seem to set fruit, for whatever reason.

Are yours setting fruit now? If so I wonder why mine aren't maybe I will make sure it is watered enough. It seems fine as far as watering is concerned though, no stress at all.

venturabananas
07-06-2012, 12:44 PM
Are yours setting fruit now? If so I wonder why mine aren't maybe I will make sure it is watered enough. It seems fine as far as watering is concerned though, no stress at all.

My strawberry (Cattley) guavas are now setting fruit. My neighbor's tropical guava is flowering but not setting fruit.

DoctorSteve
07-06-2012, 06:32 PM
Your neighbor and I have the same plant and the same problem.

sunfish
08-23-2012, 06:40 PM
Strawberry
<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=015-6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/015-6.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Maylasian
<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=016-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/016-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Tropical White
<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=017-4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/017-4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Dalmatiansoap
08-24-2012, 09:06 AM
Wow! I have to take a pic or two of mine so I can get ID on it. In a fact its growing pretty good lately, enjoing all the heat and water. Tony, are yours potted?

sunfish
08-24-2012, 10:14 AM
Wow! I have to take a pic or two of mine so I can get ID on it. In a fact its growing pretty good lately, enjoing all the heat and water. Tony, are yours potted?

All are planted in-ground

Dalmatiansoap
08-25-2012, 10:42 AM
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/Snapbucket/4A019D4E-orig.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/Snapbucket/B990487E-orig.jpg
Any ideas?

sunfish
08-25-2012, 11:11 AM
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/Snapbucket/4A019D4E-orig.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/Snapbucket/B990487E-orig.jpg
Any ideas?

Is this from seed ?

Dalmatiansoap
08-25-2012, 11:15 AM
Is this from seed ?
Yup

sunfish
08-25-2012, 12:01 PM
Yup

The seed I sent ? Should fruit next year.

Dalmatiansoap
08-25-2012, 03:36 PM
The seed I sent ? Should fruit next year.
Yes. Can it fruit in the pot?

sunfish
08-25-2012, 07:07 PM
Yes. Can it fruit in the pot?

Sure :08:

PR-Giants
08-26-2012, 06:03 PM
When I bought this it was labeled as a Giant Cuban Guava, the ripe fruit are yellow and baseball size. The tree is about 30 foot tall and the trunk has a 16 inch circumference. The guava is the hardest softwood tree I have worked with, and the wood has many uses.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=50278&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=50278)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=50277&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=50277)

sunfish
11-14-2012, 10:16 AM
<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=011-14.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/011-14.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

sunfish
11-25-2012, 10:21 AM
<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=002-56.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/002-56.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Dalmatiansoap
11-25-2012, 12:27 PM
Taste report!!!
:woohoonaner:

sunfish
11-25-2012, 02:29 PM
Taste report!!!
:woohoonaner:

Nothing special

JodoGarden
11-25-2012, 09:11 PM
I have a guava tree that was already in the yard of the new house.. it is probably around 10 y/o. Didn't get photos of flowers and fruit, but the friut was full of worms... really bad. I think it was neglected for years just like the orange tree that is also in the back yard. Birds loved the guava, so it will be good to attract wildlife if nothing else.

DoctorSteve
11-26-2012, 04:03 PM
How does the Malaysian Red taste?

sunfish
11-26-2012, 04:25 PM
How does the Malaysian Red taste?

For me not that good. Nice looking plant and flowers but worth growing for fruit.Guava Beaumont Red I think is PRETTY GOOD

Dmangologist
11-26-2012, 07:12 PM
I have a guava tree that was already in the yard of the new house.. it is probably around 10 y/o. Didn't get photos of flowers and fruit, but the friut was full of worms... really bad. I think it was neglected for years just like the orange tree that is also in the back yard. Birds loved the guava, so it will be good to attract wildlife if nothing else.

The Caribbean fruit fly has been a real problem for guava and several other tropical fruits for many years in Florida. If you want to try to save some for eating, find "Surround" at one of the on line garden stores and spray while they are still green and again just before they start turning color. You will get at least 50% unstung The Surround is a parafin based coating that deters the pest from stinging the fruit and laying an egg which morphs into the larva.

JodoGarden
11-26-2012, 07:47 PM
Thanks Dmangologist... maybe I'll try that next year. It was a shame b/c there really wasn't even one fruit that was edible on the whole tree.

Nicolas Naranja
11-26-2012, 08:04 PM
I have a guava tree that was already in the yard of the new house.. it is probably around 10 y/o. Didn't get photos of flowers and fruit, but the friut was full of worms... really bad. I think it was neglected for years just like the orange tree that is also in the back yard. Birds loved the guava, so it will be good to attract wildlife if nothing else.


If you are making jelly or paste you can get the maggots out with cheesecloth.

JodoGarden
11-26-2012, 08:30 PM
Hmmmm... I'm going to pass on that project lol.

Dmangologist
11-26-2012, 09:51 PM
Thanks Dmangologist... maybe I'll try that next year. It was a shame b/c there really wasn't even one fruit that was edible on the whole tree.

YW Send us pictures of the fruiting tree next summer.

Nicolas Naranja
11-27-2012, 11:25 PM
Thanks Dmangologist... maybe I'll try that next year. It was a shame b/c there really wasn't even one fruit that was edible on the whole tree.

Some of the commercial guys will bag their fruit. It is time consuming, but will save your fruit from attack.

JodoGarden
11-28-2012, 01:27 AM
Good suggestion Nicolas. Do you think that netting the tree ( mine is fairly compact ) after blooming would keep the flies off or are the flies small enough to get in there or under it? Would be easier than bagging, but timing would be critical.

sunfish
04-27-2013, 04:27 PM
<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/user/musanamwah/media/011.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/011.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 011.jpg"/></a>

Nicolas Naranja
04-27-2013, 04:55 PM
Good suggestion Nicolas. Do you think that netting the tree ( mine is fairly compact ) after blooming would keep the flies off or are the flies small enough to get in there or under it? Would be easier than bagging, but timing would be critical.

It would have to be pretty thin netting, perhaps 1/16 inch.

Dmangologist
04-27-2013, 09:57 PM
I have several guava trees, most too large for netting. Last year I found a new product on line called Surround, which is a parafin based powder. You mix with water and spray a couple of times before color or indication of ripening. It coats the guava and is reasonably effective in preventing fruit fly damage. Fruit fly are not that tiny.

PR-Giants
04-27-2013, 11:25 PM
Wow, I thought you guys were joking. I've never had that problem with any fruit.

Sounds like all the Caribbean fruit flies went to Florida.

Just looked at a photo, that's one ugly bug and I'm glad we don't have them.

sunfish
05-20-2013, 03:55 PM
Makes store bought taste like doodoo

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/user/musanamwah/media/003-3.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/003-3.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 003-3.jpg"/></a>

sunfish
05-26-2013, 12:16 PM
<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/user/musanamwah/media/005-10.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/005-10.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 005-10.jpg"/></a>

Dalmatiansoap
06-02-2013, 01:50 PM
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/A1/IMAG6720_zps931e06a9.jpg (http://s730.photobucket.com/user/dalmatiansoap/media/A1/IMAG6720_zps931e06a9.jpg.html)
:woohoonaner:

sunfish
06-02-2013, 05:34 PM
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/A1/IMAG6720_zps931e06a9.jpg (http://s730.photobucket.com/user/dalmatiansoap/media/A1/IMAG6720_zps931e06a9.jpg.html)
:woohoonaner:

Any flower buds ? :goteam:

Dalmatiansoap
10-12-2013, 05:51 AM
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/A1/IMAG7314_zps42a85cf5.jpg (http://s730.photobucket.com/user/dalmatiansoap/media/A1/IMAG7314_zps42a85cf5.jpg.html)
:nanadrink:

PR-Giants
10-12-2013, 07:07 AM
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/A1/IMAG7314_zps42a85cf5.jpg (http://s730.photobucket.com/user/dalmatiansoap/media/A1/IMAG7314_zps42a85cf5.jpg.html)
:nanadrink:

NICE

PR-Giants
10-12-2013, 07:08 AM
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae272/keithpr1/CubanGuavaoct11_zps2c3f7583.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/keithpr1/media/CubanGuavaoct11_zps2c3f7583.jpg.html)

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae272/keithpr1/CubanGuavaoct-11_zps2c077b69.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/keithpr1/media/CubanGuavaoct-11_zps2c077b69.jpg.html)

Dalmatiansoap
10-12-2013, 07:14 AM
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae272/keithpr1/CubanGuavaoct11_zps2c3f7583.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/keithpr1/media/CubanGuavaoct11_zps2c3f7583.jpg.html)

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae272/keithpr1/CubanGuavaoct-11_zps2c077b69.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/keithpr1/media/CubanGuavaoct-11_zps2c077b69.jpg.html)

HUGE!

PR-Giants
10-12-2013, 07:17 AM
HUGE!

and taste better than our local variety.

Dmangologist
10-12-2013, 07:49 PM
This has been one of my most productive years harvesting guavas. All the tropical guava are done, but the cats are still producing. The first picture shows what a guava in Florida looks like that was not sprayed.

Dalmatiansoap
10-13-2013, 01:51 AM
The first picture shows what a guava in Florida looks like that was not sprayed.

Fruit fly?

sunfish
10-13-2013, 10:07 AM
Fruit fly? like a banana

Dmangologist
10-13-2013, 10:09 PM
Fruit fly?

Yes, but there seems to be more than just fruit flies damage. Fruit flies are a major problem for many tropical fruit in Florida. Only after very cold, or late cold winters do we have temporary relief. See the attached pic after a cold winter. Little to no insect damage. Later in the season they arrived in force.

Dmangologist
10-13-2013, 10:18 PM
See the attached pic after a cold winter. Little to no insect damage. Later in the season they arrived in force. Sorry forgot to click upload.

Darkman
10-18-2013, 08:06 AM
Is the damage just in appearance or internal too?

Dmangologist
10-18-2013, 09:40 PM
Is the damage just in appearance or internal too?

Internal due to fruit flies and exterior due to ?

Kat2
10-18-2013, 10:31 PM
Yikes! I've never had issues with fruit flies except inside but that was when I lived up north. What chemical do you spray and how often? Is there any natural alternative? (I'm assuming little "traps" filled with vinegar and dish soap wouldn't work outside.)

Richard
10-19-2013, 01:34 AM
Yikes! I've never had issues with fruit flies except inside but that was when I lived up north. What chemical do you spray and how often? Is there any natural alternative? (I'm assuming little "traps" filled with vinegar and dish soap wouldn't work outside.)

Fruit flies are in a class of pests that are "easy to kill". Natural pyrethrins will do the job. Shop for them like you would for paper towels: look for the highest percentage of active ingredient (or the smallest dosage per gallon) per dollar.

I like the "Green Light Fruit Tree Spray" because it also contains an insectal neurotoxin extracted from Sassafras and a surfactant from Neem oil. A similar product for commercial growers is Evergreen EC.

Dmangologist
10-19-2013, 10:06 PM
Fruit flies are in a class of pests that are "easy to kill". Natural pyrethrins will do the job. Shop for them like you would for paper towels: look for the highest percentage of active ingredient (or the smallest dosage per gallon) per dollar.

I like the "Green Light Fruit Tree Spray" because it also contains an insectal neurotoxin extracted from Sassafras and a surfactant from Neem oil. A similar product for commercial growers is Evergreen EC.


There are fruit flies and there are Caribbean fruit flies. I have not found a biological spray that was effective against the Caribbean fruit fly. My only help has come from Surround, a product that coats the guava or papaya with a clay like substance. Trouble is there must be complete coverage for if you miss the smallest spot on the back of the fruit, they sting, and inject their larval egg. I like Green Light products, so I will give it a try. I have tried neem & sticky traps with little help.

PR-Giants
10-20-2013, 01:21 PM
There are fruit flies and there are Caribbean fruit flies. I have not found a biological spray that was effective against the Caribbean fruit fly. My only help has come from Surround, a product that coats the guava or papaya with a clay like substance. Trouble is there must be complete coverage for if you miss the smallest spot on the back of the fruit, they sting, and inject their larval egg. I like Green Light products, so I will give it a try. I have tried neem & sticky traps with little help.

I grow a Puerto Rican Guava that almost always has worms and Cuban Guava that never has worms.

I've never tried using a pesticide, instead I just eat the Cuban variety.

kostheos
11-14-2013, 06:25 AM
Short answer: true to seed: no. Easily rooted.

Longer answer:
There are true tropical guavas - Psidium guajava. Many cultivated varieties, the Thai Pink is the most well-received.
There are cattle guavas - Psidium cattleianum, a small seedy fruit which the natives largely ignored as a fresh fruit.
There are "pineapple guavas" - Acca sellowiana, the better cultivars are usually not found in nurseries but can be obtained from CRFG members.

Of the true Guavas, I will warn you that many non-tropical peoples do not care for any of the cultivars. You should try them first and make sure you have a variety you like. Here's a quick test: if you don't like the smell of Tamarind, you probably aren't going to like the Psidium guavas. Personally, I like guava fresh or sliced in a salad.

Just for fun, several nurseries and growers have cross-labeled all of these plants. This might help you:
Lemon, Strawberry, Raspberry "Guava" = cattle guava.

Psidium guajava is suitable for a very tast jam. You have only to use a very fine strain to separate all seeds. I have a variety with reddish flesh, which is very fragrant
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55173&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55173&ppuser=17652)

Dmangologist
11-14-2013, 09:18 PM
Psidium guajava is suitable for a very tast jam. You have only to use a very fine strain to separate all seeds. I have a variety with reddish flesh, which is very fragrant
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55173&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55173&ppuser=17652)

Good and informative post. I have never encountered a guava I didn't like, and I've been eating guavas for more than 60 years. Some I like more than others, the key being eating just at the right time. I like them just as they start to ripen, not too soon, and not too late -just right! As far as making jelly with them, good and ripe is best and gives the strongest guava flavor. You can also make guava paste and guava syrup. Guava syrup on pan cakes is to die for. :o)

kostheos
11-15-2013, 02:35 AM
Good and informative post. I have never encountered a guava I didn't like, and I've been eating guavas for more than 60 years. Some I like more than others, the key being eating just at the right time. I like them just as they start to ripen, not too soon, and not too late -just right! As far as making jelly with them, good and ripe is best and gives the strongest guava flavor. You can also make guava paste and guava syrup. Guava syrup on pan cakes is to die for. :o)

Recipes please for paste and syrup. With latter I think I can make also delicious cocktails!:woohoonaner:

sunfish
11-15-2013, 04:52 PM
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/010-20.jpg (http://s950.photobucket.com/user/musanamwah/media/010-20.jpg.html)


Delicious

kostheos
11-15-2013, 05:14 PM
That's it, exactly my fruits! Which variety is it?

sunfish
11-15-2013, 05:21 PM
That's it, exactly my fruits! Which variety is it?

I don't know the variety

venturabananas
07-18-2014, 07:37 PM
I don't know the variety

Is it from a seedling your grew or just an unnamed variety?

sunfish
07-18-2014, 07:43 PM
Is it from a seedling your grew or just an unnamed variety?

They're from a tree I found growing in a parking lot.

Dmangologist
07-19-2014, 08:12 PM
Recipes please for paste and syrup. With latter I think I can make also delicious cocktails!:woohoonaner:

I'm sorry for not responding sooner. I just found your posted question. I have no clue how mom made guava syrup, but here's a link that may help you.

Guava Syrup Recipes | Yummly (http://www.yummly.com/recipes/guava-syrup)

All I can tell you is, it's extremely delicious!