Guava tree questions

Ms. Jitomate · November 15, 2013

I was given a guava "tree" which is now a 22 inch one stem. It is approximately a one year old started from seed. It will have a yellow fruit, white flesh, pear-like shape and the fruit grows to the size of a large lemon.

Can I prune it now so that it is splits into more branches or should I wait? The diameter at the base is slightly larger than a pencil. I don't want to be reaching high to get the fruit in the future.

I want to put it in the ground but is it too small and is it the right time of the season to put it in the ground?

Worth1 · November 15, 2013

The best time of tbe year where I live to plant a tree is in the fall.
Trees may shed their leaves I. The fall but tbe root system still grows.
I know your tree won't shed but I would think the growth would slow down a bit.
The spring is bad because the new tree is trying to use energy to grow roots and leavs.
Therefore putting undue stress on the tree.
Pruning can be done now and if you need room you can train the tree to grow flat on a trellis.
Planting and pruning go hand in hand.
Check for any roots that are growing in a circle around tbe main trunk.
Sometimes these will continue to grow and get larger and choke the tree to death.
This may not happen for a few years.
Prune any of tbese large roots back or train away if need be.
This normally happens when trees are left in pots too long.
So there is another reason to plat now.

You can look up different types of pruning to get ideas on how to do it as the tree grows.

Worth

Worth1 · November 15, 2013

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/...e.aspx?PID=319
Worth

Worth1 · November 15, 2013

Double post please omit from history and remove all traces of it's existence.

Worth

HiPoha · November 16, 2013

I think it is too early to prune your guava plant. Let it get about four or five feet high before considering it. It is true that Guava tree tends to grow straight upwards in the young stage and if you cut it on the main stem, you may stunt it permanently. In Hawaii , Guava trees grow like crazy in all kinds of soils, even out of cracks in rocks. If you want a twisting type of tree or bush, maybe plant it in the ground at a low angle.

Ms. Jitomate · November 17, 2013

HiPoha,
Do you think I should still wait until it is 4 to 5 feet even if I want a lower producing fruit tree? I'd like to keep the fruit from waist-high to approximately 10 feet so I could protect it from possums when it fruits. I've never done this but I bought a peach tree that branches out into 4 trunks at 18 inches. The fruit grows at waist level and higher--very convenient

HiPoha · November 17, 2013

Yes, wait till the tree is past the sapling stage, then you can see what you need to do. Most of the yellow varieties of Guava are low trees anyway, at about 10 feet when mature, and may not need to be pruned to stunt it.

Worth1 · November 17, 2013

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...pVKC97wGyzSNhw

Don't know of this will help but here it is.

Worth

Ms. Jitomate · November 19, 2013

Yes, all the information posted above has been very helpful. Another link that was within the above links was the one from the University of Florida, even though I am in southern California, it provided many details including pruning, see below:

Guava Growing in the Florida Landscape,
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg045

Thank you so much; I am looking forward to guavas in the next couple of years.

November 15, 2013	#1
Ms. Jitomate Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Gabriel Valley, CA Posts: 99	Guava tree questions I was given a guava "tree" which is now a 22 inch one stem. It is approximately a one year old started from seed. It will have a yellow fruit, white flesh, pear-like shape and the fruit grows to the size of a large lemon. Can I prune it now so that it is splits into more branches or should I wait? The diameter at the base is slightly larger than a pencil. I don't want to be reaching high to get the fruit in the future. I want to put it in the ground but is it too small and is it the right time of the season to put it in the ground?

November 15, 2013	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/...e.aspx?PID=319 Worth Last edited by Worth1; November 15, 2013 at 01:48 PM.

November 15, 2013	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Double post please omit from history and remove all traces of it's existence. Worth Last edited by Worth1; November 15, 2013 at 03:03 PM.

November 16, 2013	#5
HiPoha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Hawaii Posts: 130	I think it is too early to prune your guava plant. Let it get about four or five feet high before considering it. It is true that Guava tree tends to grow straight upwards in the young stage and if you cut it on the main stem, you may stunt it permanently. In Hawaii , Guava trees grow like crazy in all kinds of soils, even out of cracks in rocks. If you want a twisting type of tree or bush, maybe plant it in the ground at a low angle. Last edited by HiPoha; November 16, 2013 at 06:38 PM.

November 17, 2013	#6
Ms. Jitomate Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Gabriel Valley, CA Posts: 99	HiPoha, Do you think I should still wait until it is 4 to 5 feet even if I want a lower producing fruit tree? I'd like to keep the fruit from waist-high to approximately 10 feet so I could protect it from possums when it fruits. I've never done this but I bought a peach tree that branches out into 4 trunks at 18 inches. The fruit grows at waist level and higher--very convenient

November 19, 2013	#9
Ms. Jitomate Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Gabriel Valley, CA Posts: 99	Yes, all the information posted above has been very helpful. Another link that was within the above links was the one from the University of Florida, even though I am in southern California, it provided many details including pruning, see below: Guava Growing in the Florida Landscape, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg045 Thank you so much; I am looking forward to guavas in the next couple of years.