Guava

Guava is a tropical shrub or tree of the genus Psidium, with white flowers and edible sweet fruits that usually have reddish or pinkish flesh. Here is some basic information and photos of guava, and a recipe.

Scientific name:	Psidium guajava L.
Family:	Myrtaceae (myrtle family)
Order:
Common names:	English: Guava
	Spanish: Guayaba
	Dutch: Guava
	German: Guave
	French: Goyave
Origin:	Central America, Southern Mexico.
Distribution:	Grown in many tropical and subtropical areas.
Evergreen or deciduous:	Evergreen
Flowers:	White flowers with 5 petals.
Leaves:	The opposite leaves are elliptic to ovate, and 5-15 cm long. Leaves are green, or reddish brown in some varieties.
Fruits:	Round or pear-shaped fruits, usually 5-10 cm in diameter. The fruit has a thin peel, usually pale green or yellow when mature. Some varieties have pink or reddish fruits. The flesh is rather hard (like an apple) and usually white or pinkish in color. The fruit contains many small hard seeds and has a strong, very characteristic sweet taste. Some varieties are seedless. Fruits have a high vitamin C content
Climate and weather:	Can grow in both humid and dry tropical or subtropical climates. Cannot tolerate frost.
Pollination:	Both self pollination and cross pollination. Pollination is usually by honeybees (Apis mellifera).
Height:	Up to 10 meter.
Type of soil:	Any soil. Guava trees can tolerate temporary waterlogging.
Growth rate:	Fast growing. Fruiting at 2-4 years after planting the seed.
Spacing (close range)	5 meter
Spacing (wide range)	10 meter
Propagation:	Can be grown from seeds, but this results in a lot of variability. Vegetative propagation is recommended for clones (budding, grafting, marcotting, root cuttings).
Insect pests:	Many insect species attach guava, including mites, caterpillars, scales, and thrips. Fruits are sometimes protected by bagging.
Diseases:	?
Harvesting:	Harvest by hand.
Use:	Ripe fruits are eaten fresh. Fruits can be stewed for use in pies and are lso used to make jam or juice or jelly. Guava leaves are sometimes used medicinally for diarrhoea. Leaves can be used for dying and tanning.

Photos

Proverbs

• Please send me a message if you know any proverbs about guava.

Recipes

Three fruits tropical salad

Ingredients:
1 Guava, 1 Orange, 1 Banana, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, 1 Tablespoon honey

Instructions:
Peel the 3 fruits and cut them in small cubes. In a bowl poor the lemon juice over the fruits and mix gently. Refrigerate. Just before serving poor the honey over the salad.