This is a guava tree (Psidium Guajava,) and this one is one of the better variety bearing huge fruits with white flesh and very few seeds. It is well seek after. The guava is a tropical fruit tree of the Myrtaceae family and it grows very well in Miami. The big problem with this fruit tree here is one of pest management. Its major enemy is the Caribbean fruit fly (Anastrepha Suspensa.) Left alone, none of the fruits can be eaten because by the time they mature, every fruit on the tree is full of worms.
I tried all sorts of control to no avail. The only way to protect these fruits is to individually wrap each one in a well aerated clear plastic bag with tiny "breathing" holes. Very labor intensive, but well worth it. This one will mature in August, and it will fill the entire bag.
I bet this tree will look pretty funny come harvest time!
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, you may also use panty hose. The hosiery allows for more air flow and respiration than the plastic bags (even with the holes). I've also done this with sweet sop and sour sop. It looks strange, but who cares!
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