re: Louisiana Tropical Fruit Gardening - Experiences and Updates

Hell yeah. What kind of guava? Pics or gtfo

This is exactly what I hoped would happen when I started this thread. Just getting people to try something totally new. You can be the 27th neighbor this year to share his bell peppers, tomatoes, and satsumas... or you can be the crazy mfer who drops off guavas and mangos.

Speaking of, new UF IFAS video for new mango growers dropped today:

LINK

Right on man. The level of cold protection you'd have to do for a key lime is exactly the same as you'll have to do for the guava.

Lol yes these are... not similar. I actually hate papaya. I hope one day someone grows one for me that doesn't taste like skunk armpit. The trees however are gorgeous and grow super fast.

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label says are hardy in zone 9

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Tropical guava (Psidium guajava) is reliably root hardy in the southern part of zone 9. But what does that really mean?

On the Northshore, I have seen multiple tropical guavas survive many winters by coming up from the roots in spring after a complete die back from freezes. But they will not bear fruit unless they have at least two years of growth with three years being more reliable. So I have seen guavas growing in Mandeville that go unprotected, shoot up lanky new growth each year, then die back and never fruit. I have seen guava trees in zone 8a Virginia bearing hundreds of fruit because the owner protects the trees from winter with coverings and C9 Christmas lights.

If you are dead set on growing tropical guava in the ground in Louisiana, the very best place you could possibly plant it would be against a South facing wall that gets as much sun as possible but is also beneath the canopy of a large oak or other similar tree. In that situation, you should be able to get them through winter with nothing but frost cloth and Christmas lights. I have one ideal spot in my yard like this and it is currently occupied by a very vigorous and mature lemon tree. If I could go back, I'd have planted a ruby supreme tropical guava there since I'm already cold protecting anyway.

You will need to prune them to keep them small enough to protect because they want to grow into something that looks like a medium-large crepe myrtle with multiple trunks.

The cattley guava (Psidium cattleianum), both red and yellow, are significantly more cold hardy. These do not start taking damage until the mid-low 20s and they will always come back from the roots even with little to no protection.

I hear ya. Just FYI they do GREAT in pots. Can't say that about all tropical trees.

Yeah I've got 2 feijoas, Unique and Improved Coolidge. They are both completely self fertile. I wish I could trade one in for one of the better New Zealand varieties because now that I have 2 plants I can actually pollinate it. If they turn out to be excellent I'll probably get one and put it in a large pot near the two in ground trees.

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if you do want a guava lowes and HD both have potted "pink" guava (Psidium 'Tropical Pink' Guava) which the label says are hardy in zone 9. the ones i saw at lowes in hammond were particularly good looking, i may go get one or two

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Thanks, I'm going to grab one on Friday. I still can't figure out how I was convinced I got a guava lol

Ask and ye shall receive.

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Tigerlaff

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that site has quite a few interesting fruit trees. got any experience with apricots by chance?

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ou should not give up on a desired plant until you have personally killed it 3 times.

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personally my highest kill count is hibiscuses (hibisci?)
the body count is in the several dozens

Experiments gone right!

Can you grow apples in subtropical Tampa Bay Zone 10A?

Conventional wisdom says no…. It’s too hot and the short, mild winters won’t allow for apples to grow here.

Reality.. You have to do some research and planning; but, indeed you can. And I’ve got proof!

Behold; apples from two trees planted next to one another to help cross pollinate.

The Anna apple was developed in Israel specifically for low chill hour requirements. It will eventually resemble a red delicious type.

The Golden Dorsett was developed in the Bahamas. It will keep in the golden delicious type.

It’s believed that both are actually hybrids of Golden Delicious. Both flower at nearly the same time and fruit is ready by summer. The complaint with these apples is that they may stay small if not thinned out a bit. So we’ll keep an eye on that.

In the meantime; enjoying the fruits of our labor and the lovely aromas of the flowers.