How
to Plant Guava Seeds
Native to the tropical regions of southern Mexico
and South America, the sweet fruit of the guava tree (Psidium guajava) tempts
the taste buds whether served fresh or as a drink, dessert, or candy. Guava
trees thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9b through
11, growing into small, shrubby trees suitable for container gardening.
The fruit contains several hard seeds that are viable up to one year. When
sprouting guava seeds, gardeners should be aware that the seedlings rarely grow
true to the parent plant.
Stratifying the Seeds
Whether fresh or stored for up to a year, guava
seeds require a process known as stratification to break through the hard
outer shell. While professional growers pretreat the seeds with sulfuric acid,
home gardeners should boil or soak the seeds.
Boil the Seeds
To soften the hard seed coating, bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Place the guava seeds in the boiling water and boil for five minutes. Remove the pan from the stove and allow the water and seeds to cool. Plant the seeds immediately after they have cooled to room temperature.
Soak the Seeds
Place the guava seeds in a bowl and cover with 2 to 3 inches of warm water. Cover the bowl and place it in a warm, dark location for two weeks. Add more water if necessary to keep the seeds wet. After two weeks, the seed coating is soft enough for the inner embryo to germinate.
Boil the Seeds
To soften the hard seed coating, bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Place the guava seeds in the boiling water and boil for five minutes. Remove the pan from the stove and allow the water and seeds to cool. Plant the seeds immediately after they have cooled to room temperature.
Soak the Seeds
Place the guava seeds in a bowl and cover with 2 to 3 inches of warm water. Cover the bowl and place it in a warm, dark location for two weeks. Add more water if necessary to keep the seeds wet. After two weeks, the seed coating is soft enough for the inner embryo to germinate.
Planting the Seeds
Put sterile seed starting mix in individual peat
pots or in a seed-starting tray. Water the mix thoroughly to ensure that
the medium is evenly moist. Plant the seeds 0.25-inch to 0.5-inch deep in the
damp seed starting mix and cover the pots or tray with a plastic cover or
plastic wrap to maintain a high humidity. Monitor the seed-starting mix and
mist with water regularly to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Keep the Seeds Warm
Place the seed-starting tray in a brightly lit, warm location or on a seed heating mat set at 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Guava seeds germinate at temperatures between 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If the soil temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the seeds stop growing. The guava seeds germinate slowly, requiring between four and 12 weeks before the tiny sprouts appear above the surface. When the seedlings appear, remove the plastic cover to prevent damping off.
Keep the Seeds Warm
Place the seed-starting tray in a brightly lit, warm location or on a seed heating mat set at 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Guava seeds germinate at temperatures between 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If the soil temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the seeds stop growing. The guava seeds germinate slowly, requiring between four and 12 weeks before the tiny sprouts appear above the surface. When the seedlings appear, remove the plastic cover to prevent damping off.
Caring for the Guava Tree
Caring for the Guava Tree
Transplant the seedlings into flowerpots when they reach 2 inches to 30 inches tall. While guava trees planted outdoors are not fussy about the soil type, when planting in flowerpots, use a rich potting mix with a high percentage of compost or other organic matter.
Watering and Fertilizing
Guava trees require regular watering, especially in the first weeks after transplanting. Water twice a week with 1 inch of water, or 6 gallons of water for every square yard of garden soil. When planted in a flowerpot or planter, add water until it drains from the bottom of the pot. Keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged through the growing season. When new growth appears, water potted guava trees bi-weekly with a balanced 10-10-10 (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) liquid fertilizer or an all-purpose fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. Use 1/2 teaspoon of fertilizer per 1 gallon of water for indoor plants. Fertilize immediately after watering to avoid burning the guava tree's roots.
Producing Fruit
When placed in a warm, brightly lit location, and watered and fertilized regularly, a guava grown from seed may produce flowers and fruit after two to five years. Indoor plants may require hand pollination with a small paintbrush. Honeybees generally pollinate outdoor trees.
Cautions
Guava trees cannot tolerate frost or temperatures above 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant outdoor trees against sheltered east or south facing walls; west-facing walls may be too hot in the summer. In addition, guava trees are invasive in the subtropical and tropical climates of Florida, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii.
Transplant the seedlings into flowerpots when they reach 2 inches to 30 inches tall. While guava trees planted outdoors are not fussy about the soil type, when planting in flowerpots, use a rich potting mix with a high percentage of compost or other organic matter.
Watering and Fertilizing
Guava trees require regular watering, especially in the first weeks after transplanting. Water twice a week with 1 inch of water, or 6 gallons of water for every square yard of garden soil. When planted in a flowerpot or planter, add water until it drains from the bottom of the pot. Keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged through the growing season. When new growth appears, water potted guava trees bi-weekly with a balanced 10-10-10 (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) liquid fertilizer or an all-purpose fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. Use 1/2 teaspoon of fertilizer per 1 gallon of water for indoor plants. Fertilize immediately after watering to avoid burning the guava tree's roots.
Producing Fruit
When placed in a warm, brightly lit location, and watered and fertilized regularly, a guava grown from seed may produce flowers and fruit after two to five years. Indoor plants may require hand pollination with a small paintbrush. Honeybees generally pollinate outdoor trees.
Cautions
Guava trees cannot tolerate frost or temperatures above 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant outdoor trees against sheltered east or south facing walls; west-facing walls may be too hot in the summer. In addition, guava trees are invasive in the subtropical and tropical climates of Florida, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii.
No comments:
Post a Comment