Aiden Gardens

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 wat...

How to Plant Guava Seeds Place guava seeds in a pot of boiling water, and boil for five minutes to break seed dormancy and speed germination. Fill a 4-inch nursery pot with soilless seed-starting mix. Press one guava seed into the center of the pot. Use your thumb to gently press the seed under the soilless mix, and cover it with 1/8 to 1/4 inch of the mixture. Soak the pot with water using a gentle misting spray or the soak setting on the hose to avoid disrupting the seed. Place the pot in a warm place with a temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Guava seeds germinate in two to eight weeks. Keep the soilless mix moist by watering when the top of the soil starts to feel dry under your finger.