Planting a Cherry Guava not only adds beauty to your garden but also provides you with an abundance of delicious, vitamin C-rich fruit. It’s a fantastic choice for anyone looking to enjoy fresh produce while boosting their daily vitamin intake naturally.
Key Features and Benefits
The Cherry Guava is a compact evergreen shrub, growing to a height of 2-3m. It makes an attractive specimen plant in the garden or can be espaliered along a fence line. It is also ideal as a medium-sized hedge, offering both beauty and functionality. A self-fertile plant, it has leathery, glossy leaves and produces white flowers in late spring, followed by crops of round, cherry-like fruit.
The fruit, ranging from 2.5–4cm in size (about the size of a small plum), has aromatic flesh with a tangy, fresh flavour similar to strawberry. It is harvested when it becomes soft to the touch, typically from April to July. Cherry Guava fruit is delicious eaten fresh or can be made into jelly or jam. Be sure to protect the plant with bird netting, as birds are just as fond of the fruit as you are.
As a general rule, yellow guavas tend to be sweeter, milder, and less astringent than their red counterparts.
Location & Soil
Cherry Guavas thrive in well-drained soil and prefer full sun, although they will still bear fruit in partial shade. Protect them from strong winds to keep them healthy.
Fertilising
Feed the plant three times a year – in spring, summer, and autumn – with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser such as Oderings Garden Replenish or Triabon to encourage strong growth and abundant fruiting.
Pruning & Maintenance
Prune Cherry Guavas in late winter or early spring to maintain the desired shape. Regularly pinch the tips to encourage a more compact, bushy growth.
