Guava (Psidium guajava) is a tropical fruit born off shallow rooted evergreens, small trees, or shrubs. Sensitive to cold temperatures, guavas thrive in both humid and dry climates. In the right climate, USDA zone 10, guavas can bear copious quantities of fruit but knowing when to harvest guava can be the tricky part. How do you know when guava fruit is ripe and how do you harvest guava fruit? Read on to learn more.
Guava
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Native Range:
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Tropical America
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Season:
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Harvested in Florida all year long; main seasons are August to October and February to March.
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Description:
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Typical size is 1 to 5 inches in diameter. Flesh color varies from white to pinkish red and is juicy, sweet to acid-tasting, and flavorful.
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How to Harvest Guava Fruit
Since there is no specific guava harvest season, how do you know when to pick the fruit? As with most fruit, a color change is a major indicator of maturity. Generally, red or pink guava is picked when the peel turns from light green to yellow. The fruit is then allowed to ripen further in an area of room temp. White guava is picked when full-sized and green to light green. It is eaten before it is ripe when the peel is yellow, and the fruit is soft. Another clue as to harvesting guava is the smell. The aroma should reach your nose, not your nose reaching the aroma. That is, the fruit should begin to become so aromatic that you should smell the sweet, musky fragrance as you approach the tree. Also, prior to harvesting guavas, feel the fruit. It should give slightly under gentle pressure. You can hasten the ripening of guava by placing it in a paper bag along with a banana or apple and letting the ethylene gas do its thing. A ripe guava can be stored in the refrigerator for five to seven days. Mature, green guava can be stored for two to four weeks in a cool moist area; that is, with a temperature of between 45 to 50 degrees F. (7-10 C.) and humidity from 80 to 95%. Use your guavas fresh or add them to desserts, juice them, or add them to smoothies. Guava is a terrific source of Vitamin C. Oh, and the last word on guavas. If you buy them from the grocers, they may be treated with an edible wax. If you want to hasten ripening, wash the fruit with cool tap water to remove the wax.
When is Guava Fruit Ripe?
Guava will begin to fruit in its second to fourth year. When conditions are right, a single tree can produce from 50 to 80 pounds (23-36 kg.) of fruit per year. In Florida, guava trees may even produce twice a year; and with proper pruning, you can even get a guava to produce year-round. That’s a lot of guavas, so knowing when to harvest guava is imperative lest you lose the delicious fruit. Large guavas can go from hard and sour to mush in short order. If picked before the fruit is ripe, it will not ripen well, but if allowed to mature on the tree, the crop can be decimated by fruit flies. Since guavas can fruit and ripen year-round in warm climates, where they are growing anyway, an exact time is not an adequate gauge for guava harvest season. There are other indicators, however, that will clue you into the correct time for harvesting guava.
GROWING GUAVAS | BEST TIME PICK RIPE OR GREEN | MEXICAN CREAM GUAVA TASTE TEST
FAQ
When should I buy guava?
Where does guava grow in the US?
Is guava a winter fruit?
In which season we should eat guava?
When is guava season in Mexico?
The growing season of guava in Mexico is throughout the whole year. However, the usual season is around August to April. When is Guava Season in Pakistan? In Pakistan, guava usually flowers two times in a year. The first season normally starts in March through April and the second season starts in August through September.
When is the best time to eat guava for our health?
You can eat guava for breakfast, morning snack, after lunch, afternoon snack and supper. Give preference to fresh fruit instead of juice.
When is guava season in India?
One starts from June to September and the second season starts from February to Match. In one region of India, guavas are usually harvested throughout the whole year. While in North India, the harvesting time is usually between August to April. Read also: How To Grow Strawberry Guava From Seeds When is Guava Season in Australia?
When is guava season in Australia?
The season of guava in Australia is usually from March to May. The Australian guava fruit is very large, which can weigh up to 400g. When is Guava Season In Florida? Guava is usually harvested throughout the year in Florida. However, the main seasons are August through October and February through March.