Tasty, tropical guava is easy to grow in the ground and containers. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss shares how to care for this farmer's market favorite's, delicious ‘Thai White’ variety. A long-lived tropical tree that produces delicious, nutritious fruits, guava is easy to grow and care for. Plant this guava right in the garden in warm climates, and in cooler climates, opt for a large container. Let’s look at the ‘Thai White’ variety that produces delicious fruits that are extra high in fiber and immune-boosting vitamin C. What Is It? ‘Thai White’ guava is a lightly sweet and refreshing fruit. Typically, it’s consumed raw and unripe, sometimes dipped in chili, salt, sugar, or a combination of all three. It’s a tough small tree that makes an attractive addition to the landscape, though it won’t grow in the ground outside of zones 9-11. Outside this climate, it makes a nice container or patio plant. Guavas were in cultivation as many as 5,000 years ago in Peru. Spanish and Portuguese explorers imported the species to Florida and Europe. Eventually, they traveled across the continent with their delicious discovery, distributing it to Asia and India. Legend follows that the fruits of the guava tree were once inedible. A young boy, wanting to feed a hungry beggar, prayed for the gods to make the fruit edible. The gods obliged the boy, impressed with his kindness and compassion, giving the fruit a sweet, tangy, tart flavor we now love. Characteristics ‘Thai White’ is a mid-sized, evergreen fruit tree that will grow to about 15′-20′ left to its own devices. You can prune it to keep it to a more manageable size, making it easier to harvest the round, green fruits. The fruit is green with white flesh and has higher sugar, vitamin C, and fiber content than a pink guava. It also tends to have more seeds, lending to its more fibrous texture. The entire fruit, including the peel, is edible. According to the National Library of Medicine, the fruit, eaten with the peel is, very healthy. It can lower blood glucose levels and triglycerides, making it a great addition to a healthy diet. The plant is attractive and fits well into a tropical landscape. It usually has one or two central trunks and a many-branched, umbrella-like canopy. The leaves are broad, medium green, and have prominent veining. Native Area Guavas are native to Central and South America and the Caribbean. Portuguese travelers brought the white guava to Asia in the 17th century, where it became a popular fruit to grow and eat. The Thai people refer to the fruit as farang, which denotes a foreign person of white race. Planting Spring and early summer are the best times to plant your ‘Thai White’ guava. The plant is in an active growth phase at this time and will establish quickly. If you want to grow it in a container, it’s fine to re-pot it any time of year. It will need to come indoors when the temperature drops below freezing. This tree is invasive in certain areas of North America. In these areas, grow in a container. Loose soil will help this tree to develop strong roots. Dig a hole three times as deep and wide as the root ball to loosen the soil. This may seem like a lot, but it is ideal for root development. Backfill the hole to the depth of the root ball and position it so that the root ball is level with the surrounding earth. You won’t usually need to amend the soil, so simply backfill, tamp down the soil, and water deeply. The roots of the guava can be extensive, growing beyond the drop line. For this reason, plant it a fair distance away from your home, structures, or concrete slabs.

Fragrant rosemary is a staple in your culinary toolkit—and it's even better when you've harvested your own. Fresh rosemary is more flavorful and aromatic than dried, and the plant is easy to grow in your yard, kitchen garden, or even in a container on your patio. Here's how to harvest rosemary the right way, plus tips for storing and preserving this tasty herb for later use. When to Harvest Rosemary You can harvest small amounts of rosemary as needed at any time of year. Summer is also a good time to harvest rosemary to dry, freeze, or otherwise preserve, as warm weather and lots of daylight give the plant the conditions it needs to regrow. However, avoid taking more than 20 percent of the plant at any one time to avoid damaging it and hindering regrowth. Wait until plants are at least 3 years old before harvesting.1 The ideal time to harvest rosemary is in the morning, after any morning dew has evaporated but before the hottest part of the day. For the most flavor, consider harvesting rosemary when buds have formed on the plant but before the flowers have opened, as the oils are most concentrated during this time.2 Note that rosemary flowers are also edible and can be harvested along with the foliage. How to Harvest Rosemary the Right Way Wait until plants are 6 to 8 inches tall before taking your first harvest. Examine your rosemary plant and look for healthy, tender stems. Avoid cutting into woody stems. Use sterilized scissors or pruners to cut tender branches just below a leaf node. To harvest small amounts, cut stem tips—the 2 to 3 inches at the end of each branch. To harvest rosemary for drying or preserving, cut sections of softwood that are around 8 inches long. Avoid removing more than about a quarter of total plant growth at any one time. Wait for small plants to regrow what you've removed before harvesting again. 3 Tip You can support overall plant health by harvesting the tender tips of rosemary regularly. This can encourage a bushier, more compact growth habit while spurring regrowth. Wait until after the plant has flowered to do more significant annual pruning. How to Store Rosemary Here's how to store your rosemary harvest, whether you plan to add the fresh herb to recipes or preserve it for future use. Storing Fresh The best way to store freshly harvested rosemary is in the refrigerator. Wrap the sprigs loosely in a slightly damp paper towel, enclose them in a plastic bag without sealing it, and put them in your vegetable crisper. The herb can last for up to two weeks when stored properly.4 Drying Drying is an easy and hands-off way to preserve rosemary. Rinse sprigs off to remove any dust or dirt, but avoid getting clean sprigs wet. Allow any surface moisture to dry by laying out the rosemary on a clean, dry paper towel. Once dry, cut away any dead or damaged plant growth before tying herbs into loose bundles. Hang the bundles in a warm, dark, dry place with good ventilation. Avoid exposing the rosemary to sunlight, which can cause it to degrade and lose flavor and color prematurely. You can also dry rosemary sprigs in a food dehydrator or by laying the sprigs out on a screen, turning them frequently to help them dry evenly.2 Dried herbs retain their best flavor and aroma for 3 months after harvest when stored at room temperature or up to a year if stored in the freezer.5 Freezing Rinse rosemary sprigs or tips to remove dirt if needed, then allow them to dry thoroughly. Place the herb in a zipper-lock freezer bag and press out the air before sealing. Label the bag with the name of the herb and the date, then store it in the freezer for up to a year. Another option is to strip the leaves from each sprig and place them in ice cube trays. Top off with water or olive oil and freeze, then store the cubes in a zipper-lock bag in the freezer. Avoid refreezing rosemary after it thaws.

‘Fuji’ apples are one of the most popular apples in America. A low-chill requirement, long growing season, and fruit that stores well make this tree an excellent option in garden zones six through nine. In this guide, gardener Jerad Bryant tackles everything you need to know for a successful apple harvest. ‘Fuji’ apples aren’t only delicious, but their trees are stunning ornamentals with beautiful flowers and remarkable fall color. They add to the local environment with flower nectar, abundant fruit, and luscious leaves. Pollinators and birds delight at the sight of an apple tree. You can grow a ‘Fuji’ in your backyard for a lifetime’s supply of sweet apples. Its apples store exceptionally well compared to others, lasting four to six months when kept in the refrigerator. This means you’ll enjoy crisp apples throughout the winter and early spring! An all-around favorite, ‘Fuji’ is the variety to grow for gardeners in USDA zones 6 through 9. It has a long growing season and a low chill requirement, making it a perfect specimen for Southern California gardeners who struggle to grow other apple varieties. Here is everything you need to know about this classic fruit tree. What is a ‘Fuji’ Apple? The ‘Fuji’ apple variety is a hybrid from Japan. Its parents are ‘Red Delicious’ and ‘Virginia Ralls Genet,’ and it combines the best of both varieties into one. The full size of this tree, as in all apple trees, depends on its rootstock. Dwarf rootstock trees mature to ten feet and semi-dwarf to fifteen feet. Apples are an iconic fruit eaten and recognized worldwide. The internet is full of recipes for apples, and home cooks make apples into juices, ciders, sauces, desserts, and more. ‘Fuji’ apples are a great option for home chefs as they last long and easily cook down to a decadent sauce. Native Area The ‘Fuji’ variety’s parent trees grow in Japan, but the original parent is Malus domestica. This wild apple species is native to Central Asia and Afghanistan. Breeders combine this apple’s DNA with other wild species and they produce the thousands of cultivars we grow and love today. Characteristics ‘Fuji’ apple trees are dwarf or semi-dwarf, growing ten to fifteen feet tall. They bloom dainty pink-white flowers in early spring after the cherry and plum trees. Apple leaves are glossy green with slight serrations on their margins. ‘Fuji’ fruit is firm, sweet, and crisp. The skin starts yellowish-green and slowly matures to have red lines and splotching. After testing the flavors of most apple varieties at grocery stores, I’ve found ‘Fuji’ to be my reliable favorite. These trees are not fully self-pollinating and require another variety planted close by that blooms at the same time. ‘Gala’ and ‘Granny Smith’ are two potential options for optimal pollination and fruit formation on both trees. Propagation What’s better than one apple tree? Two! If you can’t get enough of your ‘Fuji’ and want more, try propagating it. Although you can grow apples from seed, apple trees grown from ‘Fuji’ seed will differ from their parent. Apples use pollen from other apple trees to pollinate themselves and grow fruit, so your seed tree could grow completely different apples than a ‘Fuji.’ Do not let this discourage you from growing apple trees from seed. It’s still a fun experiment, and you may have a delicious new apple variety!