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.

‘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!

Tasty, tropical guava is a farmer’s market favorite in warm climate zones. Learn how to grow this treat of a tree with Florida gardener Melissa Strauss. If you want a tropical fruit tree that matures quickly and produces lots of sweet, juicy fruit, ‘Barbie Pink’ guava fits the bill. Maturing in as few as eight years, this fruit tree can live for 40 years or more. These long-lived trees are great for growing in the ground in warm climates, but they also thrive in containers. Let’s learn how to grow these attractive, tasty fruits. What Is It? Legend has it that guavas were once considered an inedible fruit. A kind young boy who wanted to feed a beggar prayed to the gods to make the fruit edible. The gods, impressed by his kindness, transformed the fruit into the sweet, tart, and tangy delicacy we know and love today. ‘Barbie Pink’ is a beautiful, evergreen variety of guava tree that produces sweet and tangy fruits with vibrant, pink flesh. It grows beautifully in warm climate gardens. In cooler climates, you can also keep this tree in a large container as a patio tree. It’s a low-maintenance, sturdy tree that will bear fruit early, and plentifully. Cultivated for as long as 5,000 years, guavas were first domesticated in Peru. Impressed with the delicious fruits, explorers from Spain and Portugal brought the tree to the West Indies and Florida. They traveled across the ocean with their tropical treasure, which led to its introduction in Asia and India. Growing up in South Florida, I can scarcely remember a trip to Miami that didn’t include a Cuban coffee and a guava and cream cheese pastry. If you’ve never tasted one, they are as delicious as they sound and worth every calorie. Characteristics This evergreen tree is popular in tropical climates as an attractive member of ornamental landscapes. However, delicious fruits are the main reason for planting them. Guava trees can grow up to 20 feet tall, but generally, we prune them to keep them compact and easier to harvest from. Prune them to 10-15 feet, and they will spread nearly as wide as they are tall. Light brown, mottled bark covers the sturdy trunk of this shrubby evergreen. The leaves are large, ovate, and deep, glossy green. In spring, attractive white blossoms have a scent similar to the fruits. The guavas mature from green to yellow when ripe, and have a strong, wonderful aroma. Inside is the prettiest pink flesh dotted with tender, edible seeds. The fruit is a rich source of nutrients, including fiber, potassium, folate, and B vitamins, but packs the greatest punch of vitamin C. The seeds are also fiber-rich and full of antioxidants, making them a digestive powerhouse. Native Area Pink and red guavas are native predominantly to Mexico and tropical America. ‘Barbie Pink’ is a variety bred in Florida. These plants make the invasive list in South Florida but are perfectly fine to grow in Central Florida. Elsewhere, they are not invasive. Grow in Florida with care, and make sure to harvest the fruit. Do not allow it to re-seed. Planting The ideal time to plant your guava is in summer. June or July are the best months. To grow it in a container, timing is not important, just make sure to bring it indoors for the winter. Guava trees like loose soil in which to establish their roots. To plant this tree, dig a hole that is three to four times the diameter of the root ball and three times as deep. This may seem excessive, but it will pay off. Loosening the soil this way will allow for fast and healthy root development. Backfill the hole so that when you position your plant, the root ball is level with the surrounding earth. Position the plant in the hole and backfill around it. No need to amend the soil in most cases. Tap down the soil and water your tree thoroughly. Guava trees have roots that can be aggressive and extend beyond the drip line. They can send up shoots farther than you might expect when planted in loose soil. Make sure to plant far enough away from any buildings or structures, and give them space from other trees, as well.