How to Grow Feijoa

Guava trees (Psidium guajava) are known by several names, including Apple, Lemon and Yellow Guavas, or simply Guavas. There are multiple varieties of Psidium guajava, including 'Mexican Cream' which has yellow skin and cream-coloured flesh, and 'Hawaiian' with yellow-green skin and pink flesh. Fruit size also varies, as does the number of seeds inside the fruit.  

There are also different species of Guavas, such as the Yellow Cherry and Strawberry Guava (Psidium cattleyanum) and there's also the Chilean guava, which is in a different plant genus altogether (Ugni molinae). Please note that Cherry Guavas have become weeds in some areas around Australia.  

Feijoas (Acca sellowiana), also known as pineapple guavas, are not in-fact guavas. They have green and oval shaped fragrant fruit with soft creamy yellow coloured sweet flesh.  

So, it's important to know which guava you're talking about and confirm the botanic name on the tag of your chosen plant.

There are different varieties of Feijoas available, that have different sized fruit, fruit at different times during autumn and early winter or are grafted or grown from seed. Grafted plants will usually fruit much sooner (2-3 years) than plants grown from seed (up to seven years).  

Choose a spot in your garden that's in full sun or partial shade (at least six hours of sun is ideal) with well-drained soil. Feijoas can be grown in cool to sub-tropical climates, but they are frost-tender until established. 

Prior to planting, improve the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. It's a rich source of organic matter to help improve soil structure and water holding capacity, as well as attract earthworms and beneficial soil microorganisms.  

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root ball. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Place the plant in the hole and backfill around the roots with soil. The final level of soil should be at the same level as the original potting mix around the plant. Water in well to settle the soil around the roots. 

Keep the soil moist as the plant establishes. Applying an organic mulch, such as sugarcane or bark chips, around the root zone will help keep the soil and roots moist. Mulch also helps protect the Feijoa's shallow root system. 

Once established, Feijoas are drought tolerant, however will be much healthier and more productive if watered regularly. In extended hot and dry periods, Feijoas will benefit from a good deep watering once or twice a week. 

Once plants are established, feed regularly from spring to the end of harvest with Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food to promote healthy growth and lots of flowers and fruit.

It can take up to three years for grafted Feijoas to start to produce fruit, longer for plants grown from seed. The green fruit is best picked when they're starting to fall naturally from the tree or they're able to be very easily pulled from the stem. Harvest season is usually from early autumn to early winter. Fruiting time can vary based on the climate and the variety. There are different varieties available that are early, mid or late maturing, so Feijoa lovers can spread out the harvest season by growing different varieties.

Choose a well-drained pot at least 500 mm wide. Place the pot in a partly shaded or sunny position (at least six hours of sun is ideal) in a warm, frost-free spot.  

Choose a good quality premium potting mix, like Yates Premium Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.  

Part fill your chosen pot with potting mix. Remove the plant from its container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Place the root ball on the potting mix and backfill around the roots with more potting mix. The final level of mix should be the same as the level currently around the plant. Water in well to settle the potting mix around the roots.

Position in pot and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.

Once established, Feijoas are drought tolerant, however will be much healthier and more productive if watered regularly. Potted Feijoas will benefit from a good deep watering several times a week. 

Feed regularly from spring to the end of harvest with Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food to promote healthy growth and lots of flowers and fruit. 

It can take up to three years for grafted Feijoas to produce fruit, longer for plants grown from seed. The green fruit is best picked when they're starting to fall naturally from the tree or they're able to be very easily pulled from the stem. Harvest season is usually from early autumn to early winter. Fruiting time can vary based on the climate and the variety. There are different varieties available that are early, mid or late maturing, so Feijoa lovers can spread out the harvest season by growing different varieties.  

While the plant is still young, pinch out the tips of the stems, to promote bushier growth. Prune mature plants immediately after harvest (during winter) to help keep the plant tidy and more compact.

Most Feijoas are self-pollinating, so they only require one tree to produce fruit. However, plants will produce more fruit if there is another Feijoa flowering at the same time. Also, flowers still need to be pollinated, so encourage pollinators, like bees, into your garden by planting lots of flowering plants. Check the label of your chosen Feijoa to see if it needs cross-pollination with another plant or variety.

Yes! The flowers are edible and have a mild marshmallow and strawberry-like taste. Flower petals can be added to cocktails as well as sweet and savoury salads.

To promote healthy leaf growth as well as lots of flowers and fruit, Feijoas should be fed from spring to autumn with a potassium-rich fertiliser like Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food. 

Feijoas make great (and edible) hedges. To promote bushy growth, pinch out the tips of young stems and trim mature plants to shape once the fruit are picked.  

It can take up to three years for grafted Feijoas to start to produce fruit, longer for plants grown from seed. 

Yes! Choose a pot at least 500 mm in diameter and use a quality potting mix like Yates Premium Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. Potted Feijoas may need more pruning to help keep them to a manageable size. Prune each year immediately after harvest.  

Guavas can be affected by several pests, including Fruit Fly, Scale, Caterpillars and Birds. Fruit fly infestation leads to the presence of small white grubs (maggots) within the fruit, causing it to eventually rot.

Scale are sucking insect pests that can infest leaves and stems and cause a decline in plant health. Leaf-roller Caterpillars eat leaves and can create webbing that sticks leaves together. Birds enjoy eating the fruit as it ripens.  

Fruit fly is a pest that needs to be prevented. Apply a bait spray like Yates Nature's Way Fruit Fly Spray onto the trunk and leaves of plants each week from when the fruit is still young up until harvest. Also, regularly pick up any fallen fruit.

As soon as Scale are noticed, spray plants with Yates Nature's Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray. It's an oil-based spray that smothers the Scale. If your plant has Scale, you may also see the disease Sooty Mould developing on leaves or ants crawling up and down the stems. Ants and Sooty Mould will disappear once the Scale is controlled. 

If leaves are being eaten or webbing is seen between leaves, control Leaf-roller Caterpillars with Yates Success Ultra Insect Control.  

If Birds are eating the fruit, plants can be protected with bird netting or wire mesh.  

It can take up to three years for grafted Feijoas to start to produce fruit, and up to seven years for seed-grown Feijoas. So, if your plant is younger than this, more time may be required. Plants will also fruit best when grown in a position that receives at least six hours of sunshine a day. And regularly feeding with a potassium-rich fertiliser, like Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food will help promote flowering and fruiting.