We grow guava indoors. We present to your attention a tropical apple or an exotic guava fruit. Dangerous properties of the plant

Myrtle family. Homeland - tropical America.
This valuable fruit plant belongs to the genus Psidium. Widely cultivated in tropical countries, occasionally grown in room conditions.
Guava (guava) - tree or large shrub. Young shoots are tetrahedral. Leaves elliptic, 7-15 cm long and 3-7 cm wide, glabrous above, pubescent below, with protruding veins. Flowers solitary or 2-3 in leaf axils, white. The fruit is green, pear-shaped, up to 12 cm long, with pink, white or yellow fragrant flesh. Rarely bears fruit indoors. Leaves, flowers and fruits of guava have a bactericidal effect, as they contain essential oils. Daily use of fresh leaves (9 g) in raw form or an infusion of them, which is consumed in the form of tea, significantly lowers blood and urine glucose levels. initial stages and moderately severe diabetes.
It prefers sunny and very warm places, the temperature throughout the year is +22-24°C. In the summer, they take it out into the air and set it so that the plant is protected from the wind. In winter, they are placed in a bright room. Watering is plentiful.
Guayavas respond positively to a single monthly top dressing, especially to top dressing with slurry, and also prefers to grow in large containers with fertile soil.
breeds different ways: layering, seeds, cuttings and grafting.
Seeds are sown in pots. For their germination, a temperature of at least 22-24 ° C is required.
The soil mixture for seedlings and young plants is made up of soddy, humus soil and sand (1: 1: 1). With age, the soil becomes heavier.

Psidium coastal (P. littorale) is more suitable for breeding in rooms. In rooms it blooms profusely with small white flowers. fragrant flowers. Flowers consist of 8-10 petals; many of the same white stamens and a small pistil with a rounded flat stigma. Psidium coastal has large flowers, and the leaves are denser and leathery.
Like feijoa, fruits in psidiums are formed on a young growth, therefore, plants do not need to form a crown. Only the longest hanging branches should be cut, and excess root growth.
Psidium Cattleya fruits are about 2 cm in diameter, rounded, reddish; mature ones taste like strawberries, but unripe ones have a large proportion " pine needles". Psidium coastal fruits are more High Quality: spherical, yellowish, up to 4 cm in diameter; when ripe, they become very fragrant, and the taste is not inferior to the famous feijoa. It is this species that should be paid special attention to lovers of exotic fruit plants. When sowing seeds, coastal psidium blooms in the third year.
Seeds extracted from fruits germinate well. Sow them immediately after harvest. An important advantage Psidium coastal is its self-pollination. Carefully transferring pollen from flower to flower with a brush, you can increase the yield of useful ovaries. It is difficult for psidium to propagate by cuttings - for their rooting, elevated temperature and high relative humidity air.
The scourge of many houseplants with dense leathery leaves- scutellum - does not affect psidiums. They are almost never seen and fungal diseases, only occasionally appear aphids and mealybugs.
Growing psidiums is a very rewarding activity. Breeding them, it is difficult not to succeed - these plants respond so generously even to a little care for themselves! And I think in the near future they will take important place in the range of rooms fruit crops. In the meantime, the “domestication” of promising exotics is just beginning.

Get better ripe intact fruits yellow color, soft to the touch. Guava (or guava) fruit room temperature can be stored in best case several days, and at a temperature of 7-10C - 2-3 weeks. When the temperature drops, low-temperature damage occurs. Guava is not stored together with other products, as it is easily saturated. foreign odors. At the same time, guava fruits can be stored frozen: they practically do not change the quality and taste. Use Before eating, the skin is peeled from the fruit and the seeds are removed. The crushed pulp is served with whipped cream. Guava fruits are eaten in fresh They are used to make salads and puddings. Pickled pieces of fruit are served with meat dishes. Guava jelly is especially popular in the tropics. Syrups are prepared from guava, a pureed product called “fruit oil”. The juice is used to make sherbet and ice cream. The ascorbic acid in guava fruits is not destroyed by drying and canning, so the juice is used to prepare a powder, which is a rich source of vitamin C. The main export item is the so-called guava cheese, which is made from the dried pulp of the fruit. Guava cheese is one of the best oriental sweets. Guava fruits practically do not change the quality and taste when frozen.

Guava first appeared in South and Central America.

Then the plant was grown in Southeast Asia, Thailand.

Moreover, Thai residents call guava farang, which is considered one of the most popular fruits in those places.

Many recognize the similarity of guava with apple, lemon and pear. But this is more likely to apply only to the outer shell.

If speak about palatability, then they are unique. It can be grown in subtropical winter gardens, greenhouses or at home.

The leaves are opposite and elliptical. Their surface is uneven, there are clear transverse veins. When crushed, the leaf releases a fragrance.

Appearance

Flower. AT decorative form flowering occurs in spring. The flower is 3 cm in diameter. In order for the fruit to start at home, the flowers are pollinated with a soft brush.

Fruit. The plant has fruits resembling small balls with a diameter of 10 to 15 cm with musky aroma. They are covered with wrinkled skin. Despite the external impenetrable appearance, the peel is very thin and useful.

Preferred:

• weak - 5-6 pH;
• neutral - 6-7 pH;
• alkaline - 7-9 pH.

Watering

Watering in the hot months should be plentiful, less often in winter, preventing the land from drying out, otherwise the young shoots and leaves dry out.

Feeding

The plant needs to be fed monthly. It is recommended to use mullein.

Humidity and temperature

Guava is not picky about air humidity, but will be grateful for a rare shower.

This plant is photophilous, loves direct sun, but light partial shade is allowed. Comfort temperature for guava + 20-25 degrees.

For a dormant period temperature regime is created in the range from 2 to 15 degrees of heat. After winter, it is impossible to expose sharply to the sun, it is better to do it gradually.

In summer, it is allowed to keep the plant on the balcony.

But, you do not need to abruptly change the position of the pot, otherwise the guava sheds leaves.

It must be remembered that guava does not tolerate cold. Already at a temperature of -2, the leaves are irrevocably damaged, and at -3, the plant dies completely. The minimum temperature regime is +15 degrees.

pruning

Trim the plant, and form a bush before the stage active growth. After pruning, there is no strong branching. It absolutely does not harm fruiting.

Transfer

Transfer young plant held annually. In adulthood, it is enough to do this once every few years.

reproduction

seed

In this case, in a year you can get an adult plant.

Seeds do not need to be buried deep. The soil should contain turf, humus and sand in equal proportions.

The ideal temperature for germination is + 22-24 degrees. To get a bushy plant, as it grows, you need to pinch the bush. Seedlings bloom not earlier than after 2 years;

Cutting

It is difficult to grow guava from cuttings. You will have to use a root formation stimulator and be sure to heat it.

Application of guava

Taste qualities

Guava is quite an interesting fruit. It is very difficult to describe exactly.

It has a taste of raspberries, a hint of pine needles. Strawberry combines the taste of pineapple and strawberries.

In any case, soft and ripe fruits themselves are bright and saturated.

Beneficial features

All parts of the plant are a storehouse useful substances!

from the leaves guavas receive essential oils with cineol, benzaldehyde, caryophyllene, etc.

The most valuable is the bark and unripe fruits although they are very acidic. On the other hand, the ester of hexahydroxybifenic acid and arabinose contained in them cannot be found in a mature fruit.

Guava is a storehouse of potassium and lycopene. These components are many times more than in a banana or tomato. The calorie content of an exotic apple is 69 calories and is ideal for dietary nutrition.

The benefits of the plant are invaluable.

Be careful with guava!

Despite the invaluable benefits of the plant, it is not suitable for everyone.

Guava should be used with caution when:

How to choose a ripe guava

First, you need to inspect the fruits. When ripe, they have a rich yellow tint, and the guava should feel slightly soft to the touch. When overripe, the peel is covered with brown spots.

Storage

Ripe fruit can lie for only a few days.

If the guava is bought unripe and green, then it can be stored for 14 days.

In conditions low temperature, for example, in the refrigerator this period is extended to 30 days.

You can put the fruit in the freezer, and it will still retain the taste with useful qualities.

In this form, the fetus can be for several months.

How to eat guava

There are several options:

Using guava even on vacation, you can not only expand your taste boundaries, but also seriously strengthen your immune system.

The tropical apple came to us from distant Mexico and America, in addition, it took root well in other countries, especially in India and Africa. What is this miracle, guava fruit? Let's get to know him better, because some exotic lovers have managed to grow a foreigner even at home, and for this you should know at least a little about what culture is and what requirements it imposes.

The scientific name of the plant is no less exotic and sounds like "psidium".

Botanical characteristic

Guava is a medium-sized fruit tree with a spreading crown, whose height is 4 m. natural conditions it can reach 10 m, but in captivity it has a more compact size. Guava belongs to the myrtle family, where it is a representative of the class dicot plants from the department of angiosperms.

Guava leaves do not fall even for the winter. Five months after flowering (sometimes after three) ripen on the tree large fruits weighing up to 160 g. By the way, flowering bush looks very impressive with its white inflorescences. The tree bears fruit quite richly: up to 100 kg of fruits can be harvested from one crop. There is also a second wave of fruiting, but in this case, the size of the fruit and their number are half as much.

Taste qualities of exotic

Guava looks like a cross between an apple and a pear. The fruits are rounded, like an apple, or slightly elongated, like a pear. Dense bumpy skin resembles citrus fruits, but in yellow fruits it looks more like quince.

As the fruits ripen, they turn yellow or burgundy, but some species remain green. Ripe fruits spread around strong aroma lemon.

The thicker the peel of the guava, the more bitter it is, but the sweetest fruits are those with thin skins.

The pulp of the fruit is quite dense and juicy, small hard yellow seeds are hidden inside. There are a lot of them, more than 100 pieces in one fruit, they are covered with a hard shell on top, and therefore there are some difficulties when growing guava by seed.

To have an idea of ​​what the fruits look like, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the photo of guava fruits:

It is very difficult to answer unambiguously what the taste of guava looks like. It depends on the specific variety. In most species, the fruit pulp white color, but there are varieties in which it is pinkish, yellow and even red. For example, varieties with red fruits are more reminiscent of raspberries, while their skin has a coniferous flavor. But the strawberry guava, respectively, has a taste with a slight pineapple aftertaste. But regardless of the variety, ripe psidium is very sweet. Unripe fruits are sour, and it is not recommended to use them.

Green fruits are not only capable of causing indigestion, but also have a negative effect on the functioning of the kidneys.

How do you eat guava? The answer is unequivocal - only fresh. Long term storage fruit only worsens their taste, but they can still lie down in the refrigerator for a day or two, but freezer- is a completely different matter. The only condition: the presence of hermetic packaging, since fruits quickly absorb odors.

Fresh fruit can be prepared from ripe fruits - it is also very tasty and sweet. Fresh or frozen fruits are added to various dishes or syrups are made from them, and original oriental cheese is obtained from dried fruits. Another juicy pulp can be marinated, and you get an original side dish for meat.

And a little more about eating whole fruits for food, namely, how to eat guava correctly. This is best done by cutting it into slices. It is advisable to eat them along with the skin and seeds to get the most benefit. At the same time, one should not forget that the peel can be bitter or with a coniferous taste (then it is better to cut it), and for seeds - hard shell. Therefore, we eat carefully, swallowing them whole, and you can gnaw them if you are sure of the strength of your teeth.

Not a fruit, but a vitamin bomb

Guava fruits, despite their sweetness, contain only 69 kcal, but there are more than enough vitamins and trace elements in them. Among them:

• iron;
• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• magnesium;
• sodium;
• potassium;
• vitamin groups B, A, C and PP.

Like other fruits, guava contains the most water (80.7 g per 100 g of pulp), but only 17.4 carbohydrates, while the proportion of dietary fiber is 5.4 g.

What are the benefits of a tropical apple?

Due to the rich complex of useful substances, psidium is recommended for the prevention and treatment of many diseases, namely:

• with gastrointestinal problems;
• for treatment inflammatory processes in the throat;
• with lung diseases;
• to relieve convulsions and epileptic seizures;
• with heart disease.

The beneficial properties of guava fruits also apply to its peel: it contains antioxidants in an amount exceeding their composition in the pulp of the fruit itself. Eating guava whole, along with the skin, helps to remove pain and spasms, helps relieve inflammation and acts as an antitumor agent in combination with the main therapy.

Beyond the juicy useful pulp, in medicinal purposes leaves are also used. AT traditional medicine decoctions of guava leaves are recommended for coughs, diseases of the oral cavity, dysentery. Herbal tea made from fresh leaves will help with frequent dizziness and will serve as an excellent tonic.

Can guava harm the body?

There are no direct contraindications to the use of an exotic fruit, however, precautions should be observed even despite beneficial features guava. First of all, this applies to people prone to allergic reactions.

With caution and in limited quantities, guava should be included in your diet for people with diabetes, because the use of sweet fruits, especially with a peel, causes a sharp jump in blood glucose.

You should not lean on juicy fruits even for absolutely healthy people - as you know, excess is not the norm, and eaten in in large numbers fruits can cause frustration, especially if the body tries them for the first time. A similar effect will be after eating green fruits.

Can I grow guava in my garden?

Recently, many exotic fruits are also found in local gardens, especially in southern regions where the warm climate best suits their natural environment cultivation. However, growing guava at home in open ground it is practically impossible with us, since the tree will not endure the Russian winter. Critical for him are already 3 degrees below zero. This is enough to even mature tree died.

But do not despair, because there is another option - to grow guava as a pot culture, especially if there is winter Garden where it will be warm and light. Of course, a tree is unlikely to please with a plentiful harvest of 100 kg, as well as large sizes, but it is still possible to enjoy environmentally friendly fruits using self-pollinated varieties for this.

Unlike most plants, which often suffer various diseases, guava has natural immunity and is more rare. This is a definite plus in its favor, since it reduces the use of chemicals for processing the tree to a minimum and ensures a safe and tasty harvest.

how indoor plant most suitable is such a variety of guava as psidium Littorale, which is also coastal. Of the advantages of the variety, it is worth noting that it:

• does not require pollination;
• resistant to diseases and pests;
• blooms beautifully with large white inflorescences;
• bears small (4 cm in diameter), but tasty, yellow fruits with a strong aroma;
• It reproduces well both by seed and vegetatively.

The fruits of the Catley variety are slightly smaller (only 2 cm), but they have the taste of strawberries. This variety is also suitable for growing guava as a houseplant.

Growing Features

Some gardeners believe that seeds from fruits bought for consumption in the domestic market or in the store - suitable material for its reproduction. In some ways, they are right, because they grow lemons and tangerines in this way. But it is worth considering the fact that not all types of guava are self-pollinated, there are also varieties among them that do not bear fruit without additional pollination, but this may already be a problem. It is best to purchase seed material in a special store - so there will be an exact confidence that your tree will bear fruit, or use proven varieties.

When planting, do not forget that the seeds have a hard shell. To speed up and facilitate germination, they must be soaked for 2-3 hours in a growth regulator. In addition, it does not hurt to scratch the seeds a little sandpaper- so the sprout will be easier to hatch.

For growing seedlings, it is better to use a greenhouse or greenhouse, because they need enough heat, at least 24 degrees Celsius. It is not necessary to deepen the seeds, just sow them on top of the loose earth and lightly sprinkle with sand. When the seedlings grow up and reach a height of about 5 cm, they must be pinched and transplanted into separate pots.

How to care for homemade guava?

Further care for indoor guava fruit is simple and includes:

• annual spring transplantation of young plants with a change of flowerpot to a more spacious one;
• moderate watering, preventing the soil from completely drying out and not bringing it to the state of a swamp;
• regular bathing in the shower or plentiful spraying;
• complex mineral supplements once a month during the growing season.

Psidium, although unpretentious, requires two things: light and heat. In the room, he should be given the most illuminated place, and in the summer he should be exposed to the open air. The winter content of the plant is somewhat different: for this period, the frequency of watering is reduced and the temperature is reduced to 20-16 degrees Celsius.

With the advent of spring, you can begin to form a beautiful crown near the bush, but it should be borne in mind that it bears fruit on young shoots. But the root processes are best removed in time to prevent thickening. One of the forming methods is pinching the tops of the branches - this stimulates branching and prevents the trunk from stretching.

As you can see, guava fruit is not only very tasty and healthy. Its simple and undemanding nature makes exotic into home plant, which will not be difficult to grow. Plant a few bushes to pamper your loved ones juicy fruits. And in conclusion, I would like to add that it is decorative evergreen can also purify the air in the house, taking care of your health.

Guava is an evergreen tree reaching a height of up to 4 m. It is a member of the Myrtle family. Blooms 2 times a year and gives bountiful harvest(up to 100 kg) from a tree. Ripens 130 days after the start of flowering. This is very beautiful plant, guava. His photo confirms this.

R one plant is considered to be Central and South America. It was first discovered by the Spaniards in Peru. It can be found in the subtropics and tropics of Asia, Africa, North and South America.

Outwardly similar to a yellow or green bumpy apple. It has an oval, pear-shaped or oblong shape. The pulp is bright red. Tastes like strawberry and pineapple. Unripe guava fruits have a sour taste, in mature fruits it disappears. The weight of the fruit is from 80 to 170 g. By these signs, you can recognize the fruit in the photo. The calorie content of guava is 68 kcal per 100 g of fruit.

Health Benefits of Guava

This is very useful fruit. Its about the main value of lycopene and potassium. Their content in guava is much higher than in tomato and banana.

It is a low calorie fruit rich in both vitamins C and A, minerals. It contains flavonoids fatty acid, polyphenols, fats that do not allow you to gain weight.

Medicinal properties of the fruit

Dangerous properties of the plant

How to eat guava

There are several ways to eat fruit:

How to choose and store guava

The ripe fruit has a yellowish, but unsaturated hue. Always a little soft to the touch.

Fruit must not be overripe. It will be noticeable by his bruising, Brown spots on the skin.

Keep at room temperature ripe fruit is available for several days. Green - no more than 2 weeks. They can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 weeks.

Guava can not be stored for a long time with other products. The fruit is easily saturated with extraneous unpleasant odors.

Growing guava at home

For breeding guava at home conditions are excellent psidium coastal. This variety blooms profusely with snow-white flowers, as seen in the photo. The fruit is formed on a young growth. Therefore, he does not need to form a crown. Pruning is required only for long and hanging branches and remove excess root shoots. This variety blooms after sowing for 3 years.

Seeds obtained from fruits germinate quite well. They can be sown directly after harvest. A feature of the variety is its self-pollination.

The plant is difficult to propagate by cuttings.. They require special conditions. Experts consider this variety the most suitable for home growing. He is at good care never gets sick. He is not afraid of scale insects and fungal diseases, worms and aphids.

The Psidium Cattley variety has fruits up to 2 cm in diameter, red, round in shape (pictured), and tastes like strawberries.

Guava Care

When preparing the soil, you should:

1. For removing excess moisture pour expanded clay on the bottom of the pot.
2. Put in some mullein.
3. Next, pour sand, peat and humus.

Guava light-loving and heat-loving plant. The room temperature should be maintained between 23 and 28 degrees C. When sun rays it can be immediately taken out to the loggia or balcony.

For moisturizing guava should not only be watered, but also pour branches and leaves with a shower in hot weather. With winter, the temperature should not fall below +20 degrees C. At low temperatures, the foliage is damaged. Young plants are especially susceptible to frost.

The root system of the plant is superficial. Overdry earthen clod it is impossible, especially when shoots appear. The leaves will curl, and the young shoots will dry out.

In summer, watering is required plentiful, in winter - as needed. Guava should be fed with infused mullein. Plants that have reached 5 cm are transplanted. But tall trees up to 70 cm in height can also be transplanted. It is advisable to transplant the plant repeatedly. First in a small container, then in a larger one. This is done in the spring, but not during flowering or fruiting.

In order not to get overgrown and dense bushes, it is necessary to remove the root growth. You can not abruptly change the location of the guava. Because of this, she can even partially shed foliage.

Need to pinch the growth point to get a branchy bush, not stem tree. You can pinch several times.

Disease prevention

To protect the plant from pests and diseases is not required to apply chemicals and pesticides. She has her own protection. Therefore, guava is one of the safest and purest exotic plants.

Guava is a well-known tropical plant in our country. First of all, because of their tasty, juicy and very useful fruits which can be found on the shelves of our stores. She is a relative of myrtle, eucalyptus and even feijoa, since all of them, like guava, are part of the myrtle family. This small evergreen tree with a beautiful spreading crown grows in Central, as well as South America.

Although exotic fruit more often found on the shelves than growing at home on the branches of a beautiful tree, guava is quite unpretentious and can become a real decoration home interior. The main thing is that in the room where it grows, the air temperature is consistently high (25-29 degrees).

Let's find out today how guava is useful, growing at home, caring for exotic plant we learn:

Useful properties of fruits

The plant once a year (sometimes twice) brings a bountiful harvest. The fruits look like small apples. Very tasty, and most importantly useful. The pulp is filled with minerals (iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, etc.). The fruits are balanced proteins, fats, carbohydrates. The pulp is rich in vitamin C, P, group B, there is useful fiber there. The peel of the fruit contains beta-carotene.

Therefore, the fruits not only taste good, perfectly satisfy hunger and thirst on hot summer days, but also have a positive effect on well-being, heal. For example, medicine uses fruit juice to treat kidney ailments, the entire urinary system. It is used for sore throats, treats lungs, manifestations of asthma. Fruits, juice are very useful for heart diseases, they are an excellent tonic.

Growing at home

Planting seeds:

The seeds of the plant are distinguished by excellent germination. The main thing is that they are fresh, from a quality fruit and not stored for a long time before planting. So just plant harvested seeds removed from a fruit purchased at a store.

Wash them soft not really cold water, put on a napkin, dry for a couple of hours. Then pour into a cup warm water where soak the seeds for 3-4 hours. Prepare a pot filled with loose earth, where you will plant the prepared seeds (plant on top of the soil). Then sprinkle the plantings with dry fine sand, water well.

Now place the pot on a warm, well-lit windowsill. To speed up germination, you can install a small cellophane or plastic (transparent) greenhouse on top.

Very well guava will grow in loose soil consisting of equal parts humus, sand and turf. When the plant grows up, you can weight the soil a little.

For planting and growing at home, psidium coastal is more suitable than all types of guava. Just because this plant is decorative, it blooms profusely with small white flowers. But most importantly, this variety is self-pollinating, which is very important for houseplants.

Care:

A tree cannot grow normally without sunlight. The sun is vital for guava. The temperature should not fall below twenty degrees (preferably higher). In summer, when you really want to be in a cool shade, take your pet to the balcony. Just teach that this sissy cannot stand drafts.

Guava loves water very much, so abundant watering do it often. As soon as it dries upper layer earth, water it well. It is best to do this in the evening or early morning. In winter, when the tree is resting, significantly reduce the amount of watering.

Fertilize the soil not very often. It is enough to feed the slurry tree once a month, enter mineral fertilizers. It is not always easy to acquire slurry in urban housing. Therefore, special dressings and fertilizers can be purchased at a flower shop.

Caring for a tree at home is not very difficult. In addition to watering, feeding, just watch it appearance and state. Cut off dry flowers, twigs, leaves. Spray the leaves, trunk with soft water (not cold).

It is important to note another plus for growing guava. This plant is highly resistant to various pests and diseases. For example, scale insects, like fungal diseases, practically do not appear on the leaves. Sometimes, quite rarely, an aphid or a mealybug may appear.

In conclusion, I would like to note that growing exotic guava at home is a very exciting and rewarding business. The plant responds to any care, even the most insignificant. With normal care, if you do not forget to water, feed, the tree will delight with a green crown all year round. And periodically it will give you a harvest of tasty, healthy fruits.

Helpful advice:

For breeding at home, purchase ripe fruits that are soft to the touch. Check that they are not damaged. Their ripened seeds are most suitable for planting. Fruit can be stored at room temperature for 3-4 days. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. By the way, if their pulp is frozen, it will not change its quality and will remain just as tasty after defrosting.