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6.

Planting and Care

Guava trees are often set too closely together for best production.
If the soil is fertile they should be spaced about 20 feet apart, each way.
Preparation of the land planting should be the same as for orange trees.
Grafted guavas are usually set in the field about a year from the time of
grafting, and should receive the usual watering and mulching after being
planted.

Little research has been done on fertilizing guavas. In many tropical
regions they thrive even when neglected, but of course they grow more
rapidly when given proper cultural attention. On stony or sandy soils in
Florida a fertilizer program suitable for oranges has given excellent
results. The trees should begin to bear fruit in the third year.

Flowers are borne in the leaf axils of new shoots, mostly in late
spring. Fertilizing for vigorous vegetative development assures abundant
bloom. In warm rainy climates flowers will be produced at intervals during
the year, but in regions with marked wet and dry seasons blooming will all
be in the rainy season, unless the trees have been irrigated abundantly
during the dry period.

Little or no pruning is usually given, but where fine large guavas
sell at a premium, some pruning is desirable. Vigorous young shoots produce
the largest fruits, hence moderate heading back and thinning of the
top to develop such shoots is desirable. Root suckers and low-hanging
branches should be removed.

Weed control is less important with guavas than with many other fruits
because of the vigorous root system. Weeds or grass under the trees can
be mowed several times during the harvesting season to facilitate collecting