Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

🍉 Guava beats banana in the potassium game

• 🍉Everyone talks about bananas when it comes to potassium, but guava (Tropical Guava - Psidium guajava) quietly beats them! One cup of guava packs around 688 milligrams of potassium, compared to about 450 in a banana!
• 🍉Potassium is essential for strong bones, steady blood pressure, muscle function, and a healthy nervous system. Adults need between 2,600 and 3,400 mg daily, according to the National Institute of Health - so adding guava to your fruit bowl is a smart move.
• 🍉Guavas are common across the tropics - from Mexico to the Caribbean - with green or yellow skin and beautiful pink or off-white flesh. Sweet, aromatic, and easy to grow in warm climates, guava is one tropical fruit that truly earns its place in the garden and on your plate.

🛒 Your body needs potassium - your garden grows it on guava tree!

📚 Learn more:

• ▫️Six guava varieties that will keep you picking year-round
• ▫️How to grow a Guava Tree: Practical Guide to Growing Guava
• ▫️More about #Guava

#Food_Forest #Guava #Discover

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🔴Cook guava pulp with sugar until thick, pour into a pan, cut into squares.
🔴A tropical fudge-like sweet.

🍴 Guava fudge: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Ingredients

• 2 cups ripe guava pulp
• 1½ cups sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

1. Cook guava pulp with sugar in a pan over medium heat.
2. Stir constantly until mixture thickens and pulls away from sides.
3. Pour into a greased pan and let it cool.
4. Cut into small squares and enjoy your tropical fudge.

🛒 Grow your own sweet guava fruit

📚 Learn more:

• ▫️Six guava varieties that will keep you picking year-round
• ▫️How to grow a Guava Tree: Practical Guide to Growing Guava
• ▫️More about #Guava

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Zero Sugar fruit: forget lemonade - new perfect summer drink discovered!

• 🍋 Costa Rican Guava, or Cas Guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum) is the boldest fruit you can grow for refreshing drinks. Its flavor is sharp, tangy, and unforgettable - perfect for anyone who loves acidic fruit. Cas Guava has sugar at all, unless you decide to add some.
• 🍋 The trees are super prolific - even young ones fruit heavily, and we make gallons of juice at Top Tropicals.
• 🍋 The best part? You can freeze the fruit or boil it into a concentrate with a bit of sugar. That drink lasts in the fridge for months without going bad, thanks to Cas Guava’s natural antibacterial punch.
• 🍋 Cas Guava juice is Costa Rica’s traditional Agua de Cas - tart, refreshing, and perfect for summer heat. And if you save enough, you’ll still be sipping it through the winter.

♨️ Agua de Cas Quick Recipe
We boiled this fruit and the drink lasted for months!

• ▫️Boil halved fruits in water with sugar to taste
• ▫️Simmer 5-10 minutes, let sit, then mash the softened fruit to release all the flavor
• ▫️Strain through a colander, bottle, and refrigerate - just dilute with water when serving

✔️ Why choose Cas Guava?

• • Packed with vitamin C - four times more than lemons - for a powerful immune boost.
• • Rich in antioxidants to combat stress and inflammation.
• • Hardy and low-maintenance, thriving in poor soils and resisting pests.

🛒 Grow your own Cas Guava

📚 Learn more:

• • What is the best fruit for summer drinks and wine?
• •  What fruit is more sour and has more vitamin C than a lemon
• •  What fruit can you drink? Costa Rican Cas is the Guava for Drinking
• •  Costa Rican Guava

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Guava

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🍴 Guava grilled cheese: quick and fun exotic recipes

• 🔴Spread fresh mashed guava (or guava paste) between slices of bread with cheese
• 🔴Grill until golden.
• 🔴Sweet and savory twist on a classic sandwich!

🛒 Explore Guava varieties

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Guava

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🍉 Six guava varieties that will keep you picking year-round

• 🍉 Everyone loves guava! Sweet, fragrant, and packed with flavor. At TopTropicals, we have a whole guava forest, with varieties for every space and taste: Tropical Guava - Psidium guajava.
• 🍉 Why we love Guava?

💋Fast-growing and sun-loving

• 💋Thrives with plenty of water but handle short droughts
• 💋Starts producing right away - no years of waiting
• 💋Abundant fruit harvests
• 💋Perfect for containers or small gardens

• 🍉 What are the best Guava varieties? Our favorites are:

💋Dwarf Guava - stays under 6 feet but produces full-sized fruit.

• 💋Honeymoon Variegated - leaves and fruit have variegated patterns, turning golden when ripe.
• 💋Barbie Pink - pear-shaped yellow fruit with thick pink flesh, low in pectin, perfect for fresh eating or juice. Larger than Ruby Supreme and cold-hardy for a tropical fruit.
• 💋Hong Kong (Hawaiian) - large, round fruit with smooth pink skin, sweet flavor, and few seeds. Very productive, with a spreading growth habit.
• 💋Kilo White - huge fruit (up to 1 kilo = 2 lbs) with soft white flesh and few seeds. Great container plant, fruits even when small.
• 💋Tikal - compact tree with yellow-skinned, pink-fleshed fruit. Fruits year-round and starts young. Great for beginners.

• 🍉 Health boost in every bite:

Guava is one of the richest sources of vitamin C – even more than oranges. It’s loaded with antioxidants, fiber, potassium, and lycopene, which support immunity, heart health, and digestion.
• 🍉 Whether you’ve got space for a tree in the yard or just a container on the patio, a guava will reward you with beauty, fragrance, and sweet fruit in no time.

🛒 Pick your guava variety

📚 Learn more:

• ▫️How to grow a Guava Tree: Practical Guide to Growing Guava
• ▫️More about #Guava

#Food_Forest #Guava #Discover

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🍓Strawberry Guava for best Margaritas - the easiest fruit tree you'll ever grow!

• 🍓 If you're looking for a cold-hardy tropical fruit tree that thrives on neglect, you’ve found it: Strawberry Guava, or Cattley Guava (Psidium littorale). It's our favorite Guava at Top Tropicals!
• 🍓 This fast-growing, evergreen small tree or dense bush doesn’t mind poor soil, limestone, or salt. It’s hardy to the low 20s F, drought-tolerant once established, and can even handle short-term flooding. Great as a hedge, windbreak, or container specimen, it also adds beauty year-round with glossy green leaves, peeling reddish bark, and soft red new growth.
• 🍓 You’ll get round, tangy-sweet fruit from spring through fall - perfect for snacking, jams, or jellies, juices, and adding to all kinds of drinks, especially Margaritas and Mojitos! 🍸
• 🍓 The red and yellow types are both tasty, with the yellow often a bit larger and sweeter. The sweetest and the most flavorful Cattley Guava variety is Hawaiian Gold - Psidium littorale var. Lucidum. This one is our favorite for eating out of hand!
• 🍓 Cattley Guava is productive, low-maintenance, and ornamental - one of the easiest tropical fruit trees to grow in poor or alkaline soils.

🛒 Add a sweet guava hedge to your yard

📚 Learn more:

• ▫️Favorite Guava fruit for eating fresh
• ▫️Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #2. Cattley and Tropical guava
• ▫️How to always have lots of Guava Juice

#Food_Forest #Guava

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🍓 Pineapple Guava: fragrant fruit, beautiful blooms, and real health benefits

• Feijoa sellowiana, also known as Pineapple Guava or Guavasteen, is an evergreen shrub or small tree that brings together beauty, fragrance, and edible rewards.
• With its soft pink, edible flowers blooming in late spring and strongly scented fruit ripening in late summer to fall, it offers interest across multiple seasons.
• The fruit is especially unique. When fresh fruit blended with a little sugar, many describe the flavor as forest strawberries with hints of mint or pineapple - some even say it reminds them of Juicy Fruit gum. The texture is smooth and slightly gritty, similar to a pear.
• Nutritionally, Feijoa fruit is low in calories, high in fiber, and an excellent source of Vitamin C and antioxidants. You don’t need to guess when it's ready - the ripe fruit drops to the ground.
• Pineapple Guava is easy to grow and adaptable. It tolerates drought, thrives in full sun or partial shade, and withstands heat as well as cold down to 10F. Whether planted in the ground or grown in a large patio container, it needs minimal care - just occasional watering and light feeding.
• It also serves multiple purposes in the landscape: a dense, evergreen hedge for wind protection, a privacy screen, or a standalone ornamental that attracts birds and butterflies. It can be shaped into a small tree or kept compact depending on your space.
• A beautiful, edible, and low-maintenance addition to the garden that earns its place year after year.

🛒Taste the fragrant forest-strawberry flavor - grow Pineapple Guava

📚 Learn more:

• ▫️Why is it called Pineapple Guava? It tastes just like strawberries!
• ▫️Flavor of Feijoa Superfood

#Edible_Forest #Guava #Discover

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🌸 Fun Facts About the Guava Flower

• 🌸 Frilly and Fabulous - Guava flowers may be small, but they're packed with fluffy white stamens that give them a soft, powder-puff look.
• 🌸 Pollinator Magnet - Bees and butterflies love guava blooms, making them a great addition to a pollinator-friendly garden.
• 🌸 Scent-sational - The flowers have a light, pleasant fragrance that adds a touch of sweetness before the fruit even arrives.
• 🌸 Bloom to Fruit - Each flower can turn into a delicious guava fruit, making them both beautiful and productive.
• 🌸 Part of the Showy Family - Guava (Psidium) belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which also includes eye-catching bloomers like Eucalyptus, Bottlebrush (Callistemon), and the stunning Rose Apple (Syzygium).

📚 More from previous posts about: #Guava

🛒 Shop Guava Trees

#Food_Forest #Guava #Fun_facts

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🍉 How to grow a Guava Tree: Practical Guide to Growing Guava

• 🍑 Guava Trees (Psidium sp.) are beloved for their flavorful fruit and easy-growing nature. These fast-growing trees are reliable producers and can thrive in a variety of climates, making them a favorite among home gardeners. Guavas are compact and can be grown in containers, making them suitable for small spaces and urban gardens.
• 🍑 Light and Soil

Guava trees thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily to produce the best fruit. They prefer well-draining soils rich in organic matter but are adaptable to a range of soil types, including sandy or loamy soils. Slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal. While guavas tolerate poor soils, enriching the soil with compost or manure will improve growth and yield.
• 🍑 Pruning tips

Pruning is essential for maintaining the shape, size, and productivity of guava trees.

· Frequency: Prune guavas annually, ideally after the fruiting season, to encourage new growth and improve airflow.

• · Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches to maintain tree health.
• · Shape the tree to allow sunlight to penetrate the canopy, which enhances fruit production.
• · For container-grown guavas, keep the tree compact by trimming back vigorous shoots regularly.

• 🍑 Guava in containers

Guavas are well-suited to container growing. Compact varieties like the "Nana" guava are ideal for pots. Use a large container (at least 15-20 gallons) with good drainage. Fill it with a high-quality potting mix enriched with organic matter. Place the container in a sunny location and water consistently. Regular pruning helps maintain a manageable size and promotes fruiting in container-grown guavas.
• 🍑 Watering

· Guava trees require consistent watering, especially during dry periods and the fruiting season. While they can tolerate short periods of flooding, ensure the soil is not waterlogged. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on your climate.

• · Fertilize guavas 3-4 times a year during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorus to promote flowering and fruiting. Adding organic matter like compost or manure annually boosts soil fertility and improves yields.

• 🍑 Harvesting

· Guava trees are quick to fruit, often producing their first harvest within a year of planting. For container-grown trees, fruiting can start in even smaller pots, such as 1-gallon containers.

• · Signs of ripe guava fruit include:

- A change in color from green to yellow (depending on the variety).
- A sweet, fruity aroma.
- Slight softness when gently pressed.
• · Harvest ripe guavas by hand or with pruning shears. Consume fresh or use them to make juices, jams, or desserts.

• 🍑 Health Benefits of Guava

· Guava is a nutrient powerhouse, offering numerous health benefits:

• · Vitamin C: Boosts the immune system and helps protect against colds and infections.
• · Potassium: Supports healthy blood pressure levels.
• · Antioxidants: Contribute to glowing skin and may reduce the risk of cancer.
• · Fiber: Aids digestion and helps regulate blood sugar levels.

• 🍑 Popular Varieties of Guava

· Tropical Guava (Psidium guajava): Sweet and aromatic, suitable for warmer climates.

• · Cattley Guava (Psidium littorale): Cold-hardy with a slightly tart flavor.
• · Cas Guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum): Known for its sour taste, perfect for juices like Costa Rica’s traditional "Agua de Cas." Cold hardy, disease resistant and vigorous, productive variety.
• · Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana): Fruity and floral, thriving in cooler climates.

🍑 Additional Tips

• · Guava trees are relatively pest-resistant but may require monitoring in humid climates for mealybugs. Use neem oil if needed.
• · Planting multiple guava varieties ensures a continuous supply of fruit.
• · With their fast growth, compact size, and delicious fruit, guava trees are a fantastic addition to tropical garden, greenhouse or patio.

📚 More from previous posts about #Guava

🛒 Shop Guava Trees

#Food_Forest #Guava

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🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 8: Guava Tree.

• 🍉 Guava Tree (Psidium sp.) - Guava trees are beloved for their flavorful fruit, commonly used in juices, drinks, and desserts.
• 🍉 Popular Varieties: include Psidium guajava (Tropical Guava), Psidium littorale (Cattley Guava), Psidium friedrichsthalianum (Cas guava), and Feijoa sellowiana (Pineapple Guava).
• 🍉 Cold Hardy: Despite its "Tropical" name, the Tropical Guava is relatively cold-hardy, and other varieties are even hardier, suitable for cooler climates with occasional frost.
• 🍉 Water Needs: Guava trees like water and can tolerate some flooding.
• 🍉 Compact Growth: Guavas are medium size bushes or trees that can be easily maintained at any height and shape.
• 🍉 Fast Fruiting: Guava trees are quick to fruit, often within a year of planting, and some start fruiting in containers as small as 1 gallon.
• 🍉 Dwarf Variety: The Nana variety is perfect for container culture, producing full-sized fruit in a compact form.
• 🍉 Pest Control: In humid areas with rainy seasons, check for mealybugs, which can be controlled with neem oil as needed.
• 🍉 Endless Supply: Planting multiple guava trees ensures a constant supply of fresh, juicy fruit and flavorful guava juice loved by kids and adults.

📚 Learn more from previous posts:

• 🟡about #Guava
• 🟡10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

🛒 Shop Guava varieties

#Food_Forest #Guava

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