Care for a Feijoa Tree
The feijoa is a shrub that grows 3 to 20 feet tall and bears sweet, fragrant fruits dubbed pineapple guavas or guavasteens. The fruits taste similar to combinations of pineapple and strawberry or pineapple and guava. Native to parts of South America, the feijoa grows best in subtropical climates with low humidity. Feijoas can tolerate winter temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit and prefer summer temperatures of 80 to 90 degrees. With the right environmental conditions, feijoa shrubs demand no special care other than regular watering and light fertilization.
Instructions
1. Water your feijoas deeply and regularly to ensure the best fruit crop. Water the feijoas once every week while the plants are flowering and fruiting, providing water to thoroughly moisten the soil around the entire root zone. Water two or three times per week during prolonged hot, dry weather.
2. Spread a 2- to 3-inch-thick layer of organic mulch on the ground around the base of the feijoas to preserve soil moisture, keep weeds at bay and protect the shallow roots. Don't hoe or cultivate around the feijoas to remove weeds, because doing so can damage their fibrous roots.
3. Feed your feijoas with an 8-8-8 NPK fertilizer formula once every two months while the plants are actively growing. You might use another type of complete, low-nitrogen fertilizer, following the dosage and application instructions on the package.
4. Harvest the feijoa fruits right after they fall to the ground. Collect the fruits from the ground and store them in a cool, protected area in straw mulch until they begin to feel soft to the touch and are ready for eating. Picking the fruits from the tree before they fall will usually yield a crop that's not fully ripened.
5. Prune your feijoa lightly in the summer after harvesting the fruits, removing old growth and unproductive shoots. Thin out any crowded or crossing growth as well. Light pruning can help improve fruiting and easy harvesting for the following year.
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