GUAVA (PERA) IN KURAKAR GARDENS

GUAVA (PERA) IN KURAKAR GARDENS

Guava is a common tree in Kerala. Mostly we use fruits in raw form. It is known as 'poor man's Apple' and 'Apple of the tropics'. Its a delicious tropical fruit. The flesh of the fruit is pink, yellow or white filled with hard seeds. It is used to make Jams and Jellies.
Botanical name: Psidium Guajava.In Malayalam:Perakka,Hindi:Amrood,Marathi:Peru
Tamil:Koiyaa, Sanskrit:Swaduphala

Mainly two types of guava available. The pink type and the white variety. In Kerala we always eat it fresh. In Tamil nadu we can see street vendors with spicy half ripe guavas. I had seen it in Chennai and in Bangalore. Guava can be spicy...... We can make juice or milk shake with this fruit.Guava juice is a thirst quencher and a multipurpose healer. Its laxative property prevents constipation. Its Vitamin C content makes it a healer for cough and cold.

Guava Juice is a great refreshing drink and its good for your stomach too. Its a highly nutritious drink for our tiny tots , rich with vitamin C . Its always cheaper than other fruits. If it is available in your yard, always consider it as a precious fruit and consume it in raw form, juicy version or a milk shake. Recipe of Guava Juice,Ripe Guava: 2Sugar: as per your tastWater :One cup

After thorough washing peel off the guavas and cut it into small pieces. Using a mixer make a puree of the guava with small amount of water and sugar. Strain it. Serve it with ice cubes or as you like... I had seasoned this juice with one or two cherries because my children like it. Actually they are the inspiration behind these

Plant your guava in a sunny, well-drained spot in your garden. Do not use plants you have grown from seed, because these may not come to fruition. Use a seedling or rootstock cutting from a nursery to make sure your guava tree will fruit. Guavas are not fussy about soil and will thrive in heavy clay or light sandy soils. You do not need to extensively prepare the ground before planting your guava tree, but some organic compost mixed into the soil will be beneficial.

Water your guava at least once a week. The trees are very resistant to drought but will not fruit abundantly unless they are watered generously. After it has become established and started to grow, fertilize every three months with an all-purpose fertilizer. Your guava tree will grow vigorously in almost all conditions, provided it is not exposed to cold other than occasional light frosts. Temperatures below 29 degrees Fahrenheit will seriously damage or kill guava trees.

Prune the main shoot of your guava tree when it reaches a height of 4 or 5 feet. This makes the tree produce lateral branches, which are the ones that will bear the fruit. If you want your guava tree to grow taller and provide shade, wait until it is the desired height before pruning the main shoot. Remove all suckers that emerge from the ground or low on the trunk to encourage strong growth of the main lateral branches. Lateral branches can be supported with canes or wire if they sag under the weight of fruit. After fruiting is over, the tree can be pruned back to maintain its shape and height. The next fruit crop is produced on new growth.

Monitor your guava tree for signs of fungal disease such as brown spots on the leaves and leaf drop. Guava leaves are susceptible to fungal attack by Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioide) and other fungi. If your guava tree is attacked by fungus, treat the foliage with an antifungal spray containing copper. Guava fruit can be damaged and destroyed by the maggots of the Caribbean fruit fly (Anastrepha suspensa). If your guava tree fruit are susceptible, cover them with paper bags before they begin to ripen to keep the flies from laying their eggs’. The Guava (Guajava) is generally described as a perennial tree or shrub. This is not native to the U.S. (United States) and has its most active growth period in the year round. The greatest bloom is usually observed in the spring, with fruit and seed production starting in the summer and continuing until summer. Leaves are retained year to year. The Guava (Guajava) has a long life span relative to most other plant species and a moderate growth rate. At maturity, the typical Guava (Guajava) will reach up to 25 feet high, with a maximum height at 20 years of 25 feet.

The Guava (Guajava) is easily found in nurseries, garden stores and other plant dealers and distributors. It can be propagated by bare root, container, cuttings, and seed. It has a moderate ability to spread through seed production and the seedlings have medium vigor. Note that cold stratification is not required for seed germination and the plant cannot survive exposure to temperatures below 33°F. has medium tolerance to drought and restricted water conditions. Guava trees are small shrubby evergreen trees, with a lot of strong bony like branches. It is commonly found throughout Kerala and the main variety of guava cultivated and sold here is the apple guava. The fruits are fleshy and have a sweet taste. The fruit is rich in proteins, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B3, vitamin B4 etc. Natural propagation is by birds and small animals. Different parts of the tree have medicinal properties. The decoction of the leaves and bark of this tree are sued for treating various ailments such as diarrhea, dysentery, vomiting and sore throats, and also for regulating the menstrual cycles. They are also gargled to relieve oral ulcers and inflamed gums. The crushed leaves when applied on wounds relieve pain.

                                         Prof. John Kurakar