Author Topic: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season  (Read 4887 times)

chad6159

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Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« on: March 08, 2019, 07:59:45 AM »
I have been researching when I should prune my guava tree. I would like to prune it a bit but also would want to get fruit this season. I know they grow on new growth so would it be okay to prune now? or would that make me not get fruit until next year?

I am getting mixed answers to this question when I look it up. Some say winter, some say spring and that doing it in winter could be bad for it, some say do it whenever. The main thing is I want to prune it and still get fruit this season. Or if it is too late I at least want to know when to prune it this year so I still get fruit next year.

The tree is about 7 or so feet tall but would like to prune it so it branches out more.
« Last Edit: March 08, 2019, 09:07:17 AM by chad6159 »

spaugh

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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2019, 09:49:58 AM »
Now is a good time.  Just did mine the other day.  Its not that critical really.  I just do mine now because the fruit was harvested over fall/winter, and the trees are starting to flush again but not yet flowering. 

If you are just doing a minor haircut, any time is ok really.
Brad Spaugh

chad6159

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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2019, 10:40:00 AM »
Okay thank you. Ill tip and prune some branches now then. I just didnt want to do it now and then not get any fruit this year because of it. it seems like half of the tree is starting to put on new growth but the other half is not. There are currently 8 flower buds on it so I wont mess with those branches.

This is going to be the first time it has flowered. I just got it last year and it grew like crazy. Probably form 3 feet to around 7 feet now.

Do you usually get two crops off of yours?

spaugh

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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2019, 10:51:32 AM »
They do grow like weeds.  One crop ready around thanksgiving here. 
Brad Spaugh

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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2019, 10:54:26 AM »
You can hard prune guava whenever. The commercial green guava in Florida is kept around 5 feet and each fruit is bagged. Dr. Jonathan Crane mentioned that you can prune your tree in quadrants and get fruit nearly year round. You can cut back each branch at the 3rd to 5th bud and make a bush out of it. You can do pretty much whatever you want to it as long as the roots are happy.
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chad6159

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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2019, 11:03:11 AM »
Okay thanks guys. After this fruit is harvested I am going to prune it back a couple feet so I can prune it more correctly while it is growing so the tree is more full.

Some where I saw to let it grow a foot or two (max) and then tip prune it so it branched. It is working pretty well but it is not full like I would like it.

I do like the idea of pruning it so you get multiple crops a year. I will have to try that next year when the tree is bigger.

spaugh

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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2019, 12:58:23 PM »
Chad heres one of my guavas.  Nothing special in the pruning department.  This tree is partially defoliated from winter and starting to regrow.  I just use hand pruners and bring the tops and lanky sides pulled back in so its easy to reach the guavas next season.

Brad Spaugh

chad6159

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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2019, 01:14:54 PM »
Looks good. That is basically how I want mine to look.I think prior to next season I will prune it back decent so I can make it more dense. How many fruit do you usually get off of a tree that size?

spaugh

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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2019, 01:28:17 PM »
I thin the fruit down really heavy and still get 100+ fruits.  A lot of it goes to waste, the birds eat it or we get tired of them and they fall on the ground and turn back into compost.
Brad Spaugh

Coach62

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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2019, 07:35:43 PM »
As above. It’s pretty hard to screw up a guava.
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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2019, 06:55:51 AM »
@ chad6159 : Interested in knowing if the branches you pruned in march 2019 are bearing fruit now.
I am considering pruning my guavas now (some fruit started ripening now, but i have a few fruits this year). i am wondering if the shoots that will push now after the pruning will bear flower next spring or the flushes of autumn are considered "last year growth" and that i need to tip prune again in january / february 2020 for having flowers in June  2020?

pineislander

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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2019, 03:30:53 PM »
I pruned 25 plants two months ago it is now flowering.

spaugh

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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2019, 04:17:22 PM »
The tree in the photo above pruned in march is fully flushed out and now full of fruit.



« Last Edit: September 21, 2019, 04:24:30 PM by spaugh »
Brad Spaugh

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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #13 on: September 21, 2019, 04:26:00 PM »
Any one from real tropical zone 12 or 13 recommend when to, how much and where to top or prune different thriving tropical guava trees.

greenman62

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Re: Guava pruning so you still get fruit that upcoming season
« Reply #14 on: September 22, 2019, 02:24:53 PM »
i just pruned a regular red guava, o psidium acutangulum ,
and also Surinam cherry about a month ago
all 3 are flowering
 (the P acutangulum has not been holding fruit, but i think thats another matter)