Author Topic: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?  (Read 4720 times)

Pau

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 258
    • California
    • View Profile
Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« on: October 07, 2022, 07:00:14 PM »
What is the best tasting feijoa variety? My home came with a couple mature trees and fruit of one is completely round while the others are oval. Both types are very delicious, the round one being less tart and more sweet. I see that online nursery now offers new varieties like: kakariki, takaka, anatoki, etc. 

I also tasted feijoa/ pineapple guava from hawaii and it was not sweet, bland and nasty tasting. Not sure what type it was, but was oval shapped.

What are people's experiences with feijoas? I added pictures of my recent harvest.







« Last Edit: October 07, 2022, 07:03:48 PM by Pau »

aaronn

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 86
    • USA, CA, Napa 9b
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2022, 12:59:51 AM »
I only had good feijoas a couple years ago and I am very into them. It’s hard to get tired of eating feijoa. The first ones I tried were from the variety Moore and one or two of Mark Albert’s selections, but I’m uncertain of the identity, probably Albert’s Pride and/or Albert’s Joy. They were excellent. I’m growing a small Moore and very excited for it.
Most of the feijoas I’m growing are seedlings of Mark Albert varieties. I’m generally hopeful, but occasionally apprehensive, about the future quality of these fruits. I recently had some seedling fruits from a friend and really enjoyed them though I don’t think they were as good as Moore.
I think Apollo is another well regarded variety.

CeeJey

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 181
    • Arizona 9b
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2022, 08:28:37 AM »
Great topic. I've had two of the New Zealand commercial varieties but unfortunately they were not marked; one was fantastic and one was so-so. I got seedlings from both though so I suppose we'll see in a few years  ;D Hoping the Unique in my parents' back yard will fruit this year so that I can try that one.

Also worth noting for anyone with a miracle fruit tree that even the so-so feijoa taste pretty great on miracle fruit, imho (feijoa is probably my favorite thing to eat with miracle fruit besides oro blanco grapefruit).
« Last Edit: October 09, 2022, 08:38:37 AM by CeeJey »

Jack, Nipomo

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 567
  • San Luis Obispo County, CA zone 9b
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2022, 08:39:41 AM »
Kudos to old time CRFG member John Moore of Santa Maria who selected the Moore variety from many seedlings he grew.  Our New Zealand varieties Triumph and Mammoth are producing now and are having a good year.

Epicatt2

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 881
  • Fruit forest in progress . . .
    • Tampa, FL / Zone 9b
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2022, 12:08:06 PM »
I so far have not had any luck growing feijoa in Florida 9b and cannot figure out why.

Would like to try a cultivar like 'Mammoth' or 'Triumph' mentioned elsewhere in this thread but all I could ever find that was available around here were unnamed seedlings (or clones of same) and they did poorly for me.

Don't know if it's the Florida climate, our sandy soil or what . . .

Thoughts...  Suggestions...  All welcomed.

Cheers!

Paul M.
==

JCorte

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 579
    • Laguna Beach and Fallbrook, CA, zone 10b/10a
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2022, 12:47:26 PM »
I’ve seen Pete Kanaris recommend growing them in Florida so I assume they can grow there.  Are you having challenges actually getting the plant to grow or getting them to flower and set fruit?  They grow easily in containers if you are having challenges with soil conditions.

As far as where to get varieties, One Green World has the patented New Zealand varieties for sale.  They are pricey for a one gallon.  When you buy grafted plants you have to be diligent about removing any growth from the rootstock. 
https://onegreenworld.com/product-category/fruiting-shrubs/pineapple-guava/

Fruitwood nursery regularly sells seedlings of Mark Albert varieties for reasonable prices.
https://fruitwoodnursery.com/

Janet

hammer524

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 512
    • USA, Arizona, Phoenix, 9B
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2022, 12:54:02 PM »
My OneGreenWorld order arrived today. I bought the Kaiteri and Takaka varieties. Definitely wanted Apollo but it was sold out.

Wanted to buy something other than the coolidge or nazemets that are sold locally near me.

SHV

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 331
    • Escondido, CA
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #7 on: October 09, 2022, 01:47:55 PM »
Feijoa is a bulletproof plant that seems to thrive on neglect here. Every tree I have seen in CA grows like a weed, albeit a beautiful weed.
I just can’t get excited about the taste.  Ive had fruit from different trees in CA and fruit in New Zealand and they all taste the same to me.  What are the qualities that make an excellent tasting fruit versus a subpar tasting fruit?

Flgarden

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 173
    • Oviedo FL
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #8 on: October 09, 2022, 02:19:12 PM »
Which feijoa is self pollinating?
Ana

Pau

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 258
    • California
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #9 on: October 09, 2022, 03:47:12 PM »
The Feijoas I have attracts both bees, squirrels and birds because of the flower pedals. Not sure if many know this, but the flower pedals are sweet and also very delicious! So because of this, I think feijoas have no issues self being pollinated.

However, I do have 4 trees and its 2 different types, an oval fruit and another that is a complete round ball. The both are sweet, but the round one has less tart and appears morw sweet. Both delicious.

The only other feijoa i have had not from my property is one from hawaii. To me that one is below subpar. Not sweet, mushy texture, giving me the impression of a spoiled fruit, but it was not.
« Last Edit: October 09, 2022, 03:49:26 PM by Pau »

Flgarden

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 173
    • Oviedo FL
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #10 on: October 09, 2022, 03:57:10 PM »
Some of them need a second tree. I had one and it was mature, had beautiful flowers every spring and not a single fruit set. Friend of mine purchased unknown variety in a small pot and it produced fruits on the second year.
I feel like trying growing them again but afraid i will end up with non fruiting one.
Ana
Ana

Epicatt2

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 881
  • Fruit forest in progress . . .
    • Tampa, FL / Zone 9b
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #11 on: October 09, 2022, 06:50:44 PM »
I’ve seen Pete Kanaris recommend growing them in Florida so I assume they can grow there.  Are you having challenges actually getting the plant to grow or getting them to flower and set fruit?  They grow easily in containers if you are having challenges with soil conditions.

The ones I tried, all unnamed varities, just sat there and never grew much or bloomed, finally up and died.  Yet guavas, citrus, and an avocado, all in the ground, all grow well for me.  So it may just have been the individual feijoas that I got that weren't happy here for whatever reason.

Good to know that there are some NZ cultivars available.  I'll check.

Cheers!

Paul M.
==

CeeJey

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 181
    • Arizona 9b
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #12 on: October 09, 2022, 07:28:52 PM »
Which feijoa is self pollinating?

According to New Zealand growers, "Unique" is the only confirmed self pollinating feijoa named cultivar, although some of the other NZ varieties are allegedly self-pollinating. Wish they weren't such a pain to graft...


Fruitwood nursery regularly sells seedlings of Mark Albert varieties for reasonable prices.
https://fruitwoodnursery.com/

Janet

I got about fifteen rooted seedlings from fruitwood earlier this year of various types, and all of them were struggling (brown tips and severe chlorosis) when I got them. All but two eventually perished and those two are probably still not going to make it. I don't know if I just got a bad batch from them or what, since I'm told fruitwood is usually solid, but that was a pretty cruddy experience.

Draak

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 93
    • East Bay Area California, zone 9a/b
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #13 on: October 10, 2022, 02:56:39 AM »
I've talked with two different people who have and grow all of Albert's Feijoa collection. They all talk about how their family really enjoys them! However, they've both said that they nor their family can taste the difference of the varietals.

I've tasted fruits from a large row of seedling Feijoa. Some are nice, some are bitter.

My takeaway is that the difference between good Feijoa varietals is subtle. Perhaps others would disagree with me, but good Feijoa mostly just tastes like good Feijoa :).

BayAreaMicroClimate

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 171
    • Dublin, California 9b
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #14 on: October 10, 2022, 12:48:14 PM »
I’ve tried a good amount of them and the best is from a row of dwarf trees. They are old and only grow 3 feet tall. I have a 50 year old tree that is about 15-20 feet and makes nice big fruit that are good but the dwarf species makes very soft fruit that you can just squeeze in your mouth with a soft skin. I am propagating them but only have seedlings right now. I will eventually graft some.

Here is the tree my grandma planted


BayAreaMicroClimate

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 171
    • Dublin, California 9b
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #15 on: October 10, 2022, 12:56:47 PM »
Also the dwarf types gets blush of red in skin and some turn yellow





Bush2Beach

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2144
    • Santa Cruz, California Sunset Zone 17
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #16 on: October 10, 2022, 01:00:21 PM »
This has been the report out of FL and inland CA areas.
It’s too hot in the day. Its too hot at night.
Feijoa does better in cooler weather.
Friends try in Hawaii where it doesnt get over 90 or less than 55.
Doesnt work.
They need cooler nights or overall cooler weather.




I’ve seen Pete Kanaris recommend growing them in Florida so I assume they can grow there.  Are you having challenges actually getting the plant to grow or getting them to flower and set fruit?  They grow easily in containers if you are having challenges with soil conditions.

The ones I tried, all unnamed varities, just sat there and never grew much or bloomed, finally up and died.  Yet guavas, citrus, and an avocado, all in the ground, all grow well for me.  So it may just have been the individual feijoas that I got that weren't happy here for whatever reason.

Good to know that there are some NZ cultivars available.  I'll check.

Cheers!

Paul M.
==

JCorte

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 579
    • Laguna Beach and Fallbrook, CA, zone 10b/10a
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #17 on: October 10, 2022, 03:31:53 PM »
Bush2Beach,
Do you think they can handle heat but just need cooler evenings?  What if they were grown as an understory tree in warmer temps?
I planted them in Fallbrook out in full sun and they've grown well with temps in the 90s this summer.  It does cool down in the evenings though. 

Ceejay, yes, sometimes the quality from Fruitwood isn't great.  I'm usually able to revive most of their plants back to health though and it's hard to find some of the genetics they offer.  I pretty much always keep plants I get from them in shade after I pot them up for a few weeks.

I think the advantage of the New Zealand varieties are bigger fruit and thinner skin.  The best tasting ones for me have had larger locules which I think is the best tasting part.  The outer areas can be thick and gritty, but easy to scoop out the middle with a spoon.  If you find better varieties, I think they are really good but some suck.

Janet

Pau

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 258
    • California
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #18 on: October 10, 2022, 10:48:50 PM »
This has been the report out of FL and inland CA areas.
It’s too hot in the day. Its too hot at night.
Feijoa does better in cooler weather.
Friends try in Hawaii where it doesnt get over 90 or less than 55.
Doesnt work.
They need cooler nights or overall cooler weather.




I’ve seen Pete Kanaris recommend growing them in Florida so I assume they can grow there.  Are you having challenges actually getting the plant to grow or getting them to flower and set fruit?  They grow easily in containers if you are having challenges with soil conditions.

The ones I tried, all unnamed varities, just sat there and never grew much or bloomed, finally up and died.  Yet guavas, citrus, and an avocado, all in the ground, all grow well for me.  So it may just have been the individual feijoas that I got that weren't happy here for whatever reason.

Good to know that there are some NZ cultivars available.  I'll check.

Cheers!

Paul M.
==


This might be the reason the one i tried in hawaii did not taste good. Maybe needs cool temperature for a good taste.

azorean

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 88
    • Portugal, Azores, São Roque do Pico
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #19 on: October 11, 2022, 06:37:15 AM »
Maybe the language barrier is the reason why, but it is unfortunate to see only american replies in this post.

Southern Brazil is the native range of this species and some interesting selection programs have been done there, with little international repercussion maybe because of the language barrier. I wonder, for instance, if any of the forum members has tasted Brazilian cultivars like Helena, Alcantara and Mattos. I am not a feijoa specialist, just wondering here!






« Last Edit: October 11, 2022, 06:43:08 AM by azorean »

nattyfroootz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 629
    • Santa Cruz California
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #20 on: October 11, 2022, 12:44:17 PM »


I think the advantage of the New Zealand varieties are bigger fruit and thinner skin.  The best tasting ones for me have had larger locules which I think is the best tasting part.  The outer areas can be thick and gritty, but easy to scoop out the middle with a spoon.  If you find better varieties, I think they are really good but some suck.


I forget where I heard this but I heard that alot of varieties have been selected for with maximum grittiness and minimum locule 'jelly'.  I agree that the locules are the best part.
Grow cooler fruits

www.wildlandsplants.com

socalbalcony2

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 124
    • OC, 10b
    • View Profile
    • Instagram
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #21 on: October 12, 2022, 01:37:53 PM »
Bush2Beach,
Do you think they can handle heat but just need cooler evenings?  What if they were grown as an understory tree in warmer temps?
I planted them in Fallbrook out in full sun and they've grown well with temps in the 90s this summer.  It does cool down in the evenings though. 

Ceejay, yes, sometimes the quality from Fruitwood isn't great.  I'm usually able to revive most of their plants back to health though and it's hard to find some of the genetics they offer.  I pretty much always keep plants I get from them in shade after I pot them up for a few weeks.

I think the advantage of the New Zealand varieties are bigger fruit and thinner skin.  The best tasting ones for me have had larger locules which I think is the best tasting part.  The outer areas can be thick and gritty, but easy to scoop out the middle with a spoon.  If you find better varieties, I think they are really good but some suck.

Janet

I've seen them thriving in Fallbrook with no issues with the heat waves + frost etc

happyhana

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 145
    • Hana, Hawaii
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #22 on: October 13, 2022, 08:14:39 PM »
Feijoas are tough. With care they grow and fruit well in the heat and freezing deserts of southern Arizona.

Seen them growing well at wet humid sea level Hawaii up to 400’ but no flowers or fruit. I’d love to know the lowest they’ve fruited in Hawaii.

CeeJey

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 181
    • Arizona 9b
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #23 on: October 13, 2022, 08:25:24 PM »
Ceejay, yes, sometimes the quality from Fruitwood isn't great.  I'm usually able to revive most of their plants back to health though and it's hard to find some of the genetics they offer.  I pretty much always keep plants I get from them in shade after I pot them up for a few weeks.

Thanks for validating my experience! Glad to know that I'm not the only one.

Additional data point though, I decided right after writing this to give them another try with a small order, and the seedlings got here fast in MUCH better shape than my first batch. So maybe I did just get a bum batch or something happened in transit the first time.

Darby

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 5
    • Fort Worth TX
    • View Profile
Re: Best tasting feijoa ( pineapple guava)variety?
« Reply #24 on: November 13, 2022, 01:28:22 AM »
This has been the report out of FL and inland CA areas.
It’s too hot in the day. Its too hot at night.
Feijoa does better in cooler weather.
Friends try in Hawaii where it doesnt get over 90 or less than 55.
Doesnt work.
They need cooler nights or overall cooler weather.
==
[/quote]

No this is not an issue. I have grown Naemetz, Cooledge and Mammoth in Texas. It is 100 degrees all summer, nights are in the 70's and they fruit fantastic. In fact given how hard it is to grow various fruits in the Texas heat, these are one of the few that do well here.