Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Cherryguava
Psidiumlittorale
var.
longipes
Cherry guavas are ideal for the domestic fruit
garden as they thrive and produce even when
neglected. They have a long harvest season
and prefer dryish soil conditions rather than
wet. Cherry guavas can be satisfactorily grown
from seed or cuttings and there are no named
cultivars available as yet to my knowledge.
They are also a good screening evergreen
small tree or shrub when trained to a central
trunk and are happy in a large pot. They are
self-fertile so only one plant is needed to
produce fruit.
Tamarillo,treetomato
Cyphomandra
betacea
This enormously productive, short-lived
evergreen shrub supplies fruit through the
late autumn and winter when fruit is scarce.
It is self-fertile, quick growing and will yield a
harvest even in its second year. Plant them in
a sheltered position as the wood is weak and
easily damaged.
Tamarillos can be grown reasonably
reliably from seed although cutting-grown
plants are bushier and therefore more
fruitful. Encourage seedling-grown plants
to branch by removing the apical bud at
about 1 m from the ground to promote
more side growth.
The flowers and fruit are produced on the
current season's wood so shorten back the
branches after harvest by about a third. A
tidy-up of crowded growth every now and
then is all that is needed to let light and air in
to the tree so that it fruits all over, not just at
the tips. Pick the fruit when it is fully
coloured and slightly soft once or twice a week
for the best fruit.
The fruit is carried at the ends of last year's
wood so trim it lightly after harvest to keep
the growth close to the main stem. As they
are so short-lived, take cuttings of your plant
about every three years to act as replacements
for the parent tree in five to six years time.
Figure 9.2
The cherry guava fruits even under adverse
conditions. (Photo courtesy of www.greenharvest.com.
au)
Figure 9.3
The tamarillo or tree tomato provides fruit
when little else is available.
