Florida Cooperative Extension


Fig. 1.-The Guava, least exacting of all tropical fruits in cultural require-
 ments, distinctive in character, free bearing over a long period of time.

 An early explorer1 writes interestingly of the guava: "It bears
an apple more substantial than those of Spain and of greater
weight even when of the same size. And it contains many seed,
or more properly speaking, it is full of small, hard stones, and to
those who are not used to eating the fruit these stones are some-
times troublesome, but to those familiar with it, the fruit is beau-
tiful and appetizing. Some are red within, others white, and per-
sons who are accustomed to it esteem it as a very good fruit, much
better than the apple."
 Of the common guava, the pear-shaped and round types repre-
sent two of the many varieties found in Florida. The pear-shaped
forms are often called pear guavas and the round ones apple
guavas. The varieties to be grown should be chosen carefully as
there is a marked difference in color, smoothness, size, flavor,
thickness of meat, and degree of acidity. Select the variety for
eating out of the hand, for serving in the fresh state, and for
most cooking and canning purposes, those types which bear large,
 'From "Natural History of the Indies", by Gonzalo Hernandez de Oviedo,
1526.