How to Get a Guava Tree to Produce Fruit

Quck answer

To make a guava tree bear fruit, follow these steps:

1. Choose the right variety: Select a guava tree variety that is suitable for your climate and growing conditions.

2. Plant in a sunny spot: Guava trees require full sunlight to thrive and produce fruit. Choose a location with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight.

3. Provide well-drained soil: Guava trees prefer well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure before planting.

4. Water regularly: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply once or twice a week, especially during dry spells.

5. Fertilize regularly: Feed the guava tree with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season. Follow the package instructions for application rates.

6. Prune for shape and airflow: Prune the guava tree to maintain a desired shape and to improve airflow. This helps prevent disease and promotes healthy fruiting.

7. Control pests and diseases: Monitor the tree for pests like fruit flies and diseases like guava wilt. Take appropriate measures to control and prevent them.

8. Be patient: It may take a few years for a guava tree to start bearing fruit. Be patient and continue to provide proper care and maintenance.

By following these steps, you can increase the chances of your guava tree bearing fruit successfully.


Guava trees are small trees with distinctive copper-colored bark that peels off in curls. The fruit is a tropical fruit that is flavorful and has a rich smell when ripe. It can be oval, round, or pear-shaped and is yellow with a soft blush. While native to South and Central America, guava trees have been introduced to warm climates around the world. These trees grow quickly and can start producing fruit within two years of being planted from seed. Guava trees are usually grafted onto specific root stock. Mature trees can produce 100 to 300 fruits in a season and may even have a second bearing in warm climates.

Step 1

Place your guava tree in a sunny location. Sunlight is essential for the tree to have enough energy to flower and bear fruit. Guava trees usually don’t produce fruit for the first few years and may take up to four years to start bearing fruit.

Step 2

Spray your guava tree right before it flowers in the spring. Use a mixture of 25 percent straight urea and a wetting agent. Follow the instructions for the amount of wetting agent to add. Combine this mixture with the recommended amount of water in a hose end receptacle sprayer. Make sure to cover all the surfaces of the branches that produce fruit. Allow enough time for the urea spray to dry before watering or if it rains. The urea spray has been shown to increase the time period of fruit production.

Step 3

Apply a fertilizer high in potassium or potash to increase fruit production and overall tree health. Spread 1 pound of 8-3-9-2 fertilizer around the base of the tree in the root zone and work it in with a trowel or hoe. Guava trees need to be fertilized three to four times a year, with even spacing between applications. However, they should not be fertilized in late fall or winter, except in very tropical areas. Fertilizing in the late season encourages growth and fruiting, which is not suitable for cooler climates and could harm the tree.

Step 4

Allow the tree to dry out for two to three weeks. Restricting water causes the tree to activate its reproductive defense mechanisms, which leads to flowering. After withholding water, trim the branches to stimulate new growth. Remove older wood by cutting it 3 to 4 inches into the branch, just before a growth node or swelling on the wood that will produce new growth. Guava trees will flower and bear fruit on the new green twigs that grow from where you made the cuts.

Step 5

Hand pollinate the flowers. While honeybees usually do most of the pollination of guava flowers, you may need to step in if there aren’t enough bees. Use a small artist’s paintbrush and gently brush the inside of each flower. This helps spread the pollen to all the blooms and fertilizes them so they can produce fruit.

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