282 MANUAL OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 



Like other species of Psidium, the strawberry guava succeeds 

 on a wide variety of soils. A rich sandy loam seems to suit 

 it best, but it grows well on red clay and on adobe. It is not 

 quite so successful on shallow sandy soils. The mature plant 

 withstands severe frosts without serious injury; temperatures 

 of 22 above zero have not killed it. A dry climate suits it 

 better than a moist one, if the soil is irrigated with reasonable 

 frequency. It is fairly drought-resistant. 



Young plants 12 inches high may be set in the open ground 

 in the positions they are to occupy permanently. They may 

 be spaced 10 X 10 feet in California, but in the tropics, and on 

 rich soil, they should be somewhat farther apart. They 

 require the same cultural treatment as the tropical guava. 

 During the first few years the plants retain a compact bushy 

 form ; later they may develop trunks and become small trees. 

 They need very little pruning. 



Propagation is usually by seed, which method is more satis- 

 factory with the strawberry guava than it is with many other 

 of the fruits here discussed, since there is less variation among 

 seedlings. Particularly choice varieties cannot, however, be 

 propagated by this means. Cuttings are sometimes grown, 

 and the species may be budded in the same manner as Psidium 

 Guajava. Seeds are germinated as in that species. 



The plants come into bearing very early and should pro- 

 duce a few fruits the second or third year after planting. Their 

 growth is slow; hence good crops cannot be expected until 

 the plants are five or six years old. The season of ripening in 

 Florida and California is from August to October. 



The strawberry guava suffers much less from the attacks of 

 insect parasites than does the tropical guava. As a garden 

 plant in California and Florida it has thus far been subject to 

 few pests. 



No horticultural varieties have as yet been established. The 

 seedling race or botanical variety lucidum, known as the Chinese 



