How to plant guapple

Guapple is a non-seasonal or everbearing variety with an extra large size fruit which attracts some people from Negros province. It weighs an average of 400 to 1000 grams per fruit. It produces thich and white fleshed fruit but with bland taste. However, this variety is crispy in flesh texture

 

The tree excels most other fruit trees in productivity, hardness and adaptability. Its tree type is relatively spreading in growth habit with four-angled branches, leaves are opposite, oblong to elliptical in shape with pointed apex and base which are usually rounded and light green in color. This variety was collected from Thailand.

Economic Importance

Fresh fruit is eated raw, a good source of vitamin  C.

Fruits can be processed into jelly, wine guava, jam and preserves.

Decoction of 25 leaves in 2 glasses of water is a good cure for diarrhea , as astringent, mouthwash for swollen gums, antipyretics, reduce fever and anti-spasmodic.

Bark and leaves are used in child-birth to expel the placenta. The bark, is recommended in making complex cosmetics or what seems to be hysteron epilepsy.

Young tender leaves chewed or crushed applied to tooth cavity acts as eugenol for toothaches.

 

Soil and Climatic Requirement

Uave can be grown best in a well-drained clay loam to sandy loam rish in organic matter with pH ranging from 6 to 6.5 and dsplay some tolerance to salnity. Prefers dry climate with well-distributed rainfall throughout the year. Moreover, they are more drought resistant than most tropical fruit trees. Elevation ranging from sea level to 500 feet above sea level.

 

Recommended Cultural Requirement

The soil for the seedbox should be sterilized first by using heat or pouring boiled water. Soil mixture should be 1/3 sand, 1/3 garden soil, 1/3 sawdust humus. Purpose of sterilization is to eliminate organisms found in the soil. Place in desired sizes of seedboxes or in individual small plastic bags.

 

Planting Materials

Fresh seeds should be sun-dried first for a day to break the dormancy period and hasten germination within 15 days.

In asexual propagation, marcotting is done using braches or stem of ½ inch in diameter. When roots appear, cut marcots and plant in plastic bags.

For bud/cleft grafting, when the scion has successfully germinated cut stock and put under the surface. Tend these planting materials under the shades for at least 2 weeks to enhance easy adaptation to environment before planting them in the open field or orchard . Seedlings are ready for transplanting after 6 months when they are 30 cm high.

Guava are open-pollinated and they produce seedlings which are variable in fruit and tree characteristics. Use asexual propagation by marcotting and bud/cleft grafting as planting materials to produce high yield of desirable fruits. Variability in seedlings can be minimized by hand self pollination of individual flowers designated for seed production.

 

Land Preparation

The land should be plowed one followed by two harrowings until excellent condition for planting is attained. For newly opened land, underbrushed branches and twigs should be burned before the holes are dug.

Holes , 2x2x2 feet are dug and refilled with manure or compost. Plant three months old seedling at the onset of the rainy season. The distance of planting is 3mx 3m. A hectare will require 1,111 planting materials.

 

Irrigation

The plants do not need intensive irrigation, but in areas with a longer dry season, the orchard should be irrigated every 5-7 days. This way, trees can be fruitful throughout the year.

 

Cultivation and Weeding

Young trees do not require much cultivation. Weeding and loosening of the soil periphery of its foliage to a depth about 2-3 cm should be done before the time of fertilizer application. Maintain sanitation or clean culture.

 

Prunning

The pinching of terminal buds is necessary as new young leaves start to come out   after planting. The purpose is to initiate more new productive branches.

 

Floweing and Thining

The plants will start flowering as early as eight (8) months from planting.

Some of the young fruits should be removed and thinned retaining only at least five  fruits for a year old tree. The purpose is to produce big fruits weighing one kilo per fruit.

 

Fertilization

The trees should be fertilized with both composed organic manure and inorganic fertilizer manure. It is placed at the bottom of the hole and on the periphery of the roots.

 

Age of plant	Rate	Method of Application
Planting	100-150 grams of complete fertilizer (14-14-14)	Apply 2 in the roots and to sides
Young Trees	200-300 grams	Apply by digging shallow furrow along the periphery of the canopy
Bearing trees	300 grams to 1 kg of complete fertilizer plus 300 gms of 0-0-60 anf 16-20-0	Apply by digging shallow furrow along the periphery of the canopy

 

 

Intercropping

To minimize use of the land , intercropping is highly recommended. Raising annual crops such as vegetables, legumes , ginger, gabi for the first year after planting, give the farmers an additional income from the orchard as well as suppresses the growth of weeds.

 

 

Control of Pests and Diseases

Pests and their control:

Oriental fruitfly- the larvae of the fruitflies burrow through ripe fruits making them unfit for human consumption.

Control : Spray with malathion on a monthly intervals or with Sevin 85 , as directed.

Aphids- these feed on young growth causing curling of leaves.

Control- spray with malathion and Sevin

White flies- these feed on either surface or mature leaves.

Control : Spray with phosphatic insecticide.

 

Diseases and their control

Anthracnose and fruit canker- spotting of fruits and leaves.

Control: spray with fungicides (copper zinc or Bordeaux mixture, benlate) remove all affected fruits and burn.

 

Harvesting

Harvest when the preferable market weight is about 300-500 grams per fruit, It is done by pulling the fruits from the twig. A matured fruit of this variety weigh 1,000 grams.

 

Production

The tree on its first year fruiting can yield about 15 kilos weight which cost 15.00 pesos per kilo. On the second year 45 kilos and succeeding year about 60 kilos and more.

For 200 trees, it can gross around 140,00 pesos per year and the cost of production for 35,000 pesos per hectare covering the expenses on  the cost of seedlings, water system, labor fertilizer , insecticide, fungicide, weeding and others.

Source:  Agriculture and Fisheries Information Services manual

Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture