Guava - Small Beetroot
Psidium guajava (beetroot variety)
Common Names: Beetroot Guava, Red Guava, Pink Guava, Lal Amrood
Local Name: Sivappu Koiya (Tamil), Lal Amrood (Hindi)
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Central America; beetroot variety selected in India
Plant Type: Perennial evergreen tree
Variety: Beetroot — small to medium fruit with deep red-pink flesh, intense flavour
Average Lifespan: 25–40 years
🌿 Botanical Description
| Growth Habit | Compact to medium-sized evergreen tree; productive and hardy |
| Plant Size | 3–6 meters tall; canopy 3–5 meters wide |
| Leaves | Opposite, oblong-elliptic, 8–12 cm long, dull green with prominent veins; aromatic |
| Flowers | White, 4–5 petaled, 2–3 cm across with numerous stamens |
| Flower Characteristics | Fragrant; attract bees; bloom on new growth |
| Fruit | Small to medium round fruit, 80–150g; thin skin, deep red-pink flesh with intense sweet-tart guava flavour |
| Fruit Color | Green-yellow skin; deep beetroot-red to dark pink flesh |
| Seed Characteristics | Numerous small hard seeds in central cavity; edible |
| Root System | Shallow to moderately deep fibrous root system |
☀ Growing Conditions
| Climate | Tropical to warm subtropical; frost-sensitive |
| Temperature Range | 20–35°C ideal; tolerates brief frost to −2°C |
| Rainfall Requirement | 800–2000 mm annually; drought-tolerant once established |
| Soil Type | Adaptable; well-drained loamy soil preferred; tolerates poor soils |
| Soil pH Preference | 5.0–7.0 |
| Sun Requirement | Full sun (6+ hours daily) |
| Spacing | 4–5 meters between trees |
| Irrigation Method | Drip or basin irrigation; regular during fruiting |
| Water Requirement | Moderate; drought-tolerant but fruits better with regular water |
| Can it Grow in Pots? | Yes, in 25–30 liter pots; compact size suits containers |
🌾 Cultivation & Care
| Fertilizer Schedule | Every 2–3 months during growing season |
| Recommended Organic Fertilizers | FYM, vermicompost, neem cake, bone meal |
| Pesticide Frequency | Monitor regularly; fruit bagging recommended |
| Recommended Organic Pesticides | Neem oil, fruit fly traps, pheromone traps |
| Mulching Practice | Organic mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds |
| Training System | Open center system; maintain good air circulation |
| Pruning Time | After harvest; tip-prune to induce new fruiting shoots |
| How to Prune | Tip-prune for branching; remove water sprouts and dead wood; thin fruit for quality |
| Common Pests | Fruit fly, guava moth, mealybug, bark-eating caterpillar |
| Common Diseases | Guava wilt, anthracnose, fruit rot, algal leaf spot |
| Disease Prevention & Remedies | Good drainage, resistant rootstock, copper fungicide, remove infected parts |
🌸 Flowering & Fruiting
| Flowering Months | Year-round in tropics; main flush in rainy season |
| Fruiting Season | Year-round; peak in winter (India) for best quality |
| Days to Harvest | 90–120 days from flowering |
| Harvest Indicators | Skin turns yellowish-green; fruit softens slightly; strong guava aroma |
| Average Yield per Plant | 20–50 kg per tree per year |
| Pollination Type | Self-fertile; insect-pollinated |
| Pollination Notes | Bees are primary pollinators; self-fertile |
🌱 Pollination & Propagation
| Pollination Details | Self-fertile; bees and wind assist pollination |
| Propagation by Seeds | Seeds germinate in 2–4 weeks; seedlings may not be true-to-type |
| Propagation by Cuttings | Air layering preferred; stem cuttings with rooting hormone |
| Propagation by Grafting | Veneer grafting on seedling rootstock for true-to-type plants |
💧 Environmental Impact & Sustainability
| Water Usage | Moderate; drought-tolerant once established |
| Soil Conservation Practices | Root system holds soil; mulching prevents erosion |
| Organic Practices Used | Fruit bagging, organic fertilization, biological pest control |
| Companion Plants | Leguminous cover crops, marigolds, herbs |
| Biodiversity Benefits | Flowers support pollinators; fruit feeds birds |
💰 Economic Importance
| Commercial Production Regions | India (Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar), Southeast Asia, Brazil |
| Market Uses | Fresh fruit, juice, processing |
| Processing Uses | Juice, nectar, jam, jelly, guava cheese, dried guava; red flesh preferred for processing |
| Market Value (Approx.) | ₹40–120 per kg; red-fleshed varieties command premium for processing |
🌿 Cultural Significance
| Symbolism | Guava is called "apple of the tropics"; red varieties symbolize health and vitality |
| Traditional Uses | Guava leaf tea widely used in Ayurveda and folk medicine; fruit eaten fresh as common street food |
🍈 Nutritional Information
| Calories | 68 kcal per 100g |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.4 g per 100g |
| Vitamin C | 228 mg per 100g |
| Vitamin A | 624 IU per 100g |
| Iron | 0.26 mg per 100g |
| Potassium | 417 mg per 100g |
| Antioxidants | Very high lycopene (red flesh — higher than tomatoes), beta-carotene, polyphenols |
| Other Key Nutrients | Folate, manganese, copper, niacin |
🌿 Medicinal Uses
| Anxiety & Sleep | Guava leaf tea has mild calming properties |
| Immune Support | Very high Vitamin C content boosts immunity |
| Anti-inflammatory Properties | Lycopene and leaf extracts show anti-inflammatory effects |
| Heart Health | Lycopene, potassium, and fiber support cardiovascular health |
| Digestive Health | High fiber aids digestion; leaf tea used for diarrhoea and blood sugar management |
Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for medical advice.
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