Description

Acca sellowiana, Feijoa, Pineapple guava – 15 seeds

Common names include feijoa (/feɪˈʒoʊ.ə/, /feɪˈdʒoʊ.ə/, or /feɪˈhoʊ.ə/), pineapple guava, and guavasteen, although it is not a true guava. It is an evergreen, perennial shrub or small tree, 1–7 metres (3.3–23.0 ft) in height, widely cultivated as an ornamental, and for its fruit.

Fruits are very edible… out of hand, juiced, cooked and preserved, freezes well. 2nd tree required for cross-pollinating to get the greatest amount of fruit, fruits a heavy crop every second year…

The Feijoa, or ‘pineapple guava’, is a small sweet green fruit with a flavour unlike any other.

Although the plant is often referred to as pineapple guava it is in fact not actually a guava, however, it is still in the same family.   A species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. It is widely cultivated as a garden plant and fruiting tree.

Originally it is native to the highlands of southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, Uruguay, northern Argentina, and Colombia., the plant itself is an evergreen shrub or small evergreen tree that can grow up to 7 metres tall, and can fruit from mid-autumn to late winter.

The feijoas foliage is of an attractive luscious blue-green on top with a silvery-white on the underside. The plant has beautiful crimson and white flowers which some people have been known to eat due to their sweet flavour. Considering their overall appearance, some people have been known to keep feijoas in pots and even use them for windbreaks and hedges. Plant 2 or more plants in close proximity for the best fruit.

The fruit of a feijoa can come in many shapes, sizes, textures and flavours. They can range from round to oval or pear-shaped and can be gritty, smooth, sweet, subtle and just about anything in between.
The flavour of the fruit, although unlike any other, has often been compared to a tropical fruit salad amongst other things, being both sweet and mildly acidic. The fruit is encased in a green leathery skin containing tiny seeds covered in a soft jelly-like pulp.

How To Grow Feijoas

Although they prefer cooler weather, feijoas have been known to grow well in varying temperatures including that provided by the tropics. They can tolerate temperatures below 8 degrees Celsius and can also tolerate extreme heat, as long as their soil is kept moist.

Plant the seeds about 1.5 cm below the surface in soft soil after the last frost, and make sure that they are well watered. When the seeds break the soil, water regularly to keep the soil damp, but avoid soggy soil. The soil should be moisture-retaining well-drained, and rich in nutrients and organic matter.
A pH of 6.1 – 7.5 is usually preferred, depending on the cultivar used. Soils that are too solid compact will cause roots to bunch up, stunting the plant growth, so make sure that your chosen soil will not compact over time by adding organic matter. Feijoas enjoy full sun to partial shade. Strong winds are not really much of a problem for established plants, and can actually help to strengthen the trunk and branches. Just make sure that when choosing a site, it has suitable soil. If the soil in your chosen site is not suitable, it will need to be excavated with better soil added.

Best of luck.

Fruit makes awesome jam with lime, and great in a fruit salad or eaten fresh – scoop flesh out with a spoon.