Does anyone grow the strawberry guava? I'm trying to get an accurate idea of it's hardiness (or otherwise). The RHS reckon H2, minimum 6C. That's patently nonsense as my plant overwinters in a frost-free spot but nothing like min 6C! A rooted cutting overwintered last year without even that protection, so I'm wondering how far I can push the limits and whether to plant the big shrub outside. I'd be very grateful for any feedback TIA
I grew it from seed a long time ago, I seem to remember it as a leggy type of plant. I over wintered it in a frost free green house, I can't actually remember what I did with the plants in the end. I remember some Mealy fruit which wasn't to my taste so I probably dumped them. I don't even remember doing my, plant out and see what happens, approach, so can't help on hardiness.
Mine's not leggy, it's getting too big to wheel about though I've got a gap in the shrubs around the pool, which is the second most-sheltered spot in the garden, so it's very tempting to give it a go. The fruit are quite nice but take an age to ripen and they're on the small side. A UK nursery site says min -4C which sounds a bit more like it! It's reputed to be allelopathic but as it would be next to a Cistus which are also supposed to suppress other plants they can fight it out between them As I've got a cutting on the go, I think I'll give it a shot.....thanks, @pete
My seed grown plants may have not been the best available for fruit production, it was back in the 80s and not tried it since.
It's supposedly spread by feral pigs in Brazil Let's hope the local wild boar don't take a liking to it! Don't fancy trying to fish one of those out of the pool
Good job I got rid of mine then. There are a few feral pigs around my neighbourhood, the 2 legged variety, and I wouldn't want to attract them. 0
