Strawberry Guava Problem (forum)

Jon_In_Melbourne starts with ...
As you can see, my strawberry guava has spots on nearly all of its leaves - both new and old.

Does anyone have any idea what it might be? It provided some great fruit a few months ago and was looking great. I've had it for about 2 years and it's grown quite well during that time.

I'm in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne and it can be a bit cold but it's done fine the previous 2 winters.

Time: 23rd June 2015 9:43am

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About the Author Jon_In_Melbourne
Melbourne - Eastern Suburbs
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Jon_In_Melbourne says...
Pictures.
Pictures - Click to enlarge
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Picture: 3

Time: 23rd June 2015 9:45am

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About the Author Jon_In_Melbourne
Melbourne - Eastern Suburbs
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Markmelb says...
Dont worry its just the cold doing that - give a small prune back for shape at end of winter - they like that

Time: 23rd June 2015 5:47pm

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About the Author Markmelb
MT WAVERLEY,3149,VIC
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Jon_In_Melbourne says...
Thanks for the headsup Markmelb.

Time: 23rd June 2015 6:13pm

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About the Author Jon_In_Melbourne
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Linton says...
No! It doesn't look right to me. Looking at the close up of the leaves there is definitely something wrong having all those black spots and blemishes. It is not a very healthy plant.

If you have a look at these pictures of my tree taken today you will see that the leaves are all healthy and shiny, no blemishes at all. Further they are loaded with flower buds, these plants really like winter so it's not the time to be pruning and losing all the possible flowers.

It's possible that there might not be enough nutrients left in the pot it is growing in as your plant is a decent size and they are fast growers. I would be inclined to plant it in the ground and see how it goes. I think it would come back quickly then. Cheers!
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Picture: 4

Time: 25th June 2015 3:30pm

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About the Author Linton
Springvale, Vic
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Markmelb says...
yes - your right Linton - looked at mine again and is blemish free - some leaves reddening from the cold - but no blemishes - mine is also pot bound and needs up potting but dont want it to get too big as only need a few fruit to taste anyway - looks more like its had too much sun with too little water over summer - needs to be in ground facing East with afternoon shade or similar spot in a bigger pot with premium pot mix and some saturaide and regular watering over summer as they do wilt when they need a drink.

Time: 25th June 2015 5:54pm

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About the Author Markmelb
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Linton says...
Hi Mark - Strawberry Guava

I think you should be able to keep it in a pot and grow it like bonsai. But since it's a vigorous grower you will probably have to take it out of the pot every 1 or 2 years to prune the roots and refresh the mix like I do with the sapotes.

It will probably need more water and fertiliser being in a pot. I never water my tree or give it fertiliser, even over summer, but it is well established and thrives in the dry sandy soil.

It's never been pruned as I find these trees are naturally very bushy.Plus it's one of the toughest and easiest trees to grow that I have and it's against the fence facing east. Getting too high to reach the fruit now so I might have to lop the top.


Time: 25th June 2015 6:41pm

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About the Author Linton
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Markmelb says...
Yes Linton good idea - will try a root prune but guavas do like a regular top prune - especially Hawaiian or Indians etc types - my first Indian fruit was actually really nice - not strong and slightly juicy so will persist another year or so - have heaps still on the pink hawaiian to ripen :) ps my seedling W Sapote about to flower first time - took only 4 years :)

Time: 25th June 2015 8:16pm

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Jon_In_Melbourne says...
After reading this post, I went outside and took a look under the pot (first time since I planted it) and found... a disc about a 1/2 inch thick made of roots. I could not even get the plant out of the pot, I had to smash the sides with a rubber hammer in order to give the roots a bit of a prune and repotted it into a 50L pot. Gave the tree a bit of a prune too on account of cutting away about 1/4 of its root system.

Here's hoping it will recover back to its normal self.. such a great fruit to eat.

Time: 26th June 2015 2:26pm

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About the Author Jon_In_Melbourne
Melbourne - Eastern Suburbs
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Linton says...
Hi Jon_in_Melbourne

After reading that you had it in the pot for 2 years I suspected it was probably pot bound and that makes it hard to get any nutrients into the soil. I'm fairly sure that the marks on the leaves were due to nutrient deficiency so if you've repotted it now in fresh mix it should soon become healthy again.

I'm curious why you don't just plant it in the ground but perhaps it could get too big. I don't know how big they get but all the ones I've seen growing in my area are more like a large bush than a tree.

Cheers!

Time: 26th June 2015 7:43pm

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About the Author Linton
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Jon_In_Melbourne says...
I only have a small backyard and after the veggie patch, meyer lemon and some type of plum (previous owners planted it), there really isn't any room left.

My wife and I have plans to move from the suburbs to somewhere rural in the future so pots are advantageous in that I'll be able to take some plants with me when we move, otherwise the guava would be at home in the ground to grow as large as it pleases.

Time: 26th June 2015 8:41pm

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Original Post was last edited: 26th June 2015 8:41pm
About the Author Jon_In_Melbourne
Melbourne - Eastern Suburbs
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