Everything You Need to Know About Guava — Care, Propagation & More
Your complete Filipino gardener’s guide to growing, caring for, and harvesting Bayabas — from seed to table.
What Can You Eat?
Discover the edible parts and how Filipinos enjoy this plant in everyday cooking.
Eaten fresh, dipped in salt or bagoong (especially green ones). Sinigang sa bayabas is a classic Filipino sour soup. Leaves are boiled and used as antiseptic wash for wounds and as gargle for sore throat.
Bayabas is deeply embedded in Filipino culture — both as a snack and a folk medicine. Lola's wisdom of using boiled bayabas leaves for wound-washing or post-circumcision baths is passed down through generations. The fruit's distinctive aroma is the smell of Filipino rural childhoods. Sinigang sa bayabas is a regional favorite in many provinces.
Germination Guide
From seed to sprout — here’s what to expect and how to get started.
Planting Instructions
Everything you need to prepare — soil, spacing, depth, and the best Philippine planting months.
Propagation Methods
Learn the best ways to multiply your plants — from seeds to cuttings.
Care Guide
Keep your plant happy and thriving with the right light, water, and nutrients.
Full sun
Drought-tolerant once established; water weekly during dry season
Complete fertilizer 2-3 times per year; avoid over-fertilizing
20-32°C
50-80%
Prune annually to keep tree compact and encourage fruiting; mulch base.
Harvest Guide
Know when and how to harvest for the best yield and flavor.
Fruits turn yellow-green and become fragrant. Some Filipinos prefer green guavas for crunchier texture.
Twist gently; ripe fruits come off easily. Harvest every 2-3 days during peak season.
Common Problems & Solutions
Spot issues early and fix them fast.
Worm-infested fruits
Cause: Fruit fly (Bactrocera) larvae
Solution: Bag fruits with newspaper at thumb size. Hang methyl eugenol or protein-bait fruit fly traps.
Black spots on fruits and leaves
Cause: Anthracnose (fungal)
Solution: Prune infected branches; spray copper-based fungicide; ensure good air circulation.
Curled, distorted leaves
Cause: Aphids or scale insects
Solution: Spray neem oil; introduce ladybugs.
Tree not bearing fruit
Cause: Too young, lack of sunlight, or excessive nitrogen
Solution: Wait 1-2 years for marcotted plants; ensure full sun; reduce nitrogen, add potassium.
Perfect Plant Partners
Plants that grow well together.
