What is Guava Thinning?
Guava thinning is the strategic removal of some fruits before they reach maturity. This practice allows the tree to expend the same amount of energy on developing fewer fruits, which results in them growing much larger. It also gives them more space to grow, improving air circulation and cutting down on disease and pests.
Do Guavas Need to be Thinned?
Should I thin my guavas? Guava thinning isn’t strictly necessary. After all, guava trees in the wild aren’t thinned, and they do just fine. But guava trees in the wild aren’t trying to produce fruit that’s appealing to humans. Most people would agree that it’s a lot more satisfying to have a smaller number of big, attractive fruits than a larger number of small fruits. It’s also just a little less overwhelming. The overall verdict is that, yes, guava trees really do benefit from fruit thinning.
How to Thin Guava Fruit
Thinning guava fruit isn’t hard. It’s important to thin the fruit, and not the flowers, as you never know which flowers are going to be pollinated successfully. Once the fruit has set, remove some of them by hand. How do you know how many to remove? The best measurement is to thin the fruits so that when they reach maturity, no two fruits will be touching each other. Guava trees are famously productive, so this might take some work. If you keep at it, though, you should be rewarded with a crop of big, exceptional guavas this year.
