I think that Feijoas will do great in San Jose. During several heat waves this summer temperatures in Tracy rose well over 100 F for multiple days, and my Feijoas showed absolutely no ill effects. The fruit is supposed to taste better if it matures in cooler weather, but it’s already cool enough in October and November when most cultivars finally ripen. I would avoid early cultivars that ripen in late August–September. Having at least a couple different varieties is recommended for cross-pollination. Coolidge is self-fruitful and a good pollinator for other varieties, but its taste is described as bland.
1 Like
The pollen is fresh for 2 or 3 consecutive days, day and night, sometime between full opening and the stamens falling off, that is the first obvious sign of flower decline. If the humidity is typically high during one portion of the day, that would be a poorer time to pollinate.
Last summer we had 30 90-degree days in Portland (average is 12 days) and the only effect was watering the plant more often and the crop ripening 3 weeks early.
If the planting area has standing water for entire days, best to use the raised bed. Mine is doing fine in heavy soil with winter puddling.
1 Like
The other effect was that they tasted better.
I’ve seen that video a few times already! Problem is, he doesn’t know the specific cultivar name. I asked a local nursery owner about his standard Feijoa which looks like a tree. He mumbled about it being on a rootstock (which I’m not sure it is) and he’s not sure of the cultivar name either.
Basically I need a tree form feijoa, which grows to 15’+, is self fruitful and tastes good too. So what’s that cultivar? 
Look Bill up in the phonebook. Maybe he’d let you snip some scionwood. Couldn’t hurt to ask.
I don’t know much about varieties, mine are both seedlings. I am pruning mine as a tree by cutting all the lower limbs and not letting it bush out. Also plants want to naturally grow tall if in the shade, mine are in full sun so don’t know how they do in shade.
Bill might let some cuttings go.I visited him to get some Pawpaw and happened to mentioned growing Feijoa near Seattle.He then showed me those plants.The round ones are the fruit I tried and they were delicious.The closest match I came up with is Pineapple Gem,which is described as small, round fruit of good to very good quality,by the CRFG.
I’ve grown a plant from a cutting of my own cultivar,using a misting setup.
Also,CRFG states that the variety,Mammoth,grows to 10 feet and is self fertile and I’ve seen photos of Larry’s plant and the top looks to be taller than the house. Brady
Good, no-nonsense video. Ground harvest is fine, but unless you have a very cushioned surface, the fruit does bruise and those will not store well in the fridge. 30 days in fridge for unblemished fruit is no problem, quality holds up fine. Fruit can be picked from the bush, those that are ready will come off with little effort, no need for a hard tug. The fruit should give a little when pressed–leave hard fruits alone. They will continue to ripen indoors.
I always give mine summer water, most web info recommends this.
15 degrees is the magic temperature; below this next year’s flower structures will be damaged. Below 25 degrees there will be leaf loss.
I have been sent photos from Florida of feijoa raised at the nursery as a standard. All the plants I have seen fall into two categories: Sprawling (like mine) or those with acutely-angled branches and those would make the best tall standard or hedge. My plant is over 10 feet in all directions (taller than the roof gutters) and must be pruned yearly to keep it that small. On the other hand, most of the bushes I see around are very slow growing and most people who were expecting fruit remove them.
1 Like
Hi Larry
All varieties of Feijoa blooming the same time? Had you ever not handed pollinating and still having fruits? I plant only Coolidge which is self fertile do you think should I buy an other one for pollinating? Thank Larry.
Like most fruiting plants, there are early, mid-season, and late-season varieties. My plant has fruited well in areas hard to reach and therefore not hand-pollinated. Cross-pollination often leads to heavier crops. I have been lucky with this one plant; normally I do not like to rely on a single plant long-term.
2 Likes
Hello, new to this site but been growing One Green World varieties of Feijoas in McMinnville, Oregon for 6 years. Got first fruit last year. I just read they like lots of water just before fruiting. Last summer was so dry and I did not water, gone a lot . This year I’m watering more this summer and will continue in to fall.
Where can I get Albert’s Pride,Albert’s Supreme or Albert’s Joy varieties?
1 Like
For watering purposes of these plants in our region (NW Oregon), “just before fruiting” includes from peak blossom (late June) to fruit sizing up (early October). I water weekly with a sprinkler (2+ hours) all summer.
2 Likes
Larry, do u have a nursery here in Portland and sell guava plants?
1 Like
We have a Coolidge guava and are lookin for another variety
1 Like
I’m not Larry,but One Green World is in Portland.They carry Nikita and Mammoth,among others,that are known for fairly early ripening fruit.bb
4 Likes
Ok, cool. I will check them out. Thank u!
2 Likes
Hi,
I know spring is the best time to plant fruit trees into the ground in general, but does anyone know if it’s ok to plant these feijoa right now (fall) in Portland, OR? Thanks in advance!
1 Like