I can’t seem to find a thread just dedicated to this amazing fruit aside from the question of which grow best in the south.
So I’ve decided to create one
Pineapple Guava, Feijoa, or Acca Sellowiana according to Britannica
feijoa, (Acca sellowiana), small evergreen tree of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), related to the guava. It is native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and parts of Argentina and is cultivated in mild dry climates for its sweet fruit. The feijoa was introduced into southern Europe in 1890 and into California about 1900. The fruits can be eaten fresh and are made into jam and jelly and also crystallized. The tree is grown as an ornamental in some places.
But according to myself, it’s one of the best unknown fruits to most of the general public in America and I feel it deserves its own hype train. Out of all my different species of fruiting plants, this species has been nearly bulletproof. 0 to no insect or disease pressure and the edible ones taste amazing.
If you’ve never had one or had it before, I highly suggest you get one. They have shallow and small root systems as well so they’re also great in pots if you’re willing to do the plant to garage shuffle during the cold months. Even without light, mine was happy in my unheated garage in 6b. When it started staying above 35 degrees consistently, I stuck mine outside to allow it to wake up with the weather. I know they’re cold hardy down to a lot but my plant was merely a foot tall and i wanted to make sure they would be okay.
Anyways, my opinion: everyone should have at least 2 varieties of this fruiting shrub
I love this fruit and the look of the trees so much that I’m planning on lining about 20 of them along the edges of my home in the full sun areas as well as keeping a few on pots.
Also I didn’t want a region specific thread because some of ya’ll grow them in Cali as well as other southerners states.
And does anyone know of any ways or anywhere to get the Albert varieties outside of the seedlings? I’ve been looking for them but can not find them and am not good at grafting.
Unfortunately this isnt rhe answer you were looking for; but you need to practice grafting. Marta sells scions of them right now, I failed all my grafts on my seedlings last year, but 3/4 took on my mother’s plant that I did. Grafted them the same day with the same technique. It’s worth a shot to try grafting them, worst case scenario you waste $12 an attempt; best case scenario you get these varieties for that price.
Just graft onto your plants, unless you already have names varieties. My yard is small basically everything I have is a multi graft outside of some citrus and the feijoa; but I want to try my feijoa before I graft them. They are just seedlings, but so was every names variety at one point.
I like to keep my plants with just 1 variety on it in general so i know who’s who.
After going over Marta’s blog for the umteenth time, i may buy a bunch of kaiteri and marion to line everything. I’m headed to a few nurseries to check if they have any extra 5+ gallon ones in the a.m.
I already have all the NZ named varieties and some random ones but I’ll be getting extras. To line a side of the house. Thinking of putting figs in front because if someone accidentally runs into them, at least i know i can propagate them quickly to replace or wait for them to pop up from the roots. I’m having someone come by again tomorrow to clear out more of the front. Will probably have him stop by twice a month to clear out everything little by little because he’s affordable. Planning on getting and putting at least 10 of them in ground this winter/spring.
I’m just outside of DC in zone 7b
Love this shrub
Have several named varieties and have been impressed with the cold hardiness
It hasn’t been bothered by pests yet
I’m also pleased that deer leave it alone at least so far
Anyone had issues with squirrels or raccoons getting the fruit? I haven’t seen this yet…but sometimes they learn to eat new things?
I’m in 7b
Mine are only protected by mulch at the base
We had mild winters until this one but so far they look ok.
My guess is that they would be ok if relatively protected from harsh cold wind and had good mulch at the base. And of course well established before winter
Well… Maybe I’ll try it then! Sounds more promising than a Hardy loquat. Are there any varieties that are hardier or more well suited to 8a east coast? I’ve only had the fruit in compote, but it tasted great!
I’ve got Kaiteri (Wanderlust Nursery) and Kakariki (Restoring Eden) in pots, just got them a few months ago. They seem fine outside in 27F low temps.
Also got several dozen seedlings from fruit I’ve got at nearby grocery stores. Did the moist paper towel in zip lock bag and had great success. Also tried direct sowing in a pot that I kept in my garage and brought outside for the sun in my mini greenhouse. Those sprouted as well. Accidentally left them outside overnight with 28F temps and they were unphased.
I planted 2 seedlings in the ground and left one in the pot last year. I figure if they can survive outdoor the next couple of years then I will try to graft named varieties to them. We had several nights down in single digit so this winter will be a harsh test for them, I only wrap clear plastic around them to protect from the wind. I would love to taste them but alas I haven’t found any grocery stores around here in Northern VA that has them, including Asian stores.
It got shown to 20 degrees over where I’m at and my plants are still sitting pretty. They’re skinny too, some at least. Even the stick i stuck that broke off seems to be chillin
Yan is an Armenian company that produces jams, fruit drinks, etc… with Feijoa. You could try Eastern European food stores. I’ve seen this brand in Asian stores as well. I bought their Cornelian Cherry jam and it’s fantastic, but a slight issue, it contains pits. I’ve seen fresh fruit at both Asian and Eastern European stores.
Thanks, but I would prefer my first taste of a new fruit to be fresh and not preserved. I think any additives would probably change the inherent taste/flavor of a fresh fruit somewhat.
I’m looking forward to trying to grow this shrub! Had heard very little about it until this fall/winter but it sounds very interesting! I’ve ordered in seeds so hopefully I’ll have rootstock to graft next year. What are y’all finding the average time from seed to fruit ungrafted?
I stuck a bunch of broken sticks into the pots for them. If successful, you can have one
I’ve heard 3-4 years if i recall correctly. They fruit quickly which is great. The 1 year grafted plants fruit within a year under optimum conditions and will hold fruit as well. I’ve had mine hold a few fruit during their 1st year as grafts. They were pretty good too!
I’ve seen fresh fruit at both Asian and Eastern European stores.