Common but important commercial fruit crop of India. It is native of Central America. It is grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas. It is rich source of Vitamin C and Pectin along with Calcium and Phosphorus. Fourth Most important crop after Mango, Banana and Citrus. It can be grown all over India. Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu are major guava producing states. 

It is a hardy crop. And grows wells in all type of soil from poor, alkaline and ill drained soil. It can grown in soil having pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.5. It gives best results when grown under deep, well drained, sandy loam to clay loam soil. 

Allahbad Sufeda: Dwarf variety with round crown and spreading branches. Fruit is smooth, round and flesh is of white color with pleasant flavor. TSS ranges from 10-12%. Gives average yield of 145kg per Tree.   

Sardar: Also know as L-49. Dwarf variety with spreading branches. Fruit is large in size having rough surface. Flesh is of creamy white, smooth, juicy with rich test. TSS ranges from 10-12%. Gives average yield of 130-155kg per tree. 

Nashik: Fruits are firm with sweet flesh. Fruits are bottle shape. It is suitable for long distance market.

Dharwad: Medium heighted variety with small fruits. Fruits are firm with more seeds.

Dholaka: Tall variety with large fruit and low seed content. Flesh is sweet.

Other state varieties:

Dhareedhar: Medium to large size fruits with round, ovate shape. Fruits are soft seeded.

Chittidar: Popular variety. Fruits are simillar to Allahbad Sufeda variety except these fruits having red dots on skin. Its TSS content is higher than Allahbad Sufeda and L 49 variety.  "

Lalit: Released by CISH, Lucknow. Fruits are medium size and having attractive saffron color. Fruit pulp is firm, pink color with right blend of sugar and acid.  

Shweta: High yielding variety having few soft seeds. TSS of pulp is about 14o Brix. Fruit pulp is of pink color. 

Lucknow Safeda, Mirzapuri Seedless, Red Fleshed

CISH–G–1, CISH-G-2, CISH-G-3

Plough land deeply and then levelled soil for proper growth and yield.

Plants are propagated by budding or Air layering. Sardar variety seeds are tolerant to wilt and can be used for raising rootstock. Extract seed from ripen fruit and sow them in raise bed in August-March. Make raised beds of 2mx1m. When seedling become six months old they are ready for transplantation. Transplanted seedling when attain diameter of 1-1.2cm and height of 15cm they are ready for budding process. May and June months are best for budding process. Freshly cut, angular budwood from current seasons growth is used for budding purpose.  

Time of sowing

February-March or August-September month is optimum time for planting of Gauva.

Spacing

For sowing, use spacing of 6mx6m. For high density planting, use spacing of 3mx2m.  

Sowing Depth

Dug pit of 0.6x0.6x0.6m and for poor soil use pit size of 1mx1mx1m and expose to sun for some days. Then fill the pit with well decomposed cow dung, superphosphate and soil. Plant seedlings in middle of pit.

Method of sowing

Direct sowing or transplanting method.

Training and Pruning is necessary to provide stronge frame work to guava tree. Stronge framework help to support high yield. To maintained the productivity of trees, light pruning at time of first harvesting is necessary. Regulraly remove dead and disease infected branches. Modified leader system of training is followed. Flowers in gauva are borne on current seasons growth so carry out light annual pruning and remove upto 10cm tip, it will encourage new shoots after harvesting.    

Fertilizer Requirement (gm/plant)

Apply half of dose of Urea, SSP and MOP and full dose of cowdung, in month of May-June. Apply remaining half dose of N,P,K in September - October month.

In zinc defficiency is observed in gauva plants, to overcome zinc diffiiciency, take spray of zinc sulphate@1kg + lime mixture@1/2kg in 100Ltr of water for two-three times with interval of 15days. 

To correct boron defficiency, take spray of Borax@2gm/Ltr of water two time in month of July and September. 

After planting, irrigate crop immediately,then irrigate on third day, afterwards irrigate weekly or bi-weekly during first few months after planting. Irrigation is not required to well established orchards. Young plantation required irrigation at weekly interval in summer month and 2-3 irrigation during winter month. Avoid flood irrigation during flowering stage as it leads to excessive flower drop. 

During initial 3-4years, grow vegetable like carrot, okra, brinjal and radish can be taken as intercrop. Also legumes crop like gram, beans can be sown as intercrop.

Weed control is necessary for good crop growth and yield. To keep check on weed growth, apply Gramoxone 6ml/litre of water in March, July and September month. Apply Glyphosate@1.6Ltr/acre as post-emergence when weed growth is active (before weeds flower and attained height of 15-20cm). 200Ltr of water is sufficient to spray one acre land. 

• Pests and their control:

Fruit Fly: It is serious pest of guava. Females lay eggs below epidermis of young fruits. Later on maggots feed on pulp afterward fruits starts rotting and get drop.

If orchards are having history of fruit fly, avoid taking rainy season crop. Do harvesting at right time. Avoid delay in harvesting. Remove and destroyed infested branches, fruits away from field. Take spray of Fenvalerate@80ml in 150Ltr of water at weekly intervals on fruit ripening. Harvest should be done after third day of spraying.

Mealy Bug: They suck sap from different plant parts and thus weaken plant. If infestations of sucking pests like Mealy bug is observed then to control spray with Chlorpyriphos 50EC @300ml/100Ltr of water.

Guava Shoot Borer: It is a serious pest of nursery. Infested shoots get dry up.

If infestation is observed, take spray of Chlorpyriphos@500ml or Quinalphos@400ml in 100Litres of water per acre.

Aphid: Serious and common pest of Guava. Adult and nymphs, both suck the sap thus weaken the plant. In severe infestation, they cause curling and deformation of young leaves. They secrete honey dew like substance and Sooty, black mould is developed on affected parts.

If infestation is observed to control takes spray of Dimethoate@20ml or Methyl Demeton@20ml per 10Ltr water on new flush.

• Diseases and their control:

Wilt: Serious disease of Guava crop. Yellowing, wilting of leaves along with defoliation are symptoms of wilt infestation.

Keep field well drained; avoid water logging condition in field. Remove and destroyed infected plants away from field. Drench nearby soil with Copper oxychloride@25gm or Carbendazim@20gm/10Ltr of water.

Anthracnose or Dieback: Dark brown or black spots are observed on shoots. On fruits also small, raise, dark spots are observed. Fruits rot completely within 2 to 3days after infection.

Keep field clean, destroyed infected plant parts, fruits also avoid water logging condition in soil. After pruning take spray of Captan@300gm in 100Ltr water. At fruit set repeat the spray of Captan and continue till fruits get mature with interval of 10-15days. If infestation observed in field take spray of Copper oxychloride@30gm/10Ltr on infected trees.

Within 2-3years after planting, plants comes to bearing. Harvesting to be done when fruits get mature. On maturity, fruits changes color from dark green to greenish yellow. Do harvesting at proper time and avoid over-ripening of fruits as it deteriorate quality and test.

After harvesting, carry out cleaning, grading and packing operations. As gauva is perishable fruits, it should be marketed immediately after harvest. For packing use CFB, corrugated fibre boxes or bamboo baskets of different size. Use dry grass, guava leaves, paddy straw or rough paper as cushioning material.