When to Plant Chilean Guava in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
Jump to section
This Chilean Guava guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar to Apr
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Chilean guava, also sold as strawberry myrtle or Tazzberry, is a small evergreen shrub about 1 to 1.5 m with aromatic red berries (Daleys, Diggers).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar P
- Apr P
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Diggers says it is drought tolerant once established, but Daleys buyers lost plants to heat and hot wind in SA and WA. Plant in autumn into afternoon shade with wind shelter and keep water up. Harvest follows the Daleys listing. (Source: Diggers, Daleys)
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Arid / Semi-Arid zone right now, Chilean Guava included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Chilean Guava in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Good drainage (Daleys).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.6-7.3
- Sunlight
- Full sun or part shade (Diggers); shelter from hot afternoon sun and wind (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Hot west facing walls, Windy exposed sites, Other rust affected Myrtaceae
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Chilean Guava
Recommended Varieties
- Chilean guava, seedling or cutting grown (Daleys, Diggers)
Key Challenges
- Heat and wind
- Myrtle rust
- Winter chill in warm districts
Pro Tips
- Afternoon shade
- Wind shelter
- Water while young
Pests and problems for Chilean Guava in Arid / Semi-Arid
Harvesting Chilean Guava
When ready: Berries turn deep red and smell strongly of strawberry.
How to harvest: Pick by hand over several weeks.
Storing and preserving chilean guava
How to keep it
- Freezing. Tray freeze then bag (NCHFP). Keeps: 8 to 12 months.
- Jam. Tested berry jam method, water bath (NCHFP). Keeps: 12 months.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Chilean Guava
When do you plant chilean guava in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Oct
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Apr
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
When should I plant Chilean Guava in Alice Springs?
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Diggers says it is drought tolerant once established, but Daleys buyers lost plants to heat and hot wind in SA and WA. Plant in autumn into afternoon shade with wind shelter and keep water up. Harvest follows the Daleys listing. (Source: Diggers, Daleys)
How do I know when Chilean Guava are ready to harvest?
Berries turn deep red and smell strongly of strawberry.
What are the best Chilean Guava varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Chilean guava, seedling or cutting grown (Daleys, Diggers).
Are chilean guava salt tolerant?
No. Chilean guava are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.