When to Plant Chilean Guava in Cairns, Tropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Chilean Guava guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- 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 Tropical
Chilean Guava is not recommended for Tropical.
Daleys lists Chilean guava for warm and cool temperate climates only, and forum growers report it fails where it is too hot. The humid tropics give it no cool season, so we do not list planting months.
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How to Grow Chilean Guava in Tropical 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
Tropical 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 Tropical
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 Cairns?
Daleys lists Chilean guava for warm and cool temperate climates only, and forum growers report it fails where it is too hot. The humid tropics give it no cool season, so we do not list planting months.
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 Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.