Ruby Supreme is a pink-fleshed guava with sweet, fragrant fruit and fewer seeds than many types. It is a low-maintenance, heavy-producing tree for South Florida. (Psidium guajava 'Ruby Supreme')
Shop this plant: Ruby Supreme Guava Plant
Quick Care Summary
- Sun: Full sun for best fruit; tolerates partial shade.
- Soil: Adaptable: sand, limestone, or loam, as long as it drains.
- Watering: Water 2-3 times a week the first months, then weekly.
Sun
Full sun for best fruit; tolerates partial shade.
Soil
Adaptable: sand, limestone, or loam, as long as it drains. Tolerates alkaline soil.
Watering
Water 2-3 times a week the first months, then weekly. Established trees handle drought but fruit better with regular water.
Fertilizer Schedule for South Florida
Balanced fertilizer with minor elements every 2 months March-September for young trees; 3-4 times a year for mature trees.
Pruning
Prune after a main crop to keep it 8-12 ft and encourage new fruiting shoots. Remove root suckers and crossing branches.
Cold Protection
Damaged around 28-30°F. Cover young trees on freeze nights.
Container vs. In-Ground
Grows well in a 15-25 gallon pot with pruning.
Spacing
10-15 ft apart.
Flowering and Fruiting Timeline
Often fruits within 1-2 years. Can bear multiple crops a year with main crops in summer and winter.
Harvest
Pick when the skin turns from green to light yellow-green and the fruit gives slightly and smells sweet. Ripens quickly on the counter.
Common Pests and Diseases
Start with organic, low-impact fixes: good airflow, clean-up of fallen fruit and leaves, and soaps or oils before anything stronger. Always follow label directions.
Caribbean fruit fly
How to identify: Larvae inside ripe fruit.
Organic-first treatment: Bag fruit with paper or mesh bags when small, pick promptly and destroy fallen fruit.
Guava whitefly and scale
How to identify: Sticky leaves with sooty mold; tiny insects underneath.
Organic-first treatment: Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil; prune dense growth.
Anthracnose
How to identify: Dark sunken spots on fruit in wet weather.
Organic-first treatment: Prune for airflow, clean up fallen fruit, copper spray if needed.
Red-banded thrips
How to identify: Leaves turn silver-bronze with black specks.
Organic-first treatment: Hose off and spray neem or insecticidal soap.
FAQ
How many times a year does guava fruit? Often 2 or more crops a year in South Florida.
Does Ruby Supreme need a partner? No, it is self-fruitful.
Why are there worms in my guava? Fruit flies. Bag fruit early.
Related Reading
- Lowest-Maintenance Fruit Trees in South Florida
- Why Too Much Fertilizer Can Hurt Your Fruit Tree
- Cold-Hardy Fruit Trees for Florida Freezes
Ready to grow your own? Get the Ruby Supreme Guava here.
