Do you grow Chilean Guava?

[Thistledew]

aka Ugni Molinae?

Having lost my entire crop of berries to pigeons last year, this year I netted my bush and have a magnificent crop.

I'm just wondering when to harvest them?

This article from the Guardian helpfully says "the trick is in leaving them attached just that little longer than you feel comfortable with".

Wong's pictures seem to show the berries being fully red all over.

My berries still have small patches of pink/white on them, rather than being a deep red all over. They do taste lovely and I would be gutted if they spoiled, but I don't want to take them before they are ready. I live in Greater London, so currently no risk of frost.

Any suggestions as to when I should harvest them, and then any ideas for preserving them would be gratefully received!

[shovetheholly]

Oh my lord, these sound wonderful! I haven't ever grown them myself but desperately want to now but everything seems to suggest that harvesting should be early winter, so patience, patience, patience is in order! I think they should be red all over by the looks of things. The Guardian article you posted suggests that they go completely red and then you leave them just a bit longer. I assume the late harvesting time means that (like things like sloes) the fruits are able to tolerate frost (sounds like the plants might need a bit of protection from the harshest winter weather though).

Do let us know what they taste like when ripe!!

[Thistledew]

The berries taste fantastic- hard to describe as they have a fairly unique flavour but they are lovely and sweet.

I first came across them when DH and I were on honeymoon in Chile and they were growing wild in their temperate forest. We went for a nature walk and the guide pointed them out as good to eat. I was really delighted to buy a bush at the Hampton Court flower show later that year.

I think they are a great garden plant- similar to box in terms of the size, shape and colour of the leaves, but a little looser in structure. They have very pretty white down-turned cup like flowers and then these lovely red berries. I would thoroughly recommend growing one if you find one.

[shovetheholly]

What an amazing place to have a honeymoon! (And what a lovely reminder of it).