Why you should plant this one type of fruit tree (and not others)

Fruit trees. Consider planting a guava tree. Make sure it’s a tropical guava (Psidium guajava) and not a pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana) or a strawberry guava (Psidium callleianum). The latter two species are ornamental (especially the pineapple guava, which even has sweetly edible flower petals), but their fruit is not as succulent or as reliably produced as that on topical guava trees. Tropical guava fruit ripens on or off the tree, but for maximum sweetness, it is best to leave it on the tree until ripening is complete. In this respect, the fruit is similar to tomatoes, where “vine-ripened” crops are generally sweeter than those that ripen after being picked. Tropical guava fruit is also notable for year-round production on the tree. Although it does best when regularly watered, it is more drought tolerant than most other tropical fruit trees. Finally, as a member of the myrtle family, its bark is attractively mottled and smooth to the touch. Several varieties of tropical guava are available at Papaya Tree Nursery in Granada Hills (papyatreenursery.com).

Vegetables. Plant rutabaga seeds now. Rutabaga is a root crop that is a cross between a cabbage and a turnip. Rutabagas grow best in cool weather and their large roots will be ready for harvest three months after seeds are planted. Rutabagas grow wild in Russia and Scandinavia and the name of the crop combines two Swedish words — rot (root) and bagge (lump). Indeed, this lumpy root grows up to six inches in diameter although it is more tender and tasty when half that size. Rutabagas may be consumed raw when their flavor is that of a carrot only not as sweet. Alternatively, they may be cooked, after which they become sweeter with a potato-like flavor.

Herbs. A lifetime supply of bay leaves is available to anyone who plants sweet bay (Laurus nobilis), a widely available plant that can be found in the herb section of any nursery. The garland of leaves that victorious Greek athletes and Roman emperors wore as a crown came from this Mediterranean plant, which explains the origin of its species name: nobilis. Bay leaves used for cooking are dehydrated, shrunken versions of those growing on garden plants. Sweet bay is quite versatile in the garden, whether as a 30- to 40-foot tall specimen tree, an 8- to 10-foot high, informal hedge, or a 3- to 4-foot low, formal hedge. It also makes an attractive container plant, whether outside on the patio or indoors. Inland, it grows best in morning sun and will burn if given a hot, southwestern exposure. It has rather dense foliage and may attract scales if it is not thinned out on a regular basis. Clusters of golden yellow flowers are a decorative bonus.

Ornamentals. Now is the time of year when one-inch spherical, slightly bumpy fruit appears on the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo). It will take 12 months to ripen, changing from yellow to red. While the fruit is edible, it is insipid. This explains its species name of unedo, a combination of the Latin unum edo, meaning “I eat (edo) only one (unum).” Although the species grows to a height of 35 feet, there are compact and dwarf varieties that are far more manageable. Compacta reaches only 10 feet tall, while Oktoberfest reaches 6-8 feet, and Elfin grows no more than 5 feet in height. By contrast, the highly ornamental Marina strawberry tree (Arbutus cv. Marina) grows up to 50 feet while displaying smooth red bark and pink flowers year round.

Grow bags are increasingly utilized as a convenient way of cultivating containerized vegetable plants and fruit trees in a manner that enhances their health and productivity. Grow bags are most popular in 15- and 20-gallon sizes, although sizes all the way down to four-inch pots are now available. The larger-sized bags have handles so that they can easily be moved. This is important for gardeners with small yards or patios where they will want to alter sun exposure as the seasons change and move their bags accordingly. The fact that grow bags allow air to circulate through their fibers is a tremendous boon to growth, especially in the case of woody shrubs or trees, when compared to plastic containers. In a plastic container, roots that reach the sides of the container keep growing in a circular pattern, eventually leading to a root-bound condition that can limit growth or kill a plant outright. With grow bags, roots that reach the sides of the container stop growing so they are never root-bound. When growing vegetables, the constant flow of air to the roots also promotes healthier overall growth and better yields. With grow bags, you get what you pay for. Some fall apart after a year and some last for 10 years. Smart Pot (smartpots.com) is one company you can rely on for its quality grow pots.

Send questions and comments to joshua@perfectplants.com.