Editing Guava (section)

== Origin and distribution ==
Guavas originated from an area thought to extend from Mexico, Central America or northern South America throughout the Caribbean region.<ref name=morton /><ref name="cabi">{{cite web|title=''Psidium guajava'' (guava)|url=http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/45141|publisher=CABI: Invasive Species Compendium|access-date=9 October 2017|date=2017}}</ref><ref name="clement">{{cite book |editor1-last=Prance |editor1-first=Ghillean |editor2-last=Nesbitt |editor2-first=Mark |last1=Clement  |first1=Charles R. |date=2005 |title=The Cultural History of Plants |publisher=Routledge |page=93 |isbn=0415927463}}</ref> Archaeological sites in Peru yielded evidence of guava cultivation as early as 2500&nbsp;BC.<ref name="clement"/>

Guava was adopted as a crop in subtropical and tropical Asia, parts of the United States (Florida and Hawaii), tropical Africa, and Oceania.<ref name=cabi/> Guavas were introduced to [[Florida]], US in the 19th century<ref name=morton /> and are grown there as far north as [[Sarasota]], [[Chipley, Florida|Chipley]], [[Waldo, Florida|Waldo]] and [[Fort Pierce]]. However, they are a primary host of the Caribbean [[Tephritidae|fruit fly]] and must be protected against infestation in areas of Florida where this pest is present.<ref>{{cite book|last=Boning|first=Charles R.|title=Florida's Best Fruiting Plants: Native and Exotic Trees, Shrubs, and Vines|year=2006|publisher=Pineapple Press, Inc.|location=Sarasota, Florida|isbn=1-56164-372-6|page=99}}</ref>

Guavas are cultivated in several tropical and [[subtropical]] countries.<ref name="morton" /><ref name=cabi/> Several [[species]] are grown commercially; apple guava and its [[cultivar]]s are those most commonly traded internationally.<ref name=morton /> Guavas also grow in southwestern Europe, specifically the [[Costa del Sol]] on [[Málaga]] (Spain) and Greece where guavas have been commercially grown since the middle of the 20th century and they proliferate as cultivars.<ref name=cabi/> Mature trees of most species are fairly cold-hardy and can survive temperatures slightly colder than {{convert|25|F|C|order=flip}} for short periods of time, but younger plants will likely freeze to the ground.<ref name=TAMU>{{cite web|url= http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/citrus/guava.htm |title=  Home fruit production – Guava |publisher= Texas A&M Horticulture Program|author=Sauls JW|date= December 1998|access-date=2012-04-17}}</ref>

Guavas are of interest to home growers in subtropical areas as one of the few tropical fruits that can grow to fruiting size in pots indoors. When grown from seed, guava trees can bear fruit in two years, and can continue to do so for forty years.<ref name="morton" />