Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

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Why every garden needs a banana tree (or three!) A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Bananas

🍌 Why every garden needs a banana tree (or three!)
  • 🍌 Peel this: Banana secrets revealed.

    • The truth about bananas is - Bananas are everyone's favorite snack. Sweet, nutritious, and loaded with potassium. They're great for muscle cramps, post-workout recovery, and quick energy. But did you know you can grow your own bananas, even in a small backyard or container?
  • 🍌Banana Trees (Musa x acuminata) are:

  • 🟡Super easy to grow
  • 🟡Fast-growing and low maintenance
  • 🟡Clumping and self-reproducing
  • 🟡Beautiful and tropical-looking with their big, tropical leaves and showy, exotic flowers

  • 🍌Dwarf varieties fit in tight spaces, and rare types like Red Bananas or the creamy Banana Ice Cream bring flavors you’ll never find at the grocery store. Plus, your own bananas are organic, fresh, and way tastier.
  • 🍌 Start your banana patch today - and enjoy your own homegrown fruit all year long!


🛒 Explore Banana Varieties

📚 Learn more about Banana varieties:

📱Red Leaves, Red Fruit, Real Wow Banana

#Food_Forest #Bananas

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Tuxedo cat planting tropical tree with Sunshine Boosters bag, orange cat waving to kitten with backpack by school bus in sunny garden scene.

🌺 Back to School and Back to Planting – Cats in the Garden

Back to School, Back to Planting – Why August Works for Tropicals

Planting Season Isn't Over Yet

August is still a good month for planting tropicals in warm climates. The soil stays warm enough to push root growth, and late-summer weather gives plants time to settle in before winter. In drier areas, regular watering will keep them moving along just fine.

Tropicals in warm climates aren't usually harmed by cooler Winter weather, but as days get shorter, growth may slow down. This is why planting in late Summer-Fall lets roots grow during this last warm stretch, so the plant enters winter already established.

By spring, those roots are ready to drive new shoots, flowers, and fruit. There's no lost time to transplant shock - plants can get straight to blooming and fruiting earlier in the season.

August Planting FAQ

How can heat be prevented from harming new tropicals?

Water in the morning so plants start the day hydrated. Warm soil is good for root growth, but don't let it dry out.

How should new plants be protected from strong sun?

For the first couple of weeks, use a shade cloth or even a white bed sheet to soften midday sun and prevent leaf scorch.

What fertilizer works best for planting in summer heat?

Controlled-release types are best. We use professional grade Green Magic. You may pair it with Sunshine Boosters for steady, gentle feeding through the warm months.

Which tropicals grow best when planted in August?

Most tropical plants do well when planted in warm end-of-summer conditions, including Mango, Avocado, Guava, Jackfruit, Annona, Bananas, Orchid Trees, Jasmines, Allamanda and most of flowering trees, shrubs and vines.

Can tropical trees planted in August produce fruit next year?

Many can, especially fast growers, since they have established roots by the time spring growth begins.

How can tropicals be kept healthy when planting in August?

Mulch around the base to help prevent soil from drying out too quickly. Water deeply in the morning to help plants handle the heat.

Shop Flowering trees

Shop Fruit trees and edibles

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A banana with no bananas? Scarlet red flowers of Musa coccinea. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

A banana with no bananas? Scarlet red flowers of Musa coccinea

Musa coccinea, Scarlet Banana

🔥 A banana with no bananas? Scarlet red flowers of Musa coccinea.
  • 💃 Musa coccinea, Scarlet Banana, is a small tropical plant from China and Vietnam that grows like a banana but doesn’t bother with fruit you can eat. Instead, it puts out tall, upright spikes of red bracts with yellow flowers tucked inside - like a torch made of petals.
  • 💃 Each stem flowers once and then fades, but new shoots keep popping up from the base, so the plant just keeps going. The leaves are classic banana style: big, dark green, and glossy.
  • 💃 You’ll see the flowers in summer, and they last a long time - bright, strange, and impossible to ignore. The plant stays compact, does well in pots, and even the fruit (small and orange) adds a weird touch. It's one of those plants that doesn't try to fit in.


🛒 For fans of strange plants

📚 Learn more:

#Nature_Wonders #Container_Garden #Bananas

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Five best tropical fruits to naturally boost your energy. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Five best tropical fruits to boost your energy

Five best tropical fruits to boost your energy

⚡️ Five best tropical fruits to naturally boost your energy

How to boost your energy without coffee, or taking medications and supplements? Naturally - from your #Food_Forest! These 5 tropical fruits are not only delicious but packed with nutrients that support natural, sustained energy.
  • 🔥 Banana - Packed with vitamin B6, potassium, and natural sugars, bananas provide a quick yet steady energy boost, perfect for pre- or post-workout fuel.
  • 🔥 Mango - Rich in natural sugars and B vitamins, mangoes help convert food into usable energy while also supporting digestion for better nutrient absorption.
  • 🔥 Jackfruit - Loaded with vitamin B1 (thiamine) and complex carbohydrates, jackfruit fuels the body steadily and supports healthy energy metabolism throughout the day.
  • 🔥 Avocado - A powerhouse of monounsaturated fats, B vitamins, and potassium, avocados help sustain energy levels and promote healthy circulation for optimal vitality.
  • 🔥 Macadamia Nut - Loaded with thiamine (B1) and healthy fats that support nervous system function and long-lasting energy without blood sugar crashes.


📚 Learn more:

🛒 Shop Energy-Boosting Plants for Natural Energy

#Food_Forest #Discover #Remedies #Bananas #Avocado #Mango #Jackfruit

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What banana fits anywhere? Meet the world's smallest banana tree - big flavor in a tiny package. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Banana Truly Tiny

🔥 What banana fits anywhere? Meet the world's smallest banana tree - big flavor in a tiny package
  • Banana Truly Tiny is one of the most in-demand banana plants for collectors, small-space gardeners, and anyone who wants to grow bananas indoors. Here's why:
  • World's Smallest Banana Plant: As the name suggests, it’s the most compact edible banana variety. It grows just 2-3 feet tall, making it perfect for apartments, balconies, or desktops.
  • Edible Mini Bananas: Yes, it produces real, sweet, snack-sized bananas - not just an ornamental plant! The fruit is delicious and just the right size for kids or snacking.
  • Perfect for Containers: Its dwarf size makes it ideal for pots. You don’t need a yard or greenhouse - just a sunny window or patio.
  • Cute, Decorative, and Functional: It’s both a conversation piece and a fruit producer. Great for gifts, collectors, and home décor.
  • Indoor-Friendly: One of the few banana plants that thrives indoors with good light and care. It also stays manageable and won’t outgrow your space.
  • Fast-Growing and Fun: Like other bananas, it grows quickly and is exciting to watch - perfect for kids, first-time growers, and anyone who wants a rewarding plant.
  • Why Everyone Wants Truly Tiny? Because it’s the cutest banana plant in the world, and it actually produces fruit! Whether you're a collector or just want something exotic and productive in a small space, Truly Tiny is in a league of its own.


🛒 Get Truly Tiny - the cutest banana you'll ever grow!

📚 Learn more about #Bananas

#Food_Forest #Container_Garden #Discover

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How to double your banana crop without extra space. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Banana Double Mahoi

🍌 How to double your banana crop without extra space
  • 🍌 Double Mahoi - is a Cavendish banana variety that typically produces a double stalk of bananas in its second year, boosting the harvest. It is one of the most popular banana varieties for home growers - and for good reason! Here's what makes it so great:
  • 🍌 Double the Fruit: After the first fruiting, this variety often produces a second flower stalk - two harvests from one plant, which is rare among bananas.
  • 🍌 Heavy Producer: Known for large, dense bunches of sweet, dessert-type bananas. One plant can produce up to 100 bananas per cycle!
  • 🍌 Dwarf Size: Grows only about 6 to 8 feet tall, making it perfect for smaller yards, containers, or even patios.
  • 🍌 Tasty Fruit: The bananas are sweet, soft, and flavorful, similar to the classic Cavendish but often fresher and more satisfying.
  • 🍌 Self-Pollinating & Reliable: Easy to grow, doesn't need another plant to fruit, and performs well with basic care.
  • 🍌 Great for Containers: Compact growth and fast fruiting make it ideal for container growing - even indoors with enough light.
  • 🍌 Fast Fruiting: Can begin producing in 12-18 months under good conditions.
  • 🍌 Why everyone wants Double Mahoi Banana? Because it's the most productive dwarf banana for home gardens. You get lots of fruit, it doesn't take up much space, and you can grow it in almost any warm climate - or in a pot anywhere else. Double Mahoi is the go-to banana for gardeners who want reliable harvests in a small footprint.


🛒 Grow twice the Bananas - plant Double Mahoi

📚 Learn more about #Bananas

#Food_Forest #Discover

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Which Banana has red fruit and leaves? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Banana Bordelon

Which Banana has red fruit and leaves?
  • 💃 Banana Bordelon - Red Leaves, Red Fruit, Real Wow!

    • Not just leaves - this banana bears red fruit too!
  • 💃 Banana Bordelon is a show-stopping ornamental AND edible HARDY banana that gardeners love for its bold look and surprising resilience.

    • Here's why it's in high demand:
  • 💃 Striking Red-Striped Leaves: The main attraction is its dramatic foliage - large green leaves boldly striped with deep red. It instantly adds a tropical, exotic flair to any garden.
  • 💃 Tall and Impressive: Grows 10-15 feet tall, making it a fantastic focal point or privacy screen in warm climates.
  • 💃 Hardy for an Ornamental: Despite its tropical look, 'Bordelon' is more cold-tolerant than many bananas. With protection, it survives mild winters and can even flower and fruit in zone 8b and up.
  • 💃 Flowers and Fruits: It's not just eye candy. With proper care and winter protection, Bordelon produces deep purple flowers and striking red fruit - a rare and beautiful bonus in ornamental bananas.
  • 💃 Native Charm: Originally discovered in Bordelonville, Louisiana, it's adapted to Southern gardens and thrives in warm, humid conditions.
  • 💃 Why everyone wants Bordelone Banana? Because it's both beautiful and tough. Bordelon brings color, height, and a tropical vibe to any landscape - and unlike many ornamentals, it can survive a chilly season and still reward you with vibrant foliage, flowers, and fruit. It’s perfect for collectors, Southern gardeners, and anyone who wants bold impact with low maintenance.


🛒 Bring home Bordelon: the Banana that paints your garden RED!

📚 Learn more about #Bananas

#Food_Forest #Discover

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Why everyone wants Banana Lakatan? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Banana Lakatan (Lacatan)

🍌 Why everyone wants Banana Lakatan?
  • 🌟 Banana Lakatan (also spelled Lacatan) is one of the most sought-after banana varieties for several great reasons:
  • 🌟 Incredible Flavor: Lakatan is famous for its rich, sweet, and creamy taste. It has a fuller banana flavor than most commercial types, making it a favorite for eating fresh.
  • 🌟 Deep Yellow to Orange Flesh: The vibrant color of the fruit is a sign of its high beta-carotene (Vitamin A) content - great for eye health and immunity.
  • 🌟 Soft, Dessert-Like Texture: Unlike fibrous store-bought bananas, Lakatan bananas are smooth and velvety, almost like banana pudding in a peel.
  • 🌟 Fast Fruiting: It's a vigorous grower that can produce fruit in as little as 9-12 months under warm conditions.
  • 🌟 Highly Nutritious: Rich in potassium, vitamins A, C, and B6 - Lakatan is both a treat and a health boost.
  • 🌟 Premium Status: In the Philippines and much of Southeast Asia, Lakatan is considered the top-quality banana, often more expensive and prized over all others.
  • 🌟 Why Grow It? Because you can't buy this flavor in stores. Lakatan fruit doesn’t ship well - it's too soft and sweet for commercial export. That's why growing your own is the only way to enjoy its true taste.


🛒 Grow your own Lakatan and experience the banana everyone’s talking about!

📚 Learn more about #Bananas

#Food_Forest #Discover

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Is Blue Java Banana really blue? Great question! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Ice Cream (Blue Java) Banana - Musa balbisiana x Musa acuminata

🍌 Is Blue Java Banana really blue? Great question!
  • 🔵 The Blue Java Banana, also known as the Ice Cream Banana, really does have a blueish tint when the fruit is unripe.
  • 🔵 It's not bright neon blue, but more of a silvery blue-green or frosty blue tone.
  • 🔵 This cool color is especially noticeable under sunlight and is one of the reasons the variety is so eye-catching.
  • 🔵 Once ripe, the fruit turns pale yellow and has a creamy texture with a vanilla-like flavor, hence the nickname "ice cream banana."


🍌 Ice Cream (Blue Java) is a cold-tolerant hybrid of Musa balbisiana and Musa acuminata, vigorous banana growing 10-15 feet tall and producing 40-60 lb bunches of stout, bluish-skinned fruit with sweet, vanilla-flavored, cream-like flesh that can be eaten raw or cooked.

🆒 Banana #Fun_Facts
  • 🟡Bananas are rich in potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure and supports heart health.
  • 🟡They provide a quick source of energy and are great for post-workout recovery.
  • 🟡The fiber in bananas aids digestion and promotes gut health.
  • 🟡Eat them fresh, add to smoothies, bake into breads and desserts, or use in various savory dishes.
  • 🟡Rubbing the inside of a banana peel on mosquito bites can reduce itching and swelling.


🛒 Blue bananas exist - and you can grow them!

📚 Learn more:
About #Bananas
What are the best varieties of edible Banana and which one should I plant?

#Food_Forest #Bananas

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