Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

❓ How to care for your mango tree in winter

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  If you want to enjoy mangoes like ours (in the video) next summer, protecting your tree in winter is a must! Give it the care it needs now, and you'll reap sweet rewards when the warm weather returns.
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  Keep it cozy and protected: Mango trees love warmth, so when winter comes, they need extra care to stay happy.
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  Temperature: Mango trees are sensitive to cold. If temperatures drop below 35F, cover the tree with frost cloth or burlap to protect it. For potted mango trees, move them indoors or to a greenhouse.
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  Watering: Reduce watering during winter. Mango trees don’t like soggy roots in cold weather. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings.
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  Mulching: Add a thick layer of mulch around the base of the tree to insulate the roots and retain warmth. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk.
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  No pruning: Avoid heavy pruning in winter, as it can stress the tree. Besides, pruning promotes young tender growth that may get cold damaged. Save major trimming for spring.
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  Feeding: Stop dry fertilizer in winter. The tree slows its growth, so too much dry fertilizer can do more harm than good. You can continue using Sunshine Boosters Mango Tango year-round because it is water-soluble and natural, and the amount of food needed will adjust with reduced watering.

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What to do with a lot of Jackfruit: Jackfruit BBQ Sliders recipe

Ingredients:

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  · 2 cups ripe jackfruit, shredded (remove seeds)
• · 1 cup barbecue sauce
• · 1 small onion, finely chopped
• · 1 tablespoon olive oil
• · 6 slider buns
• · Optional toppings: coleslaw, pickles

Instructions:

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  · Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and sauté the onion until soft.
• · Add the shredded jackfruit to the pan and cook for 5 minutes.
• · Stir in the barbecue sauce, mixing well to coat the jackfruit. Let it simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• · Toast the slider buns lightly.
• · Pile the jackfruit mixture onto the buns and top with coleslaw or pickles if desired.

💪 These sliders are a tropical twist on a BBQ classic, perfect for casual gatherings!

🛒 Plant your own Jackfruit Tree

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🍌 What to do when you have too many bananas: make Grilled Banana Boats recipe 🚣‍♂️

😘 Ingredients:

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  · 2 ripe bananas
• · 2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips
• · 2 tablespoons shredded coconut
• · 2 tablespoons chopped nuts (e.g., pecans or almonds)
• · Aluminum foil

🏄‍♂️ Instructions:

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  · Slice each banana lengthwise down the middle, but don’t cut all the way through - leave the peel intact to form a "boat."
• · Gently open the banana and stuff with chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and nuts.
• · Wrap each banana in aluminum foil.
• · Grill over medium heat (or bake in the oven at 375°F) for 10–12 minutes, until the banana is soft and the chocolate is melted.
• · Carefully unwrap and serve warm, optionally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

👌 This fun dessert is easy to make and highlights banana's natural sweetness!

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🍉 What is your favorite Guava variety?

Our top pick? Tikal Guava!

Okay, we'll admit it - the tree growth habit can be pretty weird: branches grow at some interesting 90-degree angles, giving it a bit of a wild, chaotic vibe. Think Barbados Cherry bush - if you've seen that unruly spectacle! 😰

But let's focus on what really matters: the fruit. Tikal produces the best pink guava, no contest! It is disease-resistant, fast-growing, super sweet, and boasts very few seeds - huge bonus! Plus, Tikal is a reliable producer, making it perfect for beginners or anyone eager for quick, delicious results. 🌟

• 
  🛒 Order Tikal Guava

📚 More about Guavas from previous posts:

• 💋 What Guava variety is the best for Guava Wine
• 💋 How to grow guava tree for Juice
• 💋 The most wanted collectible Honey Moon Guava
• 💋 Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #2. Guava
• 💋 Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #1. Guava
• 💋 Costa Rican Cas Guava
• 💋 Guava for Drinking
• 💋 Guava for Juicing
• 💋 Pineapple Guava

🛒 Shop more Guava varieties

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🍍 We ate all pineapples from that ugly corner!

All the Pineapples that we mentioned in our earlier post, have ripened and we already ate them all!
Note that this amazing fruit grows in the most neglected corner of the yard, with NO irrigation, and in pretty hot sunny spot - by the water treatment tank. Yet look how happy the plants are!

📚 Learn more about pineapple plants from previous posts:
The most luscious Hospitality Fruit: Pineapple
Three must-have fruit for every tropical garden

🛒 Select Pineapple varieties

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🍨How to harvest and eat Monstera Ice Cream

• 🍀 Monstera deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant - is a stunning jungle climber from Mexico and Guatemala celebrated for its dramatic, perforated leaves and delectable tropical fruit.
• 🍀 Known for its large, fenestrated leaves with oblong or oval perforations, giving it the nickname "Swiss Cheese Plant."
• 🍀 In its natural habitat, seedlings grow toward darkness until they locate a tree, then climb toward the light.
• 🍀 Fruits begin appearing about three years after planting. The 9-inch, green, cone-like fruit ripens over a year, its scales separating to reveal sweet, creamy white pulp.
• 🍀 Tastes like a mix of pineapple, sugar apple and ice cream with a strong tropical aroma.
• 🍀 The fruit must be ripe to eat, as unripe pulp contains oxalic acid, which irritates the mouth and throat. To ripen, pick when the base wrinkles slightly, then wrap in a bag. When the scales loosen, it’s ready to eat. Rinse off black specks before eating.
• 🍀 Spectacular variety Thai Constellation is a stunning variegated form with cream-and-green marbled leaves, has become a collector's dream. Specimens can sell for thousands of dollars, making it one of the most sought-after houseplants.

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🍑 🍑 "The Girl with Peaches Papayas"

• 📸 Niki is showcasing Papaya fruit.


Share your cats in comments!
• 📸 🐈🐈🐈👇

🔠 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden 

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😷 What's the smelliest fruit on Earth? The King of Fruits: Durian!

• 😶�️ Durian (Durio zibethinus) is a tropical fruit tree known for its prickly, spiny fruit, which is famous for its distinctive, highly pervasive aroma - often described as unpleasant by many.
• 😶�️ Despite the powerful scent, which can deter some from trying it, durian is celebrated in Southeast Asia as the "king of fruits." To many, the strong odor is actually a welcome signal of the fruit's rich, creamy golden flesh, which has a sweet, custard-like flavor that's likened to almond and vanilla.
• 😶�️ Its creamy texture and unique taste make it a beloved delicacy, often commanding a high price in the market.
• 😶�️ As naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace noted after trying durian on Borneo in the 19th century, "The more you eat of it, the less you feel inclined to stop".
• 😶�️ Other varieties, like the red and yellow-fleshed Durio graveolans, are available in Southeast Asia and even in regions like South Florida, offering a peanut butter-like taste and greater tolerance to local conditions.

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💖 What are the best varieties of Lychee Tree?

• 🍓 The three most popular Lychee varieties are Brewster, Mauritius, and Sweetheart (sometimes referred to as Hak Ip). Brewster and Mauritius are the most reliable producers and are commonly used commercially, while Sweetheart is more of a backyard specialty. Although it produces fewer fruits, the fruit are significantly larger than other varieties.
• 🍓 Brewster: Medium to large, round fruit and a sweet, slightly tart flavor, Brewster is highly productive and ideal for fresh eating.

Mauritius: Medium to large, round fruit with thick skin. It has a sweet, delicate flavor and is one of the earliest varieties to ripen.
Choose Brewster or Mauritius if you want a reliable producer with an average fruit size.
• 🍓 Sweetheart: True to its name, Sweetheart is prized for its exceptional sweetness. It has the largest fruit of all varieties, with a thick rind and juicy, flavorful interior.

Some growers consider Hak Ip to be just another trade name for Sweetheart, although it is sometimes marketed as a separate variety.
Opt for Sweetheart if you prefer larger fruit but don't mind a smaller harvest.
• 🍓 Keep in mind that Lychee trees typically produce every other year, with heavy crop years alternating with low production years or no fruit at all.

📚 Learn more from previous post:
What is the best fruit in the world? How to grow your own Lychee tree.

🛒 Shop Lychee varieties

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How to make a simple and delicious mango smoothie

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  ✅ Ingredients:

• · 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and chopped
• · 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
• · ½ cup plain yogurt (optional for creaminess)
• · 1-2 tablespoons honey or sugar (optional, to taste)
• · 1 cup ice cubes (adjust for desired thickness)

✅ Instructions:

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  · Add mango chunks, milk, yogurt, honey (if using), and ice cubes to a blender.
• · Blend until smooth and creamy.
• · Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
• · Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

For a tropical twist, you can add a splash of orange juice, a banana, or a pinch of cardamom. Enjoy!

🛒 Plant a Mango Tree today for a happy crop tomorrow

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