Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

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Mulberry Care and Growing Tips

Mulberry fruit on a plate

Mulberries are tough, low-maintenance fruit trees that adapt to many conditions.

  • Climate: Hardy from USDA zone 5 to 10.
  • Soil: Grow well in almost any soil; prefer good drainage.
  • Watering: Regular watering during dry spells; drought tolerant once etablished.
  • Growth: 3–5 feet per year, producing fruit early.
  • Pruning: Annual pruning controls size and improves branching.
  • Pot culture: Dwarf types thrive in containers, staying 6–7 feet tall. Use a large pot, water consistently, and prune lightly. Use Abundance potting mix for best results.
  • Fertilizer: For reliable production, fertilizer regularly. Apply Sunshine C-Cibus liquid booster with every watering, or Green Magic controlled release fertilizer every 5-6 months.

❓ Mulberry FAQ


How soon will a mulberry fruit?

One to two years, sometimes the very first season.

What climates are suitable?

USDA zones 5–10, from -20F winters to hot summers.

How tall do they get?

Standard trees 20–30 ft; dwarfs 6–10 ft in pots.

Do I need more than one tree?

No, they are self-pollinating.

What do they taste like?

Sweet and juicy, like a blend of blackberry and raspberry.

How long is the harvest?

Everbearing types ripen gradually from summer into fall.

Do birds eat them?

Yes, but trees are so productive there’s plenty to share.

Are they messy?

Dark-fruited varieties can stain; white mulberries do not.

Can I grow them in containers?

Yes, dwarf types (Dwarf Everbearing, Issai) fruit well in pots.

How long do they live?

Many live for decades; Illinois Everbearing can endure for generations.

What are the health benefits?

Mulberries are low-glycemic, support healthy blood sugar, improve heart health, and are rich in antioxidants.

Shop Mulberries

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🍇Mulberries – the hidden gems of every garden

Picture this: it’s July, the sun is warm, and you step outside to a tree dripping with berries. You reach up, and your fingers come away stained purple. The taste? Like blackberries kissed with raspberry — sweet, juicy, unforgettable.

Collage of mulberry varieties - Illinois Everbearing, Dwarf Everbearing, Shangri-LA, White Mulberry, Pakistani Giant, Issai, Florida Giant

That’s what a Mulberry gives you. And the best part? You don’t wait years. Many trees fruit the very next season. Dwarf types can even fruit nearly year-round in pots — fresh berries on your patio, without leaving home.

🌟 Varieties gardeners swear by:

Collage of mulberry varieties - Illinois Everbearing, Dwarf Everbearing, Shangri-LA, White Mulberry, Pakistani Giant, Issai, Florida Giant

In the photo above: mulberry varieties - Illinois Everbearing, Dwarf Everbearing, Shangri-LA, White Mulberry, Pakistani Giant, Issai, Florida Giant

Mulberries aren’t just delicious — they’re loaded with antioxidants, help balance blood sugar, and make your garden come alive with birds and shade. Don’t wait another season. Plant your Mulberry now and taste the difference by next summer.

Watch short videos:

💲 Special Offer – 20% off Mulberry Trees!

Get 20% OFF already discounted Mulberry Trees with code

MULBERRY2025

Min order $100. Excluding S/H, valid online only, cannot be combined with other offers.

Hurry, offer expires September 23, 2025!

👉 Shop Mulberry Trees

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You wont believe what this cat is eating for lunch! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

You wont believe what this cat is eating for lunch!

Cat Niki

🍌 You won’t believe what this cat is eating for lunch!

"When life gives you lemons, throw them back and ask for a banana!"

🐈📸 Cat Niki is eating dry bananas at TopTropicals PeopleCats.Garden 

#PeopleCats #Quotes

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Canistel custard toast: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Canistel custard toast: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes

Canistel custard toast

Canistel custard toast

🍴 Canistel custard toast: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes
  • 🟡Mash Canistel (Eggfruit) with a bit of cream and cinnamon, spread on toast, and broil until golden.
  • 🟡Like dessert for breakfast!

Canistel Custard Toast: Exotic Recipes

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe Canistel (Eggfruit), mashed
  • 2 tbsp cream
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 slices of bread

Instructions

  1. Preheat broiler.
  2. Mash Canistel with cream and cinnamon until smooth.
  3. Spread mixture on bread slices.
  4. Broil until golden and slightly caramelized.
  5. Serve warm, like dessert for breakfast.

🛒 Plant your own Canistel tree

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Baby bird first flight caught on video - ending left us stunned! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Baby bird first flight caught on video - ending left us stunned!

Baby bird first flight

🐓 Baby bird first flight caught on video - ending left us stunned!

Greenhouse nest story - surprise ending you have to see!

❓ Does anyone know the name of this Florida bird? 🐦‍⬛️

#PeopleCats

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Free natural shampoo: squeeze it and see what comes out! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Free natural shampoo: squeeze it and see what comes out!

Pine Cone Ginger - Zingiber Zerumbet, Shampoo Ginger

💄 Free natural shampoo: squeeze it and see what comes out!
  • 💄Pine Cone Ginger (Zingiber Zerumbet), is called Shampoo Ginger due to its unique, milky substance found in the cones. If you squeeze these bright red cones, a fragrant, milky liquid seeps out - traditionally used in Asia and Hawaii as a natural shampoo. Even today, you’ll find it in commercial shampoos.
  • 💄 But there's more to it than hair care. All parts of the plant carry a spicy fragrance, the cones make striking, long-lasting cut flowers, and the whole plant adds a tropical vibe to your garden.
  • 💄 And here's a fun history twist: Pine Cone Ginger is a "canoe plant", carried across the Pacific by ancient Polynesian voyagers. Imagine - this little shampoo factory traveled the ocean in canoes centuries ago!


Would you try washing your hair with this tropical ginger?

🛒 Grow your own Natural Shampoo Ginger

📚 Learn more:

#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden #Remedies #Food_Forest

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What kind of animal do you think it is? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What kind of animal do you think it is?

Pelmen - hairless Sphynx cat

👽 What kind of animal do you think it is?

A fox?
A dog?
An Alien?

🐈📸 This is Pelmen - our friend, hairless Sphynx cat!
He does look like an alien!

#PeopleCats

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What is Akee - Jamaica's National Fruit - and how to grow it. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What is Akee - Jamaicas National Fruit - and how to grow it

⛔️ What is Akee - Jamaica's National Fruit - and how to grow it

🛒 Plant your own Akee (Achee) tree

📱

#Food_Forest

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Banned Jamaican fruit: why you never see fresh Akee in U.S. stores? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Banned Jamaican fruit: why you never see fresh Akee in U.S. stores?

Akee (Blighia sapida)

⛔️ Banned Jamaican fruit: why you never see fresh Akee in U.S. stores?

Did you know that fresh Akee (Blighia sapida) is restricted for import into the U.S.?
That's the bad news.
The good news: you can grow your own Akee tree and enjoy this famous fruit right in your backyard!

The reason it's restricted is because unripe Akee (Ackee) contains toxins. Only when the pods split open naturally is the fruit safe to eat, after cooking (video). That’s why it's hard to import fresh – but easy to grow and handle at home once you know the trick.

Plenty of people love this fruit (it's actually a vegetable). It's the national fruit of Jamaica, and a must-have in the classic dish Akee and saltfish. Planting your own tree means you never have to miss out.

⛔️ Why grow Akee?
  • ✔️Fresh fruit that you simply can’t buy in U.S. stores.
  • ✔️You decide when it's ripe and safe, straight from the pod.
  • ✔️A taste of Jamaica in your own garden - both food and culture in one tree.


So don't wait for the fruit that never arrives at the port. Plant your own Akee tree and enjoy the harvest tomorrow!

🛒 Plant your own Akee (Achee) tree

📚 Learn more:
▫️New Christmas ornaments? Ackee monster fruit!
📱 How to cook perfect Akee

#Food_Forest

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Jackfruit curry quickie: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Jackfruit curry quickie: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes

Jackfruit curry quickie: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes
🍴 Jackfruit curry quickie: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes

  • 🟡Saute young Jackfruit chunks with coconut milk, curry paste, and ginger.
  • 🟡Tastes like pulled chicken curry, but totally plant-based!

🍲 Jackfruit curry exotic recipes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups young Jackfruit chunks
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 2 tbsp curry paste
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated

Instructions

  1. Saute young Jackfruit chunks with curry paste and ginger.
  2. Add coconut milk and simmer until the Jackfruit is tender.
  3. Serve hot. Tastes like pulled chicken curry, but completely plant-based!

🛒 Shop Jackfruit varieties

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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