Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

🍃 Watch this before cooking with black pepper!

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is famous for its berries, but the leaves are edible too, and in some regions they’re used just like betel leaves or bay leaves. Here are a few ways you can use them:

• Cooking wrap: Fresh leaves can be used to wrap fish, meat, or rice before steaming or grilling, similar to banana or betel leaves. They add a mild peppery aroma.
• Flavoring curries and soups: Whole leaves can be simmered in curries, broths, or stews to infuse a gentle peppery note, then removed before serving (like bay leaves).
• Herbal teas: Fresh or dried leaves can be steeped with ginger, turmeric, or lemongrass to make a warming tea traditionally used for digestion and colds.
• Chutneys and pastes: In South India, young pepper leaves are ground with coconut, tamarind, and chilies to make a tangy chutney.
• Medicinal uses: Folk remedies use the leaves for coughs, sore throats, and as a poultice for muscle aches.

🍛 Black pepper leaf chutney

• ♨️Lightly saute 6-8 pepper leaves in a little oil.
• ♨️Blend with 1/2 cup grated coconut, 2 green chilies, tamarind, salt, and cumin.
• ♨️Optional: top with a quick tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves.
• ♨️Serve with rice or dosa.

☕️ Pepper leaf tea - when you feel under the weather

• Boil 2-3 leaves with a cup of water.
• Add a slice of ginger and a pinch of turmeric (optional).
• Simmer 5 minutes, strain, and sweeten with honey.

Both recipes give a warm, peppery aroma without being too spicy. Pepper leaves are milder than the berries, so you’ll get aroma more than heat.

🛒 Grow your own Black Pepper plant - spice and vegetable!

📚 Learn more:

• ▫️ What is Pepper Made From? Black, white, green, and red...
• ▫️How to grow your own Pepper plants. Five most valuable 'Pipers'

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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🍴 Mulberry yogurt swirl: quick n fun exotic recipes

• 🔵Layer fresh mulberries with plain yogurt and a drizzle of honey.
• 🔵The berries bleed into the yogurt, creating a natural tie-dye effect.

🛒 Discover Mulberry varieties

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✍️The secret to abundant dragon fruit harvests

🔴 Dragon fruit (Pitaya) thrives when it's fed regularly. For the best results, use Sunshine C-Cibus, a complete liquid fertilizer made for fruit trees. It is gentle enough to apply with every watering, all year long, and it gives your plants the steady nutrition they need to set more flowers and produce bigger harvests.

🛒 Order Sunshine C-Cibus liquid plant booster

#Food_Forest #How_to #Dragon_Fruit #Fertilizers

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🌵 Pitaya vs Dragon fruit - what is the difference and how to grow it?

• 
  🍉 Pitaya and Dragon Fruit are the same plant!

Both names refer to climbing cacti in the genus Hylocereus. The word pitaya is more common in Latin America, while dragon fruit is the name used in Asia and English-speaking countries. They come in different types: white-fleshed (Hylocereus undatus), red-fleshed (Hylocereus costaricensis), and yellow-skinned (Hylocereus, or Selenicereus megalanthus). All share the same growth habit and care needs. Pitaya or dragon fruit - whichever name you use, it's one of the easiest exotic fruits to grow at home.
• 
  🍉 How to grow Dragon Fruit

• ▫️Get a desired variety or start from a cutting - let the cut end dry for a few days before planting to prevent rot.
• ▫️Plant in well-draining soil with lots of sun.
• ▫️Give it a strong support to climb on - it's a vining cactus.
• ▫️Water deeply but let the soil dry between waterings.
• ▫️Flowers open at night and need pollination - some types are self-fertile, others need cross-pollination.
• ▫️With care, you can enjoy fruit in 1-2 years. Remember to ferilize!

🍉 Dragon fruit varieties

• 
  🔴 ⚪️ Red skin, white flesh (Hylocereus undatus) - The most popular type, and the biggest fruit. Mildly sweet, refreshing, and often compared to a kiwi crossed with a pear.

Varieties: David Bowie, Delight, Hana, Lake Atitlan, Seoul Kitchen, Vietnamese Jaina, Hana
• 
  🔴🔴 Red skin, red flesh (Hylocereus costaricensis) - Sweeter, juicier, and more intense in flavor. The deep red juice can stain, but it’s loaded with antioxidants.

Varieties: American Beauty, Bloody Mary, Eureka Red, Costa Rican Sunset, Mac Edwin, Halleys Comet, Mac Edwin, Makisupa, Mega Red, Physical Graffiti, Sweet Red
• 
  🔴🟣 Red flesh, purple/magenta flesh (Hylocereus x costaricensis) - Hybrids, usually between red and white varieties.

Varieties: Cosmic Charlie, Edgar's Baby, Halleys Comet, Natural Mystic, Physical Graffiti, Purple Haze, Tricia, Voodoo Child, Zamorano

🟡⚪️ Yellow skin, white flesh (Hylocereus, or Selenicereus megalanthus) - Smaller fruit, but the sweetest of all. Crisp, juicy, and tropical with notes of pineapple or honey.
Varieties: Amarilla (Kirin), Colimbiana, Godlen Dragon, Palora, Thai Gold (Hawaiian)

Each type looks stunning and tastes slightly different, but all are easy to grow once you give them sun, support, and patience.

🛒 Explore and collect Dragon Fruit varieties

📚 Learn more:

• · How to grow Dragon Fruit from a cutting - Quick Guide
• · How" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" > to grow Dragon Fruit 📱
• · Planting your own Dragon Fruit plantation
• · Do-It-Yourself Support Structure for Dragon Fruit
• · Grow Your Own Exotic Dragon Fruit Garden
• · Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: Dragon fruit
• · What does Dragon Fruit Flower look like?
• · Why you need to grow your own dragon fruit
• · Do red, white and yellow Dragon fruit taste differently?
• · What to do with a lot of Dragon Fruit

#Food_Forest #How_to #Dragon_Fruit

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🍴 Avocado shrimp boats: quick n fun exotic recipes

• 
  🟢Halve an avocado, scoop out a little extra.
• 🟢Fill with sauteed shrimp tossed in garlic-lime butter.
• 🟢Enjoy instant tropical feast!

🛒 Grow your own Avocado tree

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Avocado

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🍴 Papaya mint salad: quick n fun exotic recipes

• 
  🟢Cube ripe papaya into bite-sized pieces.
• 🟢Toss gently with fresh mint leaves, a drizzle of lime juice, and a pinch of black pepper.
• 🟢Chill before serving for a refreshing, lightly spiced tropical snack.

🛒 Add Papaya trees to your garden

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Papaya

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🍆 10 reasons to grow this Indian secret tree - the miracle Fruit of the Gods you never knew about

• Sacred and secret Indian divine Berry - Jambolan (Syzygium cumini) - goes by many names: Java plum, Malabar plum, Black Plum, Jamun, Jaman, Jambul, Duhat, even Lilly Pilly! Which one do you know it by?
• Sweet-tart and healthy fruit. The tree is a heavy producer of juicy, sweet-tart black fruits that can be eaten fresh or turned into tarts, sauces, and jams. In Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, both the fruit and plant are valued for their powerful health benefits. The flavor is unique, with a mile herbal note (maybe Oregano?).
• A tree steeped in tradition. According to Hindu belief, Rama survived on this fruit during his 14-year exile, which earned it the title Fruit of the Gods. Lord Krishna himself is often described as having skin the color of jambul. In India, its leaves are still used to decorate marriage pendals.

♥️ Jambolan health and life benefits

• ▫️1. Fights diabetes - helps manage blood sugar naturally.
• ▫️2. Weight loss - low in calories, high in fiber, keeps you full and curbs cravings.
• ▫️3. Fiber-rich digestion aid - improves gut health, prevents constipation, and soothes indigestion.
• ▫️4. Vitamin C boost - strengthens immunity, brightens skin, and supports healthy hair.
• ▫️5. Controls heart rate and blood health - potassium regulates heart rate and blood pressure, while iron supports hemoglobin and circulation.
• ▫️6. Slows aging - loaded with antioxidants, it protects cells and supports vitality.
• ▫️7. Liver and kidney detox - traditionally used for cleansing and protection.
• ▫️8. Skin and oral care - helps with acne, blemishes, mouth ulcers, and freshens breath.
• ▫️9. Respiratory relief - eases coughs, asthma, and colds.
• ▫️10. Quick privacy screen! Here's what most gardeners don't realize: Jambolan is the ultimate low-maintenance, fast-growing tree with dense glossy leaves. It thrives in any soil, stays pest free, and in just a couple of seasons can grow into a dense, bushy privacy screen - perfect if you want quick shade, an ornamental barrier, or a living fence with health benefits that practically takes care of itself!

🛒 Plant Jambolan: shade, fruit, beauty, and health - all in one tree!

📚 Learn more:
The Divine Berry - large, bushy, exotic fruit tree in no time

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Hedges_with_benefits

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🌿 What is Neem and why do millions use it daily? The tree that makes toothpaste and bug spray.

• 💚 Ever notice Neem listed in toothpaste or skin cream? Or even in natural insecticides and garden treatments? What is this tree and why is it everywhere? Neem products come from the Neem Tree - Azadirachta indica, native to India. It's been used for thousands of years in medicine, farming, and daily life.
• 💚 How can you use Neem?

Almost every part of the tree has a purpose.

▫️The leaves are brewed as tea, applied to skin for soothing, and used in villages to ward off mosquitoes or protect stored clothes from insects. They are bitter but medicinal, valued for treating malaria and even for lowering blood sugar in diabetics.

• ▫️Dental cure. Neem twigs, thin and pencil-sized, are chewed and used as toothbrushes to strengthen gums and fight bacteria. Today, toothpicks and dental sticks are still made from them.
• ▫️Neem oil for your Garden. The seeds produce neem oil, a natural insect repellent and fungicide for the garden that doesn’t harm bees or butterflies.
• ▫️Bark extracts are used in medicine
• ▫️Ripe fruits are eaten fresh and considered beneficial too.

• 💚 Why do people plant Neem?

It’s more than a medicine chest. In India, Neem is planted along streets and in villages as a source of shade, air purifier, and natural pest control. One tree supports health, provides garden protection, and even supplies food.
• 💚 Is it easy to grow?

Yes. Neem tree thrives in hot, dry conditions and needs little care. Once established, it only needs low to medium water and grows well even without irrigation. It can be grown as a street tree, in the yard for shade, or in poor soils where other trees struggle. Hardy, fast-growing, and evergreen, Neem is one of the most practical trees you can add to a tropical or subtropical garden.

🛒Plant a Neem Tree and Explore Neem benefits

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Discover

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🍴 Avocado coconut popsicles: quick n fun exotic recipes

• 🔵Puree avocado with coconut milk and sugar.
• 🔵Pour into molds and freeze.
• 🔵Enjoy the creamiest tropical ice pops ever!

🛒 For home-grown ingredients you will need:
Home grown Avocado
Home grown Coconut

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Avocado

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🍴 Carambola sparkle salad: quick and fun exotic recipes

• 🟡Slice starfruit into star shapes and toss with cucumber, mint, and a splash of lime.
• 🟡A crunchy, refreshing mix that looks as good as it tastes.

🛒 Explore Carambola varieties

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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