Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 18 Dec 2025

How to have fruit year around from Everbearing Mulberry

🍇 How to have fruit year around from Everbearing Mulberry



📱

💗 Dwarf Everbearing and Dwarf Issai - Compact, container-friendly varieties perfect for small spaces. These dwarf trees (6-10 ft tall) are disease and drought resistant, with multiple crops year-round, even from the first year! Ideal for patios and small yards..

🛒 Plant hardy Mulberry year around

📚 Learn more:

Paper Mulberry Plant Facts

Botanical name: Broussonetia papyrifera, Morus papyrifera
Also known as: Paper Mulberry
USDA Zone: 6 - 9
Highligths Large shrub 5-10 ft tallSemi-shadeWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryRed, crimson, vinous flowersOrnamental foliageSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
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· Mulberry trees in Plant Encyclopedia
· What are the best Mulberry varieties
· Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #7. Mulberry
· How Mulberry fruit helps with diabetes

#Food_Forest

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Date: 17 Dec 2025

What is so unique about Wurtz avocado?

Wurtz Avocado, Little Cado or Mexicola Dwarf, is special because it's a true dwarf tree.

Wurtz Avocado, Little Cado or Mexicola Dwarf, is special because it's a true dwarf tree.

🌳 What is so unique about Wurtz avocado?



Avocados come from three main regions, and each group has its own special look, taste, and growing habits. The three types are Mexican, Guatemalan, and West Indian. Many of today’s popular varieties are hybrids, mixing traits from these types as we mentioned in earlier post.

Wurtz Avocado, also known as Little Cado or Mexicola Dwarf, is special because it’s a true dwarf tree. That means it stays small, making it perfect for small gardens, patios, or containers. You can even grow it indoors in a sunny spot!

Wurtz is actually a Guatemalan-type avocado, not exactly a Florida or California type. It has a slightly different growth habit and pollination pattern than those two groups.

The fruit is small to medium in size, with smooth green skin and a rich, buttery flavor. Its flesh is creamy and full of healthy oils, much like the California (Hass-type) avocados.

In short: Wurtz is a compact, easy-to-grow avocado tree that produces delicious, buttery fruit. It’s perfect for gardeners who want a real avocado tree without needing a big yard.

✔️ Check out
Avocado Variety Guide interactive chart. Sort them by flower type A or B, tree habit, fruit shape and quality, cold hardiness, origin, season and more!

🛒  Plant Avocado Wurtz
Explore Avocado varieties and Dwarf Avocado

📖 Our Book: Avocado Variety Guide, Snack or Guacamole?
·
Hard copy · PDF File Download

📚 Learn more:

Avocado Plant Facts

Botanical name: Persea americana, Persea gratissima
Also known as: Avocado, Alligator Pear, Aguacate, Abacate
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Large tree taller than 20 ftSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
Get personalized tips for your region

· Avocado Variety Guide
· Posts about #Avocado
· Avocado tree (Persea americana) in Plant Encyclopedia

🎥 What is a Dwarf Condo Avocado that fruits at 3 ft tall? 📱

#Food_Forest #Avocado

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Date: 17 Dec 2025

What is a Dwarf Condo Avocado and does it really fruit at 3 ft tall?

What is a Dwarf Condo Avocado and does it really fruit at 3 ft tall?



🛒 Explore Avocado varieties and Dwarf Avocado

#Food_Forest #Avocado

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Date: 16 Dec 2025

Nobel Prize goes to this pregnant male!

Male papaya with fruit

🏆 Nobel Prize goes to this pregnant male!



👀 Some Papaya trees really break the rules, and this one deserves its own headline. We have a true oddball in the garden - a male papaya tree that actually set a lot of fruit! Not just one fruit, but a whole cluster hanging from those long flower stalks.

👀 We all know that male papayas only make flowers but never set fruit. They only give us sweet fragrance from these flowers! By the way, thanks for the flowers, guys!

👀 The fruit comes from the female flowers that sit tight on the trunk. But every now and then, nature throws a curveball. It looks like a male tree forms perfect female flowers on its long stems and decides to become a parent after all!

👀 The result? Ripe, sweet papayas growing where they absolutely should not be. And yes, they even had seeds inside.

👀 Gardeners wait years for good surprises like this. A male papaya giving birth… that’s rare enough to give a Nobel prize!

🛒 Explore the unpredictable world of Papayas

📚 Learn more:

Papaya Plant Facts

Botanical name: Carica papaya
Also known as: Papaya
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Small tree 10-20 ftFull sunWater Requirement: Low. Allow soil to dry out between wateringsWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryYellow, orange flowersWhite, off-white flowersEdible plantEthnomedical plant.
Plants marked as ethnomedical and/or described as medicinal, are not offered as medicine but rather as ornamentals or plant collectibles.
Ethnomedical statements / products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We urge all customers to consult a physician before using any supplements, herbals or medicines advertised here or elsewhere.Subtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
Get personalized tips for your region

More about Carica papaya from Plant Encyclopedia
The secret facts of Papaya's private life: it can go transgender!
✦ Posts about #Papaya

#Food_Forest #Papaya

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Date: 16 Dec 2025

Black sapote mocha dip: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Black sapote mocha dip

Black sapote mocha dip

🍴 Black Sapote Mocha Dip

Ingredients

  • Ripe black sapote fruit (Diospyros digyna), pulp only
  • Cocoa powder, 1 spoon
  • Condensed milk, a light drizzle

Instructions

  1. Scoop the soft pulp from ripe black sapote fruit and remove any seeds.
  2. Mix the pulp with cocoa powder until evenly blended.
  3. Stir in a light drizzle of condensed milk until smooth and silky.
  4. Serve as a dip or spread and enjoy immediately.


📚 Learn more:

Black Sapote Plant Facts

Botanical name: Diospyros nigra, Diospyros digyna, Diospyros obtusifolia
Also known as: Black Sapote, Chocolate Pudding Fruit, Black/Chocolate Persimmon
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Large tree taller than 20 ftFull sunWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short timeFlood tolerant plant
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Black Sapote tree (Diospyros digyna) in Plant Encyclopedia

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Date: 15 Dec 2025

Vietnamese pepper Lalot

🌿 Vietnamese pepper Lalot





🛒 Add Lalot to your kitchen windowsill

📚 Learn more:

Chaa-plu Plant Facts

Botanical name: Piper sarmentosum
Also known as: Chaa-plu, Vietnamese Pepper, Lalot, La Lot, Wild Betel Leaf
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Vine or creeper plantSmall plant 2-5 ftSemi-shadeFull sunWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyOrnamental foliageSpice or herb plantEthnomedical plant.
Plants marked as ethnomedical and/or described as medicinal, are not offered as medicine but rather as ornamentals or plant collectibles.
Ethnomedical statements / products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We urge all customers to consult a physician before using any supplements, herbals or medicines advertised here or elsewhere.
Get personalized tips for your region

Piper sarmentosum in Plant Encyclopedia

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Container_Garden

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Date: 15 Dec 2025

9 tropical vegetables to grow indoors, or how to have garden-fresh produce all year

9 tropical vegetables to grow indoors

9 tropical vegetables to grow indoors

🌱 9 tropical vegetables to grow indoors, or how to have garden-fresh produce all year



Cold weather does not have to mean the end of homegrown food. According to Southern Living, vegetables like lettuce, carrots, and radishes can be grown indoors during winter. The downside is that most of these are annuals - you harvest once, then start over.

Tropical vegetables work differently. Many are perennial, long-living plants that grow well in containers and keep producing for years. Grow them indoors year-round, move them outside in summer for extra sun and growth, then bring them back indoors before cold weather. With enough light and regular care, these plants can provide fresh harvests in every season.

✅ Tips for growing tropical vegetables indoors



📍Place plants near a bright window or supplement with grow lights for steady growth
📍Use containers with good drainage and quality potting mix
📍Keep plants away from cold drafts and heating vents
📍Rotate pots and prune regularly to encourage fresh, tender growth
📍Feed regularly with natural Sunshine Boosters - they are formulated for edibles

✅ Tropical vegetables to grow indoors



🌿 Gynura procubens - Longevity Spinach, Cholesterol spinach - a fast-growing leafy green often called a superfood. The tender leaves are used fresh or lightly cooked and can be harvested repeatedly. This plant stays compact, handles containers easily, and regrows quickly after cutting.

🌿 Sauropus androgynus - Katuk, Tropical Asparagus. One of Southeast Asia’s most popular leafy vegetables. Katuk produces edible shoots and leaves that are cooked in soups and stews. It grows well indoors and rewards regular harvesting with constant new growth.

🌿 Cymbopogon citratus - Lemon grass: a tough, productive plant that adapts well to container growing. The stalks and leaves are used for teas, soups, and flavoring. Indoors, it grows more slowly but stays productive, especially when moved outdoors in summer.

🌿 Lippia dulcis - Aztec Sweet Herb, Sweetleaf: a low-growing herb with naturally sweet leaves. The foliage can be eaten fresh or used as a sugar substitute in teas and desserts. It stays compact, tolerates pruning, and performs well in pots indoors.

🌿
Piper sarmentosum - Vietnamese Pepper, Lalot: grown for its aromatic, edible leaves rather than peppercorns. The leaves are eaten fresh, cooked, or used as food wraps. This plant stays manageable indoors with light pruning.

🌿 Piper nigrum - Black Pepper: the true black pepper vine. Grows well indoors as a container vine with support. It prefers warm temperatures, steady moisture, and bright filtered light.

🌿 Piper auritum
- Root Beer Plant, False Kava-Kava: close relative of Piper methysticum (Kava-Kava) known for its large, fragrant leaves with a spicy, root beer-like aroma. The leaves are used for wrapping foods and flavoring dishes. Best grown indoors with room for its bold foliage.

🌿 Piper betle - Betel leaf: a traditional edible and medicinal leaf used widely in Asia. The glossy leaves are harvested continuously and used fresh or as wraps. This vine grows well indoors with warmth, humidity, and a small trellis.

🌿 Piper longum - Indian Long Pepper, Pippali, Bengal Pepper: A tropical pepper relative grown for its elongated spice fruits and edible leaves. Slower to fruit indoors but easy to maintain as a leafy spice plant in containers with bright light and regular feeding.

Tropical vegetables make indoor gardening more rewarding because they do not stop after one harvest. With containers, light, and basic care, these plants can become long-term food producers that move seamlessly between indoors and outdoors - keeping fresh flavors within reach all year.

🛒 Explore tropical edibles, herbs and spices

📚 Learn more:


· 5 most useful edibles for tropical garden
· Grow your own Pepper leaves: 5 most valuable Pipers

🎥 Karkade Tea
Longevity Spinach


#Food_Forest #Remedies #Container_Garden #How_to #Discover

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Date: 14 Dec 2025

Patchouli tea: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Patchouli tea

Patchouli tea

Patchouli leaves

Patchouli leaves

🍴 Patchouli tea

Ingredients

  • Fresh Patchouli leaves - a few leaves
  • Hot water - 1 cup
  • Honey - to taste (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse fresh Patchouli leaves gently.
  2. Place leaves in a cup and pour hot (not boiling) water over them.
  3. Steep for 5 to 7 minutes.
  4. Add honey if desired and enjoy warm.


🛒 Every garden needs a fragrant Patchouli leaf

📚 Learn more:

Patchouli Plant Facts

Botanical name: Pogostemon cablin, Pogostemon patchouli, Pogostemon heyneanous
Also known as: Patchouli, Pucha-pat
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Groundcover and low-growing 2ft plantSmall plant 2-5 ftSemi-shadeFull sunWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyOrnamental foliageSpice or herb plantEthnomedical plant.
Plants marked as ethnomedical and/or described as medicinal, are not offered as medicine but rather as ornamentals or plant collectibles.
Ethnomedical statements / products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We urge all customers to consult a physician before using any supplements, herbals or medicines advertised here or elsewhere.Fragrant plant
Get personalized tips for your region

Pogostemon patchouli in Plant Encyclopedia
Patchouli: more than just a pretty scent
Researchers discover that a perfume from Ancient Rome was made of Patchouli

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Date: 12 Dec 2025

Banana skillet fritters: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Banana skillet fritters

Banana skillet fritters

Banana skillet fritters

Banana skillet fritters

Banana tree with fruit

Banana tree with fruit

🍴 Banana Skillet Fritters

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • Oil for pan searing

Instructions

  1. Mash the ripe banana in a bowl until smooth.
  2. Stir in the flour to form a thick batter.
  3. Heat a lightly oiled skillet over medium heat.
  4. Drop small spoonfuls into the pan.
  5. Cook until golden and crisp outside, flipping once.

📚 Learn more:

Banana Plant Facts

Botanical name: Musa sp.
Also known as: Banana, Bananier Nain, Canbur, Curro, Plantain
USDA Zone: 7 - 11
Highligths Small tree 10-20 ftFull sunWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
Get personalized tips for your region

Banana cinnamon fritters
Secret Banana Daiquiri recipe: healthy never tasted so good
Grilled Banana Boats recipe
Banana plant (Musa) in Plant Encyclopedia
The best varieties of edible Banana to plant
Posts about #Bananas
📱 Why every garden needs a banana tree

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Bananas

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Date: 10 Dec 2025

Katuk coconut soup: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Katuk coconut soup

Katuk coconut soup

Katuk leaves - Sauropus androgynus, Tropical Asparagus

Katuk leaves - Sauropus androgynus, Tropical Asparagus

🍴 Katuk Coconut Soup

Ingredients

  • Katuk leaves (Sauropus androgynus), about 2 cups, stems removed
  • Coconut milk, 1 cup
  • Garlic, 1 clove, minced
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Wash Katuk leaves thoroughly.
  2. Boil Katuk leaves in plenty of water for 15 minutes.
  3. Drain completely and discard the boiling water.
  4. Chop the cooked Katuk leaves.
  5. Warm coconut milk in a saucepan over low heat.
  6. Add garlic and simmer gently for 1 minute.
  7. Add the boiled Katuk leaves and cook for 3 to 5 minutes.
  8. Season with salt and serve warm.

Important Safety Note

Katuk leaves must always be boiled for at least 15 minutes and the water discarded. Do not consume raw or lightly cooked Katuk.


🛒 Add Katuk Superfood to your Food Forest

📚 Learn more:

Katuk Plant Facts

Botanical name: Breynia androgyna, Sauropus androgynus
Also known as: Katuk, Star Gooseberry, Sweet Leaf, Tropical Asparagus, Chang Kok, Manis, Nutty Leaf, Rau Ngot
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Large shrub 5-10 ft tallSmall plant 2-5 ftSemi-shadeFull sunWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyRed, crimson, vinous flowersOrnamental foliageEdible plantEthnomedical plant.
Plants marked as ethnomedical and/or described as medicinal, are not offered as medicine but rather as ornamentals or plant collectibles.
Ethnomedical statements / products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We urge all customers to consult a physician before using any supplements, herbals or medicines advertised here or elsewhere.
Get personalized tips for your region

Sauropus androgynus in Plant Encyclopedia
The secret Brain Food growing in my backyard (and it tastes like green peas!)
Katuk egg stir-fry: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes
Health benefits of Katuk: a Superfood for your mind and body

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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