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Garden Blog - Top Tropicals
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Cold protection for tropical plants
Pushing the limits of tropical gardening
The year is almost over but the winter is not. This Christmas weekend at our Sebring B-farm we had it down to 30F. As a tropical gardener, winter can be challenging, especially if you grow plants outside of tropical zones.
To protect your garden from the cold, consider the following:
1. Monitor freeze watches and be prepared to take action if
necessary.
2. Create temporary structures like mini-greenhouses using PVC pipes,
carport frames, or bamboo sticks to support covers.
3. Use covers such as frost cloth, cardboard boxes, blankets, and bed
sheets.
4. Use Christmas lights and other heating elements, including propane
heaters, to keep plants warm.
5. Add a layer of heavy mulch around plant trunks to protect them from the
cold.
6. Apply plant boosters that improve cold hardiness, such as Sunshine Epi,
Sunshine-Si, and Sunshine Superfood.
At TopTropicals B-Farm, we sprayed our plants with a special cold hardiness treatment Sunshine-Si and covered and wrapped everything we could. We also moved cold sensitive species inside greenhouses. All of our plants are looking great and happy!
Photo above: Mulching mango trunks and using Christmas lights for cold protection
Read more about this special treatment plan: Cold Hardiness Improvement Kit.
Photo above: Temporary wrapping of a section of a greenhouse with a plastic or frost cloth protects from a windchill. It may also win you a few degrees even without a heater. In this particular case, according to our temp sensors, it was 30F outside, and 41F inside this "dome", no heaters used.
Sunshine Boosters:
Last chance to stock up
at a lower price!
Sunshine Boosters are natural, amino acid-based liquid fertilizers made with only the highest quality ingredients. Starting in 2023, the pricing for Sunshine Boosters will be adjusting to reflect the increasing cost of supplies. This is your last chance to stock up on Sunshine Boosters before the end of the year! Sunshine Boosters are safe to use year around, with every watering.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to get the best value for your money!
Use discount for even better deal:
22FOR22
for 22% off orders $220+
Min order $220. Offer expires 12-31-22
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The food of the Gods:
A legend of the Guanabana
Grow Your Own Food
Guanabana, also known as Soursop, is a tropical fruit native to Central and South America. It is known for its sweet, juicy flesh and has a variety of medicinal properties.
According to legend, Guanabana was once a rare and coveted fruit that only grew in the highest reaches of the Andes Mountains. It was said to have mystical powers and was believed to be the food of the Gods. Those who ate the fruit were said to be blessed with good health and long life.
One day, a young shepherd boy came across a guanabana tree growing in a remote valley. He plucked a fruit from the tree and tasted it, finding it to be the most delicious thing he had ever eaten. The boy returned to his village and told everyone about the magical fruit he had discovered. Soon, word of the Guanabana spread far and wide, and people came from all over to try the fruit for themselves.
As the demand for Guanabana grew, the fruit began to be cultivated and grown in other parts of the world. Today, it is enjoyed by people all over the world and is known for its unique flavor and health benefits.
Download Article from Tropical Treasures Magazine: How to grow Guanabana indoors. Hand-pollinating and fruiting.
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Heat [Cat] Pack for Winter shipping
In the photo: James Coconuts and Riki are purrfectly hot People!
Not too warm on the way to your home? No problem! Heat Pack will help your plants to have a safe and warm trip from Top
Tropicals to your house.
Heat Pack maintains warm temperature while shipping, and is good for 20+ hours. It is a must if temperature drops below 40F in your area. Large orders require 2-3 packs. When ordering large 3-7 gal size plants (especially sensitive ultra-tropical plants), you may need 1 pack per plant. Contact us for more information on particular species.
Alternatively, we can
include a warm cat!
(subject to limited supply)
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Eight best fruit trees that produce right away
Grow Your Own Food
In the photo: Malpighia glabra - Barbados Cherry, Acerola
What fruit trees start fruiting right away?
Q: What fruit trees do you recommend that will start fruiting right away? I am 84 and I would really love to see the fruit sooner than later!
A: Most of grafted fruit trees will start producing the same year - such as Mango, Avocado, Peaches and other grafted trees. Besides, these are several garden favorites that start fruiting right in 1-3 gal container.
1. Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat
2. Spondias cytherea - June Plum
3. Psidium guajava - Tropical Guava
4. Musa sp. - Banana
5. Annona squamosa - Sugar Apple
6. Morus sp. - Mulberry tree
7. Eugenia uniflora - Surinam Cherry
8. Malpighia glabra - Barbados Cherry, Acerola
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B-Farm in Sebring is now open!
Every Friday and Saturday
Thank you everyone for visiting us this weekend at new Top Tropicals
location in Sebring (B-Farm)! We met many new friends as well as old friends
that now are closer.
Local gardeners in Central Florida are now excited to have a special place
for their needs in rare tropical plants.
Top Tropicals B-Farm conveniently located at the corner of FL-66 highway and McRoy Rd.
Sunshine Boosters at B-Farm
Many guests also purchased Sunshine Boosters liquid fertilizers. Sunshine Boosters are safe for daily use year around and ensure that you will have happy and healthy plants. Stash up for feeding your plants during the winter to make them strong, hardy and healthy!
At B-Farm, we offer free consultations on Sunshine Boosters. We can help you select proper combinations of fertilizers, micro-elements and special plant supplements, including those that improve cold hardiness of tropical plants.
B-Farm Team