New Video:
What is a Loquat?

Loquat is one of the easiest tropical/subtropical fruit trees to grow, with delicious fruit resembling Apricots (in fact, from the same family!). This video presented by our video host David Mortimer.

More information on Loquat trees:

Golden Loquat - the symbol of Prosperity
Kristi's Loquat Tropical BBQ sauce
Overlooked fruit: tasty Loquat recipes (PDF from Tropical Treasures Magazine)

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Stay updated with TopTropicals Videos by subscribing to our channel at YouTube.com/TopTropicals and get our latest video news of what is fruiting and blooming!

Loquats 30% OFF - this week only!

Many varieties of the Loquat are available from our store The trees we have for sale are in full bloom now, ready to set fruit. You will get the fruit as early as in 3 months! The trees are in 5 gal pots, 5 ft tall, grafted, bushy and full. Loquats are cold hardy - good time to plant them now!

Great chance to collect them all!
Discount expires: 12-5-2021.

Available varieties:

6080 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Barbie, graftedGrown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

6424 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Big Jim, grafted

Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant $69.00   Sale: $48.30

5219 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Bradenton, grafted

Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant $69.00   Sale: $48.30

4549 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Champagne, grafted

Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant $69.00   Sale: $48.30

5217 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Christmas, grafted

Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant $69.00   Sale: $48.30

4707 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Eds Delight, grafted

Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant $69.00   Sale: $48.30

4305 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Gold Nugget grafted

Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant $69.00   Sale: $48.30

4150 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Italy, grafted

Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant $69.00   Sale: $48.30

5160 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Oliver, grafted

Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant $69.00   Sale: $48.30

4708 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Premier, grafted

Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant $69.00   Sale: $48.30

4800 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Sherry Woods, grafted

Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant $69.00   Sale: $48.30

4336 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Turkey, grafted

Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant $69.00   Sale: $48.30

4249 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Yehuda grafted

Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant $69.00   Sale: $48.30

New Video:
Secrets of Longevity

Best Hot Humid Weather Spinach Crops:
Longevity and Okinawa Spinach

by David Mortimer, Tropical Edibles Expert

...This video is all about the greens. Most find it difficult to grow vegetables year round in hot climates. In this video we show you two different spinach varieties that not only handle the heat but thrive in it...

WATCH NEW VIDEO >>

Even more: Longevity Spinach recipes!

...Can healthy food taste delicious? Healthy Longevity Spinach... it tastes like... spinach. You can add it to your salads, but let's face it, you can only eat so much of... a salad. So try it cooked!..

CONTINUE READING >>

Kristi's Loquat Tropical BBQ sauce

Loquat trees are famous for their abundant fruit production. Many customers who purchased this tree from us, soon end up with some serious crops and start asking if we have any special recipes for loquat fruit - because you can only eat so much out of hand! Here is our manager Kristi's favorite Loquat recipe - not only delicious and tropically-aromatic, but also good for you. Happy Tropical Meal!

Ingredients

2 lbs loquat fruit

1. cup soft brown sugar
2. cups malt vinegar
   1 onion chopped
3. cloves garlic
   
   1/2 tsp salt
   1/2 tsp black pepper
   1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
4. cloves whole or 1/2 tsp ground cloves

   Instructions

   Wash the fruit, cut them in half and remove stones. The loquats will lose about a third of their weight once stoned (3 lbs of whole fruit = 2 lbs of fruit, stones removed). Add loquats and all remaining ingredients to a large saucepan. Bring to a low boil, then simmer for about an hour, stirring occasionally. The liquid will have reduced quite a bit and the fruit will be collapsed and very soft. Allow to cool slightly, then liquidize the sauce in a blender or a food processor. Be careful, hot sauce really burns!

A Cup of Tea Plant

By Onika Amell, tropical plant specialist

A: I live in Ave Maria, Florida. I want to try my hand at growing my own tea. Which plant do I need?

A: Most people do not realize they are actually enjoying camellias when they sip their cup of tea. True tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, an evergreen shrub or small tree.
In the fall and winter, the plant will produce small white flowers with a lovely fragrance. The foliage is shiny and dark green with a very nice informal and open look. Camellia sinensis (or tea plant, as it is commonly known) prefers a temperature between 65 and 86 degrees, which makes Florida an ideal area to grow them. However, if you live in colder zones, you can certainly succeed growing your own tea plants using a greenhouse. Alternatively, you can use containers which can be brought inside when temperatures start falling. Tea plants will usually survive a very slight freeze, though the leaves may be damaged or killed. It will not tolerate a hard freeze. They prefer full sun or light shade in the garden.
Tea plants will become small trees or large bushes if not pruned. Hardcore tea growers trim back the shoots repeatedly to a height of around 4 feet to encourage new growth and to contain the size.
Make sure to pick an area of your landscape where it does not flood or remain wet during our rainy season. Camellia sinensis does not like wet feet at all. They prefer well-drained, sandy and slightly acidic soil. If grown in a container, add some sphagnum moss to the potting mix. They will benefit from frequent applications of small amounts of fertilizer.
You will need some patience, too. Your plant should be around 3 years old before you start harvesting leaves.

Recommended fertilizers:

Tropical Greenhouse Plus - Plant Booster
Tropical Allure - Smart-Release Booster

Harvesting recipes

Now that you know how to grow the Tea, you need to check this out: the Harvesting recipes how to harvest and make different kinds of real tea: Green Tea, Japanese >Continue reading...

Holiday Best Gift suggestions and discounts!

Don't forget December Fest on Saturday Dec 10! 10:00am - 2:00pm. Join us at biggest sale of the year and customer appreciation fest! Topic: Edible landscape. Agenda:
Class @ 11:00am by Robert Riefer. How to keep pests off of maturing fruit.
Class @12:00pm Super foods by Zoe Merring. Benefits of Soursop, barbados cherry, goji, moringa. Benefits and recipes.
Prize giveaways at 12:00pm and 2:00pm
20 % discount on all plants for local customers. Snacks and drinks! Free stuff!

Best Gift suggestions

Best present - Bonus Gift Certificate - with holiday 20% discount! This offer is good til end of 12/25/2016

1) It has no expiration date;
2) Gardeners know what they want, let them make a choice;
3) Plants can be ordered in spring;
4) Your present won't be late because of possible weather-related delays.

Gift Plants that always work the best:
- Jasmine Sambac - everyone's favorite
- Lady of The Night - fragrant at night, shade tolerant and easy indoors
- Allspice - instant super spice
- Bay Rum - famous cologne fragrance plant
- Mango Cogshall - dwarf and compact, can be grown by anyone in any space
- Cordyline - indestructible showy bright foliage, great for every holiday

Special Holiday discounts for online shopping.
XMAS15 - for 15% off on orders $100 and more
XMAS20 - for 20% off on orders $150 and more
XMAS25 - for 25% off on orders $200 and more
Codes valid through Christmas day, Dec 25. Excluding S/H

December Fest on Dec 10, mark your calendars!

Topic: Edible landscape. 10:00am - 2:00pm. Agenda:

Class @ 11:00am by Robert Riefer. How to keep pests off of maturing fruit.
Class @12:00pm Super foods by Zoe Merring. Benefits of Soursop, barbados cherry, goji, moringa. Benefits and recipes.

Discounts on all edibles
Prize giveaways at 12:00pm and 2:00pm (must be present to win)

20% off After-Cyber-Monday sale! Now that everybody is done with shopping for monitors and speakers, it is time to get some happy stuff! 20% off on all fruit trees, 1 day only! Enjoy your shopping and get the plants you always wanted at a low price!