✍️ From seed to fruit. How to grow Loquat from seeds, step-by-step guide. Part 1: planting seeds

• 🍑 1. Harvesting and Preparing Seeds

• ▫️Harvest: Select ripe Loquat fruits (when they are bright yellow color) and remove 1-3 seeds from each.
• ▫️Clean: Rinse seeds thoroughly in cool water to remove all fruit residue. Like with every fruit seeds, any pulp leftover may prevent germination and/or cause rot of the seeds.
• ▫️Storage: If not planting immediately, wrap seeds in a damp paper towel and store in a vented container with moist sawdust or moss (to avoid drying out) at room temperature (if stored a few days) or at 40F if stored for over a week. Seeds can remain viable for up to 3-6 months. Refrigerating the fruit doesn't harm the seeds, although may take seeds longer to germinate. If the seeds are slightly dry, soak them in water overnight.

• 🍑 2. Planting Seeds

▫️Container: Use a pot with a good drainage.

• ▫️Soil: Fill with well-draining, soilless potting mix (no compost or top soil). Perfect seed germination mix is Abundance Mix: peat moss (or coconut fiber) - 80%, perlite - 10%, small pieces of pine bark - 10%.
• ▫️Depth: Plant seeds 1" deep. Place them horizontally.
• ▫️Spacing: Multiple seeds can be planted in one pot or tray (with drainage holes); space them adequately. You can use so called “community pots”, then separate the seedlings once they reach 2-4" in height.

🍑 3. Germination Conditions

• ▫️Light: Place the pot in a bright, warm area with temperatures at least (and above) 70F . The warmer, the faster the germination. We germinate seeds in a "hot house" where temperatures can reach 100F.
• ▫️Moisture: Keep the soil consistently moist but not wet.
• ▫️Germination Time: Loquat seeds germinate within 2-4 weeks.

Continued in next post ⤵️

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💖 How long until I get fruit from my Lychee tree?

• 🍓 Is your Lychee tree ever going to fruit? Yes!
• 🍓 A Lychee tree grown from an air-layered plant (Litchi chinensis) can start flowering and setting fruit right away, with good crops to be expected within 3 to 5 years, but don’t expect fruit every season. Lychees are often alternate bearers, meaning they may produce a heavy crop one year and little to none the next. Factors like variety, weather, and the tree's health affect this cycle.
• 🍓 Lychees cannot be reliably grown from seed or grafted, as seedlings lack the necessary mycorrhizal environment found under mature trees. For best results, always start with a quality air-layered tree from a trusted source.

🛒 Shop Lychee varieties

📚 Learn more:

• 🔘 Why my Lychee tree is not producing fruit and why I can't grow a Lychee tree from a seed?
• 🔘 How to grow a Lychee tree and have a reliable crop. Practical Guide to Growing Lychee.
• 🔘 What are the best varieties of Lychee Tree?
• 🔘 The best fruit in the world: how to grow your own Lychee tree.

🎥 In the video: This Lychee Mauritus tree (very productive variety) was planted last year, and already has fruited; this is the second year crop.

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🏆Three shades of gold, one legendary bloom

• 🏆 Adenium Thong Samsee has flowers at different stages on the same plant - from pink to yellow and white, creating the impression of a whole garden in bloom!
• 
  🏆 The name Thong Samsee comes from the Thai language and consists of three words:


Thong (ทอง) = "gold"
Sam (สาม) = "three"
See (สี) = "color"

Thus, Thong Samsee can be translated as "three golden colors" or "golden triple coloration", or simply "three-color".
• 
  🏆 This name refers to the variety's unique trait: its flowers go through three color stages - from soft yellow to pink and nearly white - creating the impression of multiple shades on one plant.
• 
  🏆 In Thai culture, the word (ทอง) - "gold" - symbolizes wealth and prosperity, while the number three can be associated with harmony and completeness. Therefore, the name of the variety may carry a wish for beauty and good fortune.

See photos of actual Adenium Thong Samsee in next post 👇

🛒 Get your golden trio now

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🍬 Don't eat this candy… it's too pretty to unwrap!

• 🍬 Adenium Candy is pure sugar for the eyes! Its cheerful yellow petals are dipped in cherry red like a summer lollipop, with layer upon layer of sweet swirls that look almost good enough to taste.
• 🍬 But don't be fooled - this sugary beauty is all flower, no calories! Like most members of Apocinaceae plant family, Adenium sap can be irritating and poisonous iа digested.
• 🍬 With its bold colors and ruffled texture, Candy is a joyful little show-off and a must-have for your garden candy shop. See photos of actual Candy Adenium in next post 👇

🛒 Add Candy to your garden!

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How to grow cold-hardy avocados and how cold-hardy are they?

Growing avocados in colder regions is possible with the right variety and care. By selecting Cold Hardy varieties, ensuring proper care, and taking protective steps during cold spells, you can successfully grow avocados outside of tropical climates.

The more established your tree, the better it will tolerate colder weather.

🌡 What is Avocado cold hardiness?

Avocados are sensitive to freezing temperatures but some Mexican varieties are cold-hardy, surviving temperatures as low as 15F once established. With proper care, some can endure brief cold snaps down to 10F.

• 👉 Cold hardiness depends on several factors, including:

• 🟢 Duration of cold: How long the tree is exposed to freezing temperatures.
• 🟢 Sun exposure: Trees with more sunlight tend to handle cold better.
• 🟢 Wind protection: Wind can make cold weather more damaging.
• 🟢 Tree health: Proper care, including fertilization, can improve cold tolerance.

❄️ How to protect avocados from cold

If you're growing avocados in a cooler climate, it's essential to protect them from harsh cold. Here are some tips:

• 🟢 Bigger is Better: Larger, more established trees are generally more cold-tolerant than young ones.
• 🟢 Wind Protection: Cold winds can be more damaging than the temperature itself. Plant your avocado in a sheltered spot, such as on the south or southeast side of a building, where it’s protected from strong winds.
• 🟢 Good Fertilization: A healthy tree is more likely to withstand cold. Make sure your avocado receives regular fertilization throughout the growing season to keep it strong.
• 🟢 Watering: Avocados need regular watering, but during winter, they require much less water. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot in cold conditions.

✍️ Specific protection for young plants

• 🟢 Covering and mulching: When a freeze is expected, mound mulch around the trunk to insulate the roots and cover the tree with a blanket for warmth. For extra protection, use Christmas lights or a small heater under the cover, following safety precautions.
• 🟢 Microclimates matter: Plant your tree closer to a building for better cold protection. Placing it in the warmest part of your landscape will help it get more heat during winter.
• 🟢 With proper care and protection, you can enjoy fresh avocados even in cooler climates!

🛒  Shop Cold Hardy Avocados

📚Learn more:

• · Can I Grow Avocado Outside the Tropics?
• · Avocado Variety Guide
• · Posts about #Avocado

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🍯 Finally: a sugar that is good for your health!

• 🍩 Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) - the Brown Sugar fruit that loves you back with a health kick! Sapodilla is a delicious tropical fruit with soft, brown, sweet flesh and a malty, caramel-like flavor. It's loved not just for its unique taste, but also for its rich nutritional and medicinal value. Sapodilla is a sweet, nourishing fruit that doubles as a natural energy snack and a digestive aid.

🍴 Culinary Benefits: The sweet you don't have to feel guilty about!

• 🍩 Eaten fresh - Just scoop the flesh out and enjoy! Tastes like brown sugar or caramel with a hint of pear.
• 🍩 Smoothies and shakes - Adds creamy sweetness without the need for added sugar.
• 🍩 Desserts - Used in ice cream, custards, or fruit salads.
• 🍩 Jams, preserves - Makes a rich, flavorful jam.
• 🍩 Dried sapodilla - Can be sun-dried like dates for a chewy, candy-like snack.

💚 Sapodilla's Health Benefits:

• 🍩 Rich in fiber - Helps regulate digestion, prevent constipation, and support gut health.
• 🍩 Natural energy booster - High in natural sugars and calories, great for quick energy.
• 🍩 Packed with antioxidants - Contains polyphenols and flavonoids that help fight inflammation and cell damage.
• 🍩 Vitamins A, C - Supports eye health, immune function, and skin regeneration.
• 🍩 Iron, potassium, and folate - Supports blood health and may help maintain heart function and blood pressure.

🛒 Grow your own Sugar Fruit

📚 Learn more:
When does Sapodilla start fruiting and what is the best variety
New variety of Sapodilla: Thai Brownie

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🔥 What banana fits anywhere? Meet the world's smallest banana tree - big flavor in a tiny package

• Banana Truly Tiny is one of the most in-demand banana plants for collectors, small-space gardeners, and anyone who wants to grow bananas indoors. Here's why:
• World's Smallest Banana Plant: As the name suggests, it’s the most compact edible banana variety. It grows just 2-3 feet tall, making it perfect for apartments, balconies, or desktops.
• Edible Mini Bananas: Yes, it produces real, sweet, snack-sized bananas - not just an ornamental plant! The fruit is delicious and just the right size for kids or snacking.
• Perfect for Containers: Its dwarf size makes it ideal for pots. You don’t need a yard or greenhouse - just a sunny window or patio.
• Cute, Decorative, and Functional: It’s both a conversation piece and a fruit producer. Great for gifts, collectors, and home décor.
• Indoor-Friendly: One of the few banana plants that thrives indoors with good light and care. It also stays manageable and won’t outgrow your space.
• Fast-Growing and Fun: Like other bananas, it grows quickly and is exciting to watch - perfect for kids, first-time growers, and anyone who wants a rewarding plant.
• Why Everyone Wants Truly Tiny? Because it’s the cutest banana plant in the world, and it actually produces fruit! Whether you're a collector or just want something exotic and productive in a small space, Truly Tiny is in a league of its own.

🛒 Get Truly Tiny - the cutest banana you'll ever grow!

📚 Learn more about #Bananas

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🍌 How to double your banana crop without extra space

• 🍌 Double Mahoi - is a Cavendish banana variety that typically produces a double stalk of bananas in its second year, boosting the harvest. It is one of the most popular banana varieties for home growers - and for good reason! Here's what makes it so great:
• 🍌 Double the Fruit: After the first fruiting, this variety often produces a second flower stalk - two harvests from one plant, which is rare among bananas.
• 🍌 Heavy Producer: Known for large, dense bunches of sweet, dessert-type bananas. One plant can produce up to 100 bananas per cycle!
• 🍌 Dwarf Size: Grows only about 6 to 8 feet tall, making it perfect for smaller yards, containers, or even patios.
• 🍌 Tasty Fruit: The bananas are sweet, soft, and flavorful, similar to the classic Cavendish but often fresher and more satisfying.
• 🍌 Self-Pollinating & Reliable: Easy to grow, doesn't need another plant to fruit, and performs well with basic care.
• 🍌 Great for Containers: Compact growth and fast fruiting make it ideal for container growing - even indoors with enough light.
• 🍌 Fast Fruiting: Can begin producing in 12-18 months under good conditions.
• 🍌 Why everyone wants Double Mahoi Banana? Because it's the most productive dwarf banana for home gardens. You get lots of fruit, it doesn't take up much space, and you can grow it in almost any warm climate - or in a pot anywhere else. Double Mahoi is the go-to banana for gardeners who want reliable harvests in a small footprint.

🛒 Grow twice the Bananas - plant Double Mahoi

📚 Learn more about #Bananas

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🐈 Purrrfect Mother

"There is no way to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one." - Jill Churchill

📸 Josephine, the street-smart cat, came with a litter (of course!) but quickly proved to be the purrfect mom to her kittens. Her son Charlie Jr. and other 3 kids - Philemon, Sushi and Lily - definitely hit the jackpot at Top Tropicals Sebring Farm!

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
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