Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Valencia Pride mango - a stunning shade tree with red-blushed, fiberless, honeyed fruit.
Mango Rainbow🌈

Valencia Pride is a vigorous Florida heirloom - a Haden seedling from 1941, famed for its large, oblong-sigmoid fruit with yellow skin and crimson blush. The nearly fiberless, firm flesh is juicy and flavorful, offering sweet-tart notes of honey, coconut, and stone fruit . The tree grows tall and open, making it ideal for shade in zones 9-11, and is moderately cold-hardy with good disease resistance. It ripens mid- to late summer (July-August in Florida) and produces reliably once established.

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📚 Previous posts: #Mango_Rainbow - varieties you should try

#Food_Forest #Mango #Mango_Rainbow

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🌈 What is a good late-season Mango? Gold Nugget, a late-season fiberless gem

Gold Nugget, developed in Florida in the 1990s and patented in 1990, likely originated from Kent seedling parentage . The fruit is large, oval, about a pound, with yellow‑orange skin and occasional pink blush. Inside, it offers firm, fiberless yellow flesh with a mild, classic mango flavor. The vigorous tree is spreading and prolific, ripening fruit from late July through August in Florida, and exhibits strong resistance to bacterial black spot. An excellent choice for late-season harvest and home dooryard planting.

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📚 Previous posts: #Mango_Rainbow - varieties you should try

#Food_Forest #Mango #Mango_Rainbow

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😳 Bob is planning his next attack

"The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear." - Democritus

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats #Quotes

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🏵 What is the most wanted fragrant plant ever?

• 
  💮 We are revealing a secret, because this plant... was a creator of Top Tropicals: fragrant Jasminum Sambac.
• 
  💮 Here is the reason why every gardener wants to have this plant: the fragrance is so wonderful, it will attract you like a bee to a honey and make you feel GOOD!
• 
  💮 This video contains a unique information - a guide to different varieties of this fascinating plant - fragrant Jasmine Sambac:

📱

🛒 Shop Jasmine Sambaс - add tropical perfume to your garden

#Perfume_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits

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🐘 Charming Elephant Ears: Alocasia vs. Colocasia - which one is better?

Alocasias and Colocasias, or Elephant Ears, are both remarkable and popular plants that can bring a tropical exotic touch to your garden, pond, or pool area. Why are they so popular - and which one should you choose?

• 🍀 Why gardeners love Elephant Ears

• ✔️ Tropical appeal: Bold, architectural foliage creates a lush, exotic atmosphere.
• ✔️ Striking leaves: Huge heart- or arrow-shaped leaves in green, purple, black, or variegated tones.
• ✔️ Versatile placement: Ideal for containers, garden beds, water features, or borders.
• ✔️ Low maintenance: Thrive in part shade with moist soil and occasional fertilizer.
• ✔️ Big impact: Some varieties reach over 6 ft tall, adding strong vertical structure.

🍀 Alocasia vs. Colocasia - what's the difference?

• 🟢Leaf shape: Alocasia = upright, arrow-shaped; Colocasia = drooping, heart-shaped.
• 🟢Leaf texture: Alocasia = glossy; Colocasia = more matte.
• 🟢Stem color: Alocasia = green; Colocasia = often purplish.
• 🟢Light and soil: Alocasia prefers bright, indirect light and good drainage; Colocasia loves shade and wet soil.
• 🟢Cold tolerance: Colocasia is generally more cold-hardy and water-tolerant.

📚 Learn more:

• ▫️A Beautiful and Edible Delight: Colocasia antiquorum Illustris
• ▫️How can you use Elephant Ears?
• ▫️What to plant by the pond?
• ▫️Pharaoh Mask with stunning 3D effect
• ▫️Mojito Elephant Ears
• ▫️Colocasia vs Alocasia - what is the difference?

🛒 Go big with giant leaves!

#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden

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✍️ 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 ⤵️

🛒 Shop Loquat Trees and enjoy fresh fruit benefits

#Food_Forest #Loquat

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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.

#Food_Forest #Discover

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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

📚 More adeniums

#Nature_Wonders #Container_Garden #Fun_Facts #Adenium

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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!

📚 More adeniums

#Nature_Wonders #Container_Garden #Fun_Facts #Adenium

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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

#Food_Forest #Avocado #How_to

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