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Date:

Tropical Seeds You Should Start Now for Spring Planting

Cat planting seeds

Eight fast-growing, rewarding tropical perennials
to start from seed

Q: What tropical seeds can I start now so the seedlings will be ready for spring planting and produce flowers or fruit this year?

A: Many tropical plants grow quickly from seed and can mature within the same year, rewarding you with flowers or even fruit. Some of these tropical perennials can even be grown as annuals in cooler climates! The key is to start them early indoors, then transplant them outdoors as soon as warm weather arrives. With just a little planning, you can enjoy vibrant blooms and a harvest in just weeks or a few months. Below are some of the fastest-growing tropicals to try for a lush, same-year garden.

1. Pigeon Pea

Cajanus cajan Bicolor Fuerte - Pigeon Pea

Cajanus cajan Bicolor Fuerte - Pigeon Pea - is an ancient superfood cultivated for over 4,800 years, with roots in India and Ancient Egypt. This hardy, drought-tolerant perennial shrub produces nutritious, protein-rich beans used in rice dishes, soups, and even tofu. Easy to grow, it thrives in poor soils, improves soil quality, and offers medicinal benefits, making it a valuable plant for both gardens and kitchens. Seed to crop in just one season!

2. Lipstick Tree - Annatto

Bixa orellana - The Lipstick Tree

Bixa orellana - The Lipstick Tree, native to South America, is a striking shrub with large leaves, pink flowers, and vibrant red seeds. Its seeds produce Annatto, a natural pigment used in cosmetics, especially lipstick, as well as in culinary applications for its color and mild, peppery flavor. Beyond its beauty and versatility, annatto offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, while the plant itself makes an excellent hedge or ornamental feature.

3. Mexican Bird of Paradise

Caesalpinia mexicana - Mexican Bird of Paradise

Caesalpinia mexicana - Mexican Bird of Paradise - is a rare gem among tropical shrubs, offering fragrant butter-yellow blooms that stand out against its feathery green foliage. A heat-loving, drought-tolerant plant, it attracts hummingbirds and can be grown as a compact shrub or small tree. Native to northern Mexico, it thrives in full sun with minimal water, making it a low-maintenance yet striking addition to any garden or patio.

4. Tree Calliandra

Calliandra houstoniana - Tree Calliandra

Calliandra houstoniana - Tree Calliandra is the only tree-form Powderpuff, growing into a lush, bushy tree in just one season. Its fluffy pink blooms appear year-round, drawing in hummingbirds and butterflies for a nonstop display of color and life. Super fast-growing and beautiful, it's a must-have for wildlife-friendly gardens!

5. Butterfly Pea - Clitoria

Clitoria ternatea - Butterfly Pea

Clitoria ternatea - Butterfly Pea - is a stunning vine with vibrant blue, white, or purple flowers that captivate both gardeners and pollinators. Beyond its beauty, it's prized for its herbal benefits, with its flowers used in teas for stress relief and cognitive support. The famous Blue Tea, a caffeine-free infusion, turns purple with a splash of lemon, making it both a visual delight and a health-boosting drink. Fast-growing and easy to manage, this delicate yet vigorous vine is perfect for fences, trellises, and containers. Seed to crop in just one season!

6. Cas Guava

Guava Cas, Psidium friedrichsthalianum

Psidium friedrichsthalianum - Costa Rican Guava, or Cas Guava, is a super sour fruit with four times more vitamin C than a lemon, making it a powerhouse for immune support. Popular in Costa Rica's "Agua de Cas", its tangy juice is perfect for refreshing drinks. Hardy and resilient, this low-maintenance tree thrives in poor soils while resisting pests and diseases. This is the fastest growing and the most productive guava tree with 2-3 crops per year! From seed to crop: 3 years.

7. Agua de Flor de Jamaica - Karkade Tea

Hibiscus sabdariffa, Roselle), Karkade Tea

The most health-beneficial hibiscus is Hibiscus sabdariffa (Roselle), known for its deep red calyces used in Agua de Flor de Jamaica and Karkade Tea. This tart, refreshing tea is packed with antioxidants and supports heart health, digestion, and immune function. A fast-growing plant, it goes from seed to a lush, flower-filled bush in just one season! From seed to crop: in just 3 months!

8. Dwarf Papaya TR Hovey

Guava Cas, Psidium friedrichsthalianum

Papaya Dwarf TR Hovey, Carica papaya - is a dwarf marvel, reaching only 4-5 feet tall while producing giant, melon-sized sweet papayas! This compact variety is perfect for small gardens and container growing, offering big fruit on a tiny tree - a true space-saving tropical treasure! Only 2 years from seed to fruit.

Date:

Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Papaya fruit (Carica papaya)

Papaya fruit (Carica papaya)

🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 7: Papaya Tree.
  • 🍊 Papaya Trees (Carica papaya) - are resilient, easy to grow, and deliver year-round fruit.
  • 🍊 Superfood Benefits: Rich in papain, a digestive enzyme that promotes gut health.
  • 🍊 Fast Fruiting: Papayas often start producing the same year they're planted, offering quick rewards for gardeners seeking quick rewards.
  • 🍊 Space-Efficient: Many varieties, especially dwarfs, reach only 6-8 feet tall yet produce large crops, ideal for small gardens.
  • 🍊 Cold and Wind Resistant: Papayas can withstand light freezes and strong winds, making them surprisingly hardy for a tropical plant.
  • 🍊 Self-Fertile, but Better with Multiple Trees: Planting 2-3 different cultivars ensures better pollination and higher yields.
  • 🍊 Solo Cultivars: Smaller, round or oval papayas are sweet and less susceptible to fruit flies.


📚 Learn more from previous posts:

🛒 Shop Papaya Trees

#Food_Forest #Papaya

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Discover 10 best fruit trees to grow
in Florida and Southern landscapes

10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida, collage

Q: We recently moved into our new home in Florida, and the property is a great size - 5 acres - but it currently has no trees, just a few palms. I'm looking to plant some productive fruit trees to start building our own Food Forest. What fruit trees would you recommend as a good starting point?

A: With five acres of space, you have a fantastic opportunity to create a fruitful garden that can provide for your family for many years to come. Below are our top recommendations for must-have, easy-to-grow fruit trees that thrive in Florida's climate, grow quickly, and start producing right away.

1. Mango Tree

Mango fruit

Mango trees (Mangifera indica) are a must-have for any Florida garden, embodying the essence of the Sunshine State with their delicious and nutritious fruit packed with vitamins and fiber. These fast-growing, low-maintenance trees thrive with minimal water and are heat-tolerant. Grafted varieties produce high-quality, fiberless fruit in just 2-3 years, while dwarf "condo" mangoes are perfect for smaller spaces or containers. While young trees need frost protection, mature trees handle cold better. Grafted mangoes offer rich taste that you won't find in commercially grown, fibrous varieties, ensuring a sweet and vibrant harvest from your own garden.

2. Avocado Tree

Avocado fruit

The Avocado tree (Persea americana) is an essential addition to any tropical or subtropical garden. Known for its health benefits and superfood status, it's a favorite fruit that's not only productive but also a beautiful ornamental tree. Some avocado varieties are more cold-tolerant than mango trees, with the ability to survive temperatures below 25F. While many enjoy growing avocado from seed, only grafted trees guarantee quality fruit and immediate production, as seedlings can take 7-8 years to bear fruit. To successfully grow avocado, ensure good drainage by planting on a raised mound (4-6 inches) and keep the soil consistently moist. There are also compact varieties like Wurtz and Fuerte that thrive in containers or small spaces, making them ideal for patios and small gardens.

3. Tropical Cherries

Eugenia Lolita cherry fruit

Tropical cherries, such as Cherry of the Rio Grande (Eugenia aggregata), Grumichama (Eugenia brazilensis), Pitomba (Eugenia luschnathiana), and Black Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uniflora var. Lolita), are popular and easy-to-grow fruit trees that offer fast growth and excellent fruit production. These compact, versatile trees thrive in both the ground and containers, starting to produce fruit almost immediately. Eugenias are low-maintenance, requiring minimal water, thriving in various soil types, and being pest-free. They are heat-tolerant and can endure cool winters, surviving light frosts. Birds love the fruit, but don't worry - there will always be plenty for everyone.

4. Barbados Cherry Tree

Malpighia Barbados cherry fruit on a branch

Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra), also known as Acerola, is a tropical cherry renowned for having the highest vitamin C content of any fruit. This nutrient-packed fruit is perfect for jellies, jams, and freezing without losing its vitamin C. The Barbados Cherry is a fast-growing, dense shrub that fruits multiple times a year, providing abundant harvests for gardeners seeking quick results. It thrives in alkaline soil, tolerates drought, and is relatively cold-hardy, withstanding light freezes. Birds love the fruit, making it a great addition to wildlife-friendly gardens. The dwarf variety, Nana, with its small leaves and fruit, is perfect for containers, borders, or even bonsai, adding ornamental value to any space.

5. Noni Tree

Morinda Noni fruit on a 
branch

The Noni Tree (Morinda citrifolia) is a top superfood plant that makes a fantastic addition to any Southern garden. Known for its numerous medicinal benefits, Noni fruit offers anti-inflammatory properties, relief from arthritis, and support for conditions like diabetes, metabolism, and weight loss. It's even believed to help fight cancer. Noni trees grow quickly and begin producing fruit within 2 years from seed. This tough, resilient plant thrives in poor soil, endures summer heat, and withstands drought conditions. Despite its tropical appearance, Noni is surprisingly cold-hardy, recovering well after leaf damage in cooler weather. In addition to its health benefits, the Noni tree has ornamental value, with large, waxy leaves and unique fruit, where the flower appears to grow directly on the fruit!

6. Macadamia Nut Tree

Macadamia nuts on a plate

The Macadamia Nut Tree (Macadamia integrifolia) is a fantastic addition to any garden, allowing you to grow these delicious, high price tag, nutrient-rich nuts right at home. These trees are cold-hardy, grow quickly, and thrive in all Florida soil types. Once established, they are productive and can tolerate both flooding and drought. Older trees can survive colder winters, while young trees need protection from temperatures below 25-26F. Macadamia trees like plenty of water and a special fertilizer program, including liquid fertilizers and microelements, to ensure healthy root development and optimal production. Aside from being rich in healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, macadamia nuts offer numerous health benefits, such as improved digestion, heart health, weight management, and blood sugar control. They are also packed with tocotrienols - antioxidants which may protect against cancer and brain diseases.

7. Papaya Tree

Papaya fruit with seeds

Papaya trees (Carica papaya) are resilient, easy to grow, and produce fruit year-round. Rich in papain, a digestive enzyme, papayas are a superfood that promotes gut health. These fast-growing trees often begin producing fruit within the same year they're planted, providing quick rewards for gardeners. Many varieties, especially dwarf papayas, are space-efficient, reaching only 6-8 feet tall while still yielding large crops, making them perfect for small gardens. Surprisingly hardy for a tropical plant, papayas can withstand light freezes and strong winds (tested in hurricanes!). While they are self-fertile, planting 2-3 different cultivars improves pollination and increases yields. "Solo" cultivars, with their smaller, round or oval fruits, are sweet and less susceptible to fruit flies.

8. Guava Tree

Pink Guava fruit

Guava trees are beloved for their flavorful fruit, commonly used in juices, drinks, and desserts. Popular varieties include Tropical Guava (Psidium guajava), Cattley Guava (Psidium littorale), Cas Guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum), and Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana). Despite their tropical nature, guavas are surprisingly cold-hardy, suitable for cooler climates and occasional frost. These trees thrive in moist conditions and can tolerate some flooding, while their compact growth makes them easy to maintain at any height or shape. Guavas are fast-fruiting, often producing fruit within a year of planting, and even some varieties in 1 gal containers. The dwarf Nana variety is perfect for container culture, producing full-sized fruit in a compact form. Guava trees are mostly pest-resistant, though mealybugs may require occasional treatment with neem oil in humid, rainy areas. Planting multiple guava trees ensures a continuous supply of fresh, juicy fruit and delicious guava juice for everyone to enjoy.

9. Jackfruit Tree

Jackfruit fruit at the base of the tree

The Jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a striking, fast-growing tree known for producing the largest fruit grown on a tree, making it a showstopper in any garden. Nutrient-packed and often used as a meat substitute in South Asian cuisine, Jackfruit is also delicious in curries, chutneys, and as dehydrated chips. These trees grow quickly, have large waxy leaves, and can be maintained at a compact height of 7-8 feet, making them ideal for smaller spaces and easier cold protection. Despite being a tropical species, Jackfruit trees are relatively cold-tolerant and can survive light frost (although on the account of production volume), with established trees being more hardy than seedlings. Jackfruit trees begin producing fruit within 3-4 years from seed, and varieties come true to seed, eliminating the need for grafting, though it can be done for specific varieties.

10. Loquat Tree

Loquat fruit on a branch

The Loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica) is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and highly cold-hardy tropical fruit tree that thrives in Florida gardens. Loquats are heavy producers, with juicy, aromatic fruit that ripens from early spring to early summer, offering a delicious apricot-like flavor. This compact tree is perfect for small gardens, beginners, and those with limited space. Loquats are undemanding, thriving in any soil and withstanding summer heat, winter cold, heavy rains, and occasional flooding. Nutrient-rich, they are high in sugar, acids, vitamins B and C, minerals, and pectin. Loquats are versatile, enjoyed fresh or used in fruit salads, jams, jellies, chutneys, pies, sauces, and even wine-making, and they are often used as a natural sweetener.

Date:

Discover 10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Tropical fruit collage

Tropical fruit collage

Date:

What is the biggest papaya fruit on the smallest tree?

Papaya TR Hovey

🔔 What is the biggest papaya fruit on the smallest tree?

🍈 We discovered an amazing Papaya variety. It is called TR Hovey. This dwarf tree is only 4-5 ft tall and yet produces giant sweet papayas size of a melon!

📚More about Papaya from earlier posts:
Carefree Garden: How Easy Is It to Grow a Papaya Tree?
Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #4 Papaya
Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #6. Papaya
How to have fresh Papaya fruit year around
Top 3 most wanted Papaya varieties
The truth about Papaya
Papayas contain a secret enzyme

🛒 Shop Papaya trees

#Food_Forest #Papaya

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

NEW VIDEO:
How to get variegated vanilla bananas.
Discovering natural banana with seeds

Variegated Banana video

with Fermin Garcia

We got a variegated banana from Thailand, planted it at our farm and started fertilizing with our famous Sunshine Rubusta (featured in our earlier blog: Sunshine Boosters Winter Use - The magic fertilizer in action.

In just a few months, it grew into a massive banana tree - one of the largest we've ever seen! Soon, a flower spike appeared, followed by variegated bananas. As they ripened, they turned yellow and developed a sweet vanilla flavor, with seeds! These are natural bananas, not modified. In today's video, we’re showing how we harvested the fruit, tasted it, and discovered the seeds...

We’ve named this banana Fermin's Vanilla Delight Banana (Musa x paradisiaca). Fermin planted the seeds and we hope to have these plants soon. Add item 6379 to your wishlist and be the first to know when they're ready!

Variegated Banana video

Use Sunshine Robusta magic fertilizer to have your bananas (and everything else) grow like crazy! It is safe to use all Sunshine Boosters year around with every watering.

Sunshine Rubusta and C-Cibus with bananas

Check out different banana varieties we have at TopTropicals - delivered to your door!

Subscribe to our Channel:

Subscribe to Top Tropicals YouTube Channel and get our latest video news of what is fruiting and blooming!

Cat with Papaya fruit

Date:

Carefree Garden:
How easy is it to grow a Papaya tree?

Cat eating Papaya fruit

Q: What is the easiest to grow fruit tree? It must tolerate, heat, rains, and hurricanes! I live in Florida.

A: Papaya is the easiest to grow fruit tree. In our garden in Florida, newly planted Papaya trees survived several hurricanes, frosts, drought and heat, and keep producing year around!

We all enjoy eating Papaya fruit every day. It is great for digestion and is a perfect naturally sweet, healthy snack. Even our PeopleCats love Papaya. Check out this short video how our cat Cash is begging for his daily Papaya treat!

Cat eating Papaya fruit

Why do we love Papaya? Fun facts about Papaya:

Not a tree: Papaya is technically a giant herb with a single, straight trunk that can grow up to 30 feet tall.

Gender flexible: Papaya plants can change their gender based on environmental conditions. This complex mechanism ensures better adaptability.

Cold and wind resistant: Papayas can withstand light freezes and strong winds, making them surprisingly hardy for a tropical plant.

Solo cultivars: These smaller, round or oval papayas are incredibly sweet and less susceptible to fruit flies.

Papaya tree and fruit

How to grow a Papaya Tree: Practical Guide

Papaya is one of the fastest fruiting plants to grow. Often starting production the same year from planting a seed, papayas are ideal for gardeners seeking quick rewards. Many dwarf varieties reach only 6-8 feet tall, yet produce large crops of full-sized fruit that are easy to harvest. Papaya trees are space-efficient, making it possible to plant multiple trees in even small gardens. Plant 2-3 different cultivars to enjoy year-round harvests of healthy, delicious fruit.

How Easy Are Papaya Trees to Grow?
Papaya trees are exceptionally easy to grow. Technically a large herbaceous plant rather than a true tree, they are resilient and adaptable. They can tolerate light freezes and even hurricane winds without significant damage. Additionally, many varieties are self-fertile, but planting multiple trees encourages better pollination and higher yields.

What Light Levels and Soil Types Are Ideal?
Papayas thrive in full sunlight, so choose a sunny spot in your garden or balcony. They prefer well-draining, fertile soil enriched with organic matter. Add compost or manure to improve soil quality and ensure healthy growth. Avoid waterlogged areas as papayas are sensitive to standing water.

How Much Watering Is Required?
Papayas need some watering to thrive, especially during the growing and fruiting seasons. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on your climate, ensuring the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. Mulching around the base helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Growing Papayas in Containers
Papayas can be successfully grown in large containers, making them ideal for gardeners in cooler regions or those with limited space. Choose a container at least 7 gallons in size with good drainage. Use a rich, well-draining potting mix, and place the container in a sunny location. Select dwarf varieties to keep the plant manageable and productive.

Health Benefits of Papaya
Papaya is considered a superfood due to its high nutritional value. Rich in the enzyme papain, it aids digestion and promotes gut health. Papaya is also an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as antioxidants that boost immunity and overall wellness. Additionally, papaya leaves can be used as wraps for cooking meats, naturally tenderizing them.

Papayas are a low-maintenance, high-reward addition to a Southern garden or greenhouse collection, whether in the ground or in a container. Their fast growth, year-round fruiting potential, and health benefits make them a must-have for gardeners and fruit enthusiasts alike.

Papaya tree and fruit

Photo above: For small gardens, limited space, or container culture, choose dwarf varieties that remain compact and short (5-8 ft tall) while producing a tremendous amount of fruit! Most productive dwarf varieties: Red Vietnam, Lady Red, TR Hovey, Wan Deng. Semi-dwarf: Waimanalo, Sunrise.

Date:

How to eat a papaya?

🍴 How to eat a papaya?

😂 Cut it open, scoop out the seeds (they're not part of the fun), peel off the skin, and chop it up. Now enjoy the tropical sweetness – no passport required!

🎥 Or, if you are desperate and have no time for prep – do it like Cash in the video!

📚More from previous posts:
Why do we love Papaya?
How easy to grow is Papaya tree?
Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #4 Papaya
Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #6. Papaya
How to have fresh Papaya fruit year around
Top 3 most wanted Papaya varieties
The truth about Papaya
Papayas contain a secret enzyme

🛒 Shop Papaya trees

#Food_Forest #PeopleCats #How_to #Papaya

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Carefree Garden: How Easy Is It to Grow a Papaya Tree?

Carefree Garden: How Easy Is It to Grow a Papaya Tree?
🤔 Carefree Garden: How Easy Is It to Grow a Papaya Tree?

👆 For the previous post:

🎮 Practical Guide to Growing Papaya

  • ❤️ Papaya is one of the fastest fruiting plants to grow.

  • Often starting production the same year from planting a seed, papayas are ideal for gardeners seeking quick rewards. Many dwarf varieties reach only 6-8 feet tall, yet produce large crops of full-sized fruit that are easy to harvest. Papaya trees are space-efficient, making it possible to plant multiple trees in even small gardens. Plant 2-3 different cultivars to enjoy year-round harvests of healthy, delicious fruit.

  • ❤️ How Easy Are Papaya Trees to Grow?

  • Papaya trees are exceptionally easy to grow. Technically a large herbaceous plant rather than a true tree, they are resilient and adaptable. They can tolerate light freezes and even hurricane winds without significant damage. Additionally, many varieties are self-fertile, but planting multiple trees encourages better pollination and higher yields.

  • ❤️ What Light Levels and Soil Types Are Ideal?

  • Papayas thrive in full sunlight, so choose a sunny spot in your garden or balcony. They prefer well-draining, fertile soil enriched with organic matter. Add compost or manure to improve soil quality and ensure healthy growth. Avoid waterlogged areas as papayas are sensitive to standing water.

  • ❤️ How Much Watering Is Required?

  • Papayas need consistent watering to thrive, especially during the growing and fruiting seasons. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on your climate, ensuring the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. Mulching around the base helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

  • ❤️ Growing Papayas in Containers

  • Papayas can be successfully grown in large containers, making them ideal for gardeners in cooler regions or those with limited space. Choose a container at least 15 gallons in size with good drainage. Use a rich, well-draining potting mix, and place the container in a sunny location. Select dwarf varieties to keep the plant manageable and productive.

  • ❤️ Health Benefits of Papaya

  • Papaya is considered a superfood due to its high nutritional value. Rich in the enzyme papain, it aids digestion and promotes gut health. Papaya is also an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as antioxidants that boost immunity and overall wellness. Additionally, papaya leaves can be used as wraps for cooking meats, naturally tenderizing them.

  • ❤️ Papayas are a low-maintenance, high-reward addition to a Southern garden or greenhouse collection, whether in the ground or in a container. Their fast growth, year-round fruiting potential, and health benefits make them a must-have for gardeners and fruit enthusiasts alike.


📚More from previous posts:
Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #4 Papaya
Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #6. Papaya
How to have fresh Papaya fruit year around
Top 3 most wanted Papaya varieties
The truth about Papaya
Papayas contain a secret enzyme

🛒 Shop Papaya trees

#Food_Forest #How_to #Papaya

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Why do we love Papaya?

Why do we love Papaya?
😘 Why do we love Papaya?

#Fun_Facts about Papaya:

  • 💟 Not a tree: Papaya is technically a giant herb with a single, straight trunk that can grow up to 30 feet tall.

  • 💟 Gender flexible: Papaya plants can change their gender based on environmental conditions. This complex mechanism ensures better adaptability.

  • 💟 Cold and wind resistant: Papayas can withstand light freezes and strong winds, making them surprisingly hardy for a tropical plant.

  • 💟 Solo cultivars: These smaller, round or oval papayas are incredibly sweet and less susceptible to fruit flies.


Learn about #How_to grow Papaya tree in our next post👇

🛒 Shop Papaya trees

#Food_Forest #Papaya

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals