Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

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Lula Avocado The Winter Warrior of Florida. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Lula Avocado The Winter Warrior of Florida

Lula Avocado The Winter Warrior of Florida
Lula Avocado – The Winter Warrior of Florida

  • 🟢 Lula is an avocado variety that's tougher than most! Known for its frost resistance, this cultivar is perfect for homeowners and gardeners in Central Florida and around Orlando. In fact, it was once the top commercial avocado in South Florida, thanks to its ability to endure chilly winters and produce heavily even when other varieties might struggle.

  • 🟢 Lula fruits are medium to large, pear-shaped, and sometimes feature a slender neck. Their skin is smooth, with a greenish tint, enclosing pale to greenish-yellow flesh. With a 12-16% oil content, the Lula offers a creamy, rich flavor that’s a delight in guacamole or straight from the fruit. The large, tightly held seed also makes it a reliable producer, minimizing seed sprouting issues during the harvest.

  • 🟢 The harvesting season runs from November to December, offering a long production window that stands out among other avocado varieties. Originally developed from a tree planted by Mrs. Lula Cellon in 1915 near Miami, this variety has proven its early bearing nature and heavy yields, making it ideal for both home gardeners and small orchard owners.

  • 🟢 If you're looking for an avocado tree that thrives in Central Florida's conditions, bears flavorful fruit, and can withstand the cold, Lula is your go-to! Just give it plenty of space to grow tall and enjoy years of delicious harvests.


📚 Learn more about Avocado varieties

🛒Plant Avocado Lula

#Food_Forest #Avocado

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What is the most popular fragrant Lady of the Night. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What is the most popular fragrant Lady of the Night

What is the most popular fragrant Lady of the Night
What is the most popular fragrant Lady of the Night

  • Looking to add a little magic to your garden? Brunfelsia americana - Lady of the night - is all time favorite of fragrant gardens.

  • This Brazilian beauty isn't your ordinary shrub - it grows compact, loves partial shade, and rewards you with creamy white flowers that release their sweetest fragrance under the cover of darkness. It's like nature's way of setting the mood for evening strolls!

  • Plus, its blooms are irresistible to butterflies and hummingbirds, turning your garden into a lively stage.

  • Lady of the Night is like having a fragrant garden party that starts when the sun goes down. Low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly, and elegant - what more could you want? Whether outdoors or in, this shrub will bring charm and excitement to any space, day or night!


🛒 Plant fragrant Brunfelsia

#Perfume_Plants #Shade_Garden

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How a fast-growing screen becomes a honey-fragrant wildlife attractor. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

How a fast-growing screen becomes a honey-fragrant wildlife attractor

Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa

Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa

😊 How a fast-growing screen becomes a honey-fragrant wildlife attractor
  • 🐝 Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa - is a delightful evergreen shrub that's as tough as it is charming!
  • 🐝 This large, multi-stem shrub can reach 15 feet tall and wide and sports thorny branches - a real character with a wild streak! But don't let the thorns scare you off; it offers rewards aplenty.
  • 🐝 Its canary-yellow, powder-puff flowers bloom all winter through spring, filling the air with a honey-like fragrance that attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
  • 🐝 This plant doesn't just survive - it thrives in poor soils, tolerates drought and alkaline conditions, and grows incredibly fast!
  • 🐝 Whether you're planting it as a privacy screen or just looking for a pop of cheerful color during chilly months, this hardy shrub keeps its evergreen leaves even through cold snaps when other plants throw in the towel.
  • 🐝 Native to Mexico and Central America, Sweet Mimosa has spread its charm far and wide, becoming popular in southern U.S. landscapes like Florida, Texas, and Arizona. It even finds use in perfume production with its flowers contributing to the fragrance known as "cassie" in Europe.
  • 🐝 Every gardener should have this resilient plant ready to brighten the garden and attract wildlife year-round!


🛒 Plant Sweet Mimosa

#Butterfly_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits

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How to grow Jackfruit in a pot:
the biggest fruit in the world

Jackfruit - Artocarpus heterophyllus

Q: Can I grow Jackfruit in a pot?

A: Yes, you can! Jackfruit trees, despite producing the largest tree-borne fruit in the world - up to 80 pounds and 36 inches long - can thrive and fruit in containers. The tree has a clever feature: it grows fruit only at the base of the trunk, allowing you to manage its height and size. With regular pruning, the tree can stay compact at just 6-7 feet tall, making it perfect for pot culture.

1. Getting started: pot sizes and growth tips

Start with: A 3-7 gallon container.
As it grows: Gradually increase to a 15-25 gallon pot by the time it reaches fruiting size (2-4 years).
Pruning is key: Keep the tree topped at 6-7 feet to focus its energy on fruit production.
Fertilize regularly: Use high-quality plant food like Sunshine Boosters C-Cibus to promote healthy growth and fruit development. C-Cibus is the best natural plant food for fruit and edibles.

2. Fun facts about Jackfruit - Artocarpus heterophyllus

Jackfruit - Artocarpus heterophyllus

A mature Jackfruit tree can produce 200 pounds of fruit per year.
The fruit consists of large, sweet, yellow bulbs with a banana-like aroma.
Seedlings start fruiting within 3-4 years, with fruits ripening in just 4-6 months after flowering.

3. Cold tolerance of Jackfruit trees

Though often thought of as ultra-tropical, mature trees can withstand light frost for short periods without major damage. Keeping Jackfruit in pots also offers an easy way to move them indoors during cold spells if you're in a cooler climate.

4. Secrets for successful Jackfruit production

- Frost-free temperatures are essential.
- Use rich, organic soil with compost, manure, or peat moss.
- Maintain moist soil with regular watering.
- Constant pruning to keep the tree under 7 feet promotes healthy fruiting.
- Apply fertilizer and microelements regularly for better fruit quality.

By following these tips, you'll be able to enjoy the world's biggest fruit right from your patio!

Jackfruit - Artocarpus heterophyllus

Learn more:
About Jackfruit
How to grow the biggest fruit on Earth
Cheena - Jackedack

Videos:
Jackfruit Fruit

Jackfruit - Artocarpus heterophyllus

Jackfruit - Artocarpus heterophyllus