Date: 13 Jun 2024
June 15: join us for our
Summer Plant Market Extravaganza!
Saturday, June 15, 9 am - 4 pm
Hi there! Rain or shine, we're ready to make it a day to remember with fantastic deals just for you:
30% OFF online prices, one day only!
(excluding those in 15 gallon sizes or larger).
Gift bags - arrive early! The first 25 customers will receive a
special gift bag!
Secret Garden: Super savings area 50-70% off
$5 and $10: Discover many plants available at just $5 and $10.
Free plant with any purchase as a token of our appreciation
Reminder: Father's Day June 16
Bring your Father with you and load up with presents of garden goodness!
Event discounts valid at both locations:
Ft Myers Garden Center: 13890 Orange River, Ft Myers, FL
Sebring B-Farm: 9100 McRoy Rd, Sebring, FL
Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform your garden and stay cool this summer. We can't wait to see you there!
Kristi @ Top Tropicals
Date: 15 Jul 2024
Five most useful edibles for your Food Forest
Tired of mowing a boring lawn? Use your yard instead of being used by your yard - grow edible landscape! Below are several plants that made our life happier and meals healthier. Besides, these are fun to grow! Try them out:
1. Hibiscus
sabdariffa - Flor de Jamaica, Karkade Sorrel - Flowers are used to make
a tea "Agua de Flor de Jamaica". Medical studies show that it lowers blood
pressure and has diuretic effects. The pleasant flavor is on the tart side
similar to a cranberry juice. We make this cold tea every day - perfect for hot
summer. Full sun.
2.
Gynura procubens - Longevity Spinach, Cholesterol spinach - one of the
Superfoods, and there are many claims that it lowers cholesterol. We use it in
our cooking all the time and so far we are all alive! Full sun.
See recipe >>
3.
Sauropus androgynus - Katuk, Tropical Asparagus. Delicious young shoots,
one of the most popular leaf vegetables in Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, people
cook it in stews and soups. It is among only a few flora containing vitamin K.
Full sun or semi-shade.
Learn more >>
4. Cymbopogon citratus - Lemon grass: Versatile performer in the kitchen where it can be used in teas, beverages, herbal medicines, Eastern inspired soups and other dishes. Full sun or semi-shade.
5. Lippia dulcis - Aztec Sweet Herb, Sweetleaf: Mexican herb with incredibly sweet leaves that can be eaten from the plant like candy or tossed into fruit salads for an unusual addition. It has been used since the time of the Aztecs for coughs and colds. Tastes great, can be used by diabetic patients. We add this herb to Karkade or Mint tea as a sweetener. Shade or semi-shade.
Date: 26 Aug 2024
Gardening for the Soul:
why your garden is healing...
"The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul." - Alfred Austin
...Healing gardens are good for your soul and morale. They can improve your mood and help with depression, and they have even been proven to increase our physical wellbeing.
...Gardening offers therapeutic benefits by providing a calming connection to nature, which reduces stress and anxiety.
...The physical activity involved improves overall health, promoting better cardiovascular function and increased strength.
...And last but not least, the act of nurturing plants fosters a sense of purpose and accomplishment, which can alleviate symptoms of depression. Spending time outdoors and in sunlight also boosts mood by increasing serotonin levels.
Date: 29 Sep 2024
Discover three must-have fruit
for every tropical garden
Q: I love tropical fruit and want to plant all of them but I have room for only a couple of trees. Help me make the best selection.
A: Here is your perfect list for 2+ fruiting plants: every tropical garden must have a Mango Tree, an Avocado Tree, and - you can plant as many as you want - Pineapples! And here is why...
1. Pineapple
Pineapple is a tropical favorite that's incredibly easy to grow, making it a perfect choice for beginners. With minimal care, Pineapples don't take mush space, you can grown them underneath other fruit trees. Plant good varieties, and when you get your crop, plant the tops and you will have your little Pineapple plantation in no time: you'll enjoy sweet, juicy fruit from those little babies in about 18-24 months. Freshly harvested pineapples are delightful in smoothies, salads, or grilled, adding a tropical flair to your garden.
2. Mango
Mango trees are not only a staple in tropical gardens but are also easy to cultivate. They flourish in sunny spots and well-drained soil, requiring little maintenance once established. These vigorous trees can yield an abundance of juicy, flavorful fruit in just a few years. They are perfect for fresh eating or adding to salsas and chutneys. Condo varieties are dwarf trees and can be grown in containers.
3. Avocado
Avocado trees are fun to grow and add both beauty and nutrition to tropical gardens. Grafted cultivars start yielding fruit within a few months with proper care. The rich, creamy avocados are a culinary favorite, perfect for salads, spreads, and smoothies. With their lush foliage and bountiful harvests, avocado trees are a fantastic choice for gardeners looking for ease and abundance.
Date: 5 Nov 2024
Plant of the month:
Lipstick Tree, Annatto
Bixa orellana - Lipstick Tree, Annatto, Achiote... Meet the plant that lipstick is made of!
The enchanting Lipstick Tree brings a splash of South American magic to your garden with its bold, heart-shaped leaves and charming pink blooms. But the real showstopper? Its vibrant seed pods brimming with annatto - a natural pigment famed for painting dishes with rich golden hues and spicing up kitchens worldwide.
Annatto isn't just a culinary delight; it's a beauty secret too, adding natural, radiant color to lipsticks and cosmetics. Beyond its practical uses, Bixa makes a striking hedge or screen, adding both beauty and function. This tree is your garden's ticket to tropical flair and everyday usefulness!
