Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 25 Jun 2019

How soon will Guava tree fruit?

Q: Can you tell me how your Guava trees are propagated? Grown from seed vs. air grafted, etc.? I'm interested especially in the Barbie variety. In particular, I'd like to know how long it takes them to bear fruit - I live in Southern California zone 10b, with good sunlight.

A: Guavas can be propagated by seed, air layers, or grafting. Propagation method depends on the species.
Cattley guavas - Psidium littorale - are usually grown from seeds and start flowering and producing as early as in 2-3 years from seed. Tropical guavas, Psidium guajava - especially named varieties, are propagated usually by air layers, and the rarest varieties like Variegated Honey Moon are often grafted, although they will come true from seed (it's just takes them longer to fruit). Both air-layered and grafted plants start producing right away, usually on the same year of planting or next year, depending on growing conditions.
Barbie Pink is a superior variety, very popular among fruit lovers. It produces large aromatic fruit with a bright pink pulp and very few seeds. This variety is air-layered; in our nursery, these plants start flowering and setting fruit in 3 gal containers.
Plant this tree in full sun and provide regular watering, guavas don't like to dry out. Use fertile soil, with at least 50% of compost, and add some soil conditioning components for better drainage: bark, sand, perlite, etc. Mulch well, just make sure to keep mulch 2-3"away from the trunk. Follow our detailed planting instructions that come with every plant, and you are good to go!

Recommended fertilizers:

Fruit Festival Plant Food - Super Crop Booster
Mango-Food - Smart Release Fruit Tree Booster

Date: 8 Mar 2019

Champaca tree during Spring

TopTropicals.com

Q: The Joy Tree that I purchased from you is going fine but the leaves have brown tips that shriveled up. How can I avoid this?

A: All Magnolias prefer rich and moist soils. These are some useful tips for growing Magnolia champaca:
- when planting in the ground, dig a big hole and replace sandy old soil with a rich organic mix containing compost and lots of peat moss to retain moisture.
- water daily for the first few months until the tree is well-established and root system is large and strong.
- use a large amount of mulch around planting
- remember that during springtime (especially March through May) champacas go through the semi-deciduous stage and lose a lot of leaves. Sometimes the tree may start looking drying out - all the sudden, overnight. Give it a few weeks and you will notice new light green re-leafing that will dress up your tree when the time comes.

Check out Champaca trees:

TopTropicals.com

Date: 3 May 2024

NEW VIDEO:
Sunflower Tree for a Happy Garden

Sunflower Tree, or Tree Marigold, is a fast-growing shrub, an ideal option for quickly concealing unsightly areas with its rapid growth. Not only does it provide effective coverage, but it also boasts cheerful, sunflower-like blooms. Reaching heights and widths of approximately 10 feet, this resilient plant withstands light freezes and rejuvenates vigorously each spring. Sunflower - is for Happy Garden!

Tithonia  diversifolia  -  Sunflower  tree

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Date: 13 Jun 2024

June 15: join us for our
Summer Plant Market Extravaganza!

June  15,  2024  -  SATURDAY  -  Summer  Plant  Market

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

Kristi  at  Top  Tropicals

Date: 15 Jul 2024

Five most useful edibles for your Food Forest

Tropical  Food  Forest  collage

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:

Hibiscus  sabdariffa  -  Flor  de  Jamaica,  Karkade  Sorrel

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.

Gynura  procubens  -  Longevity  Spinach,  Cholesterol  spinach

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 >>

Cymbopogon  citratus  -  Lemon  grass

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 >>

Cymbopogon  citratus  -  Lemon  grass

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.

Lippia  dulcis  -  Aztec  Sweet  Herb,  Sweetleaf

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.

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