Date: 19 Jul 2019
How to grow Soursop in a pot
Q: Is it possible to grow soursop in a large pot for life?
A: Soursop, or Guanabana - Annona muricata - is actually one of those tropicals fruit trees that
can be easily cultivated in a container. Most plants of genus Annona have compact nature, and these fruit trees usually start
production at a young age, as early as 3 years from seed. Annona muricata
seedlings take a little longer to fruit, this is why we offer grafted trees, which can start producing right away.
We have a very interesting article about growing Soursop in an
apartment. The article was written by an indoor gardener who lives in a very small
apartment in Moscow, Russia. He grew this tree from seed and after years of
cultivation fun, he finally got several large delicious fruit! It is an amazing
story. We have it published in our Tropical Treasures magazine, download the whole issue #7, get a hard copy, or you may download PDF file of the single article.
Recommended fertilizers and supplements:
Fruit Festival Plant Food - Super Crop Booster
Mango-Food - Smart Release Fruit Tree Booster
SUNSHINE-Honey - sugar booster
Date: 8 Jun 2019
Chosing a good avocado tree
Q: I'm in coastal Broward County. I'm putting together an order on your web site, and one thing that I would like is an avocado tree. I'd like to have something as close to true "Hass" as possible. Which cultivar does well here in SE Florida, and is most like Hass in texture, creaminess, and flavor? I'm not a big fan of the yellow watery Florida avocados.
A: Mexican type of Avocado have dark skin and buttery texture,
while Florida green fruit types (West Indian type, with smooth skin), have lots
of delicious melting pulp, so it is a matter of preference.
In coastal Broward county you can grow a wide range of varieties since
your climate is very mild, so you don't have select cold-hardy varieties like
Winter Mexican, Brazos Belle or Joey, etc. Yet there are many interesting varieties that rare and much
more exclusive than Hass, with the same, or even better, quality buttery
fruit.
One of the most popular varieties - Brogdon, with red-purple colored pear-shaped fruit, very thin skin, and yellow buttery flesh. It is also very cold hardy.
Very interesting exotic avocado is Kampong - Sushi Avocado - see photo above. The flavor of this fruit very nice, oily, creamy, nutty, reminds of almonds. At the same time, it has solid consistency and if you cut a square it remains a shape of the square. It is the best Sushi Avocado! It tastes great as an appetizer when cut in squares with some shrimp cocktail sauce.
Three collectible varieties:
Anise - leaves that smell like Anise, very rare, the fruit is of excellent
quality, creamy and buttery.
Bacon - a large Mexican variety with dark-skinned medium-sized fruits, and
a rich creamy flavor. It has exceptional fruit that ripen in late fall and
into spring, they are easy to peel and have a light, subtle flavor. Another
outstanding feature of the Bacon avocado tree is its angelic sweeping branches
which helps keep the tree shorter and easier to pick its fruit.
Nishikawa is a very hot seller! Oval fruit somewhat resembles Hass, but
larger, and has very high oil content.
See all Avocado trees from our store
Recommended fertilizers:
Fruit Festival Plant Food - Super Crop Booster
Mango-Food - Smart Release Fruit Tree Booster
Date: 14 May 2019
How to get gingers to bloom
Q: I have several gingers in my yard, including Red Torch, Lobster Claw, and Red Bamboo Ginger, they grow beautifully but only produce large dark green leaves and no flowers. Is there anything I can do to make them bloom? Do they need any special fertilizer?
A: Gingers are easy to grow tropical plants with so many benefits, giving us unique spice, and showy flowers (including long-lasting cut flowers!) - where other plants fail, especially in deep shade. They are not fussy about soils and even water once established. To keep your gingers happy, follow these simple steps:
1. Bright light is essential for flowering, but planting gingers in
semi-shade or filtered light will keep them stress-free from burning summer rays.
2. Water gingers regularly until they established and start producing
new leaves and stems. Once they start clumping, you may reduce watering to a
minimum 9once a week or so), or rely on your sprinkler system.
3. Once the plant is established, start using fertilizer to induce
flowering and healthy growth.
- We recommend granulated "smart release" fertilizer for all tropical
plants. For gingers, the best formula is Tropical Allure. It provides all macro- and microelements essential for
the healthy growth of the plant.
- Apply balanced water-soluble plant food for Gingers, Heliconias and
Bananas -
Broad Leaf Plus - once a month.
- Additionally, you may also add to the menu flower booster Pink N Good Daly Plant Food - this fertilizer is used in very low
concentration and can be used with every watering.
4. Remove old dry and yellowing leaves with sharp cutters to avoid pest
problems and keep good air circulation around these clumping plants.
5. Keep soil covered with 1"mulch to protect from weeds and maintain
the optimal amount of moisture for the rhizomes.
Check out our specialized fertilizers for different plants - for all your gardening needs!
Date: 25 May 2024
Whats wrong with your water? (Dont do this to your irrigation system)
🎥 What's wrong with your water? (Don't do this to your irrigation system)
☔️ Your hose or rain water brings your plants a drink, but not a plant food! Adding composted manure to your irrigation is just not the right solution... Instead, you should make a solution of scientifically formulated liquid plant food - Sunshine Boosters.
💧All Sunshine Boosters are compatible and can be mixed all in one watering-can right before use.
💧They can be used with every watering, year around including winter time
💧Different formulas designed for different plant types: fruiting, flowering, foliage plants, etc., plus additional supplements of microelements and biostimulants.
💧Sunshine Boosters have a full spectrum of essential elements. Amino-acids provide total consumption, so nutrients do not build up in soil even with daily applications.
🛒 Shop Sunshine Boosters 💦
#Fertilizers
🏵 TopTropicals
Date: 28 Jun 2024
Fruit of Money and Love
Theobroma cacao - Chocolate Tree, Cacao Tree
Theobroma cacao - Chocolate Tree, Cacao Tree
Theobroma cacao - Chocolate Tree, Cacao Tree
❤️💰 Fruit of Money and Love
Theobroma cacao, commonly known as the Chocolate Tree or Cacao Tree, is very exciting plant and a superfood as we mentioned earlier.
- 💥 Theobroma means "food of the gods" in Greek. "Theo" means god, and "broma" means food.
- 💥 The Olmecs, Mayans, and Aztecs were among the first to cultivate cacao, using it to make a bitter beverage called xocoatl. It was often spiced with chili peppers and used in various rituals and ceremonies.
- 💥 Currency: in ancient Mesoamerican cultures, cacao beans were so valuable that they were used as a form of currency. For example, 100 beans could buy a slave or a turkey.
- 💥 The Aztecs believed that cacao had stimulating properties and used it as an aphrodisiac. Emperor Montezuma was said to consume a large amount of cacao before visiting his harem. We can't deny that chocolate's mood-enhancing properties, combined with cultural and psychological factors, contribute to its romantic allure! ❤️
- 💥 A cacao pod contains 20 to 50 beans, each surrounded by a sweet, mucilaginous pulp. The pods grow directly on the trunk and larger branches of the tree, a feature known as cauliflory.
- 💥 After harvesting, cacao beans are fermented for several days, a critical step that develops the flavor precursors needed for chocolate production.
- 💥 The Cacao tree thrives in the humid, tropical regions around the equator. It can be grown as an exciting house plant.
- 💥 Health benefits: cacao beans are rich in antioxidants, magnesium, iron, and other minerals. They also contain flavonoids, associated with heart health benefits.
- 💥 There are three main varieties of cacao beans: Criollo, Forastero, and Trinitario. Criollo is considered the highest quality but is less common due to its susceptibility to disease. Forastero is the most widely grown, known for its hardiness. Trinitario is a hybrid of the two.
- 💥 It takes about 400 cacao beans to make one pound of chocolate. The beans undergo roasting, grinding, and mixing with sugar and other ingredients to produce the final chocolate product.
📚Learn more: Plants of Love - Aphrodisiacs of the plant world
🛒 Grow your own Chocolate Tree
#Food_Forest #Fun_Facts
🏵 TopTropicals