A: Our favorite white Guava is Viet Nam variety that is also very rare and hard to find. The fruit is
very large, up to 6"in diameter, the pulp is very sweet and somewhat
crunchy.
The seeds are small which makes it more pleasurable to eat out of hand.
Another great feature of this variety, it stays compact and branches do not
get leggy, unlike most guavas. It can be easily grown in a container,
trimmed to the desired size and it will produce fruit under proper care.
Another cool variety is Indonesian, it also has a large round fruit and very few seeds to
compare with others.
And last but not least, if you prefer soft fruit to crunchy, the Peruvian
variety is a great choice. The fruit is pear-shaped.
Remember to provide plant food for good production, especially if grown
in a container.
Q: Can you grow your own black pepper plants in the USA?
A: Who does not love the smell of freshly ground pepper,
especially that lovely combination of white, green, black and red peppercorns, which
are so much more interesting than just plain black corns. Yes, you can
absolutely grow your own pepper! Peppercorns come from the plant Piper nigrum.
Growing Pepper Plant
Black pepper plants are actually vigorous vines, although they are
pretty slow growing and can be kept in a pot as a compact plant. But they will
need a strong support to climb over. Indoors, you can provide this support by
installing a trellis in a large pot. Some gardeners prefer to grow them as a
hanging plant instead. In warm climates, you can plant them directly outdoors
in a protected location with partial shade. These plants need rich, moist,
well-draining soil and warm, humid conditions. Peppers do not like temperatures
below sixty degrees, although they can survive some cold spells. It is very
important to bring these plants indoors or wrap them in a blanket if colder
weather arrives.
If you live in colder parts of the country, you can certainly grow
peppercorns in large pots. Grow them outdoors during the summer and move them
indoors during the winter, or grow them year-round in your greenhouse.
Houseplants will need bright light and consistent moisture. Spray the leaves regularly
with a bottle of water to increase humidity. Do not allow room temperatures
to fall below sixty degrees.
Besides the benefit of being able to grow your own gourmet pepper
corns, the foliage, as well as the flowers on this plant, are beautiful in its own
right. Off-white flowers appear from spring through summer, followed by slow
fruit production. The berries will appear on spikes, with 50 to 60 berries
per spike.
You may be surprised to learn that black, white, green and red
peppercorns are all the same seed on the same plant in the various stages of
development and processing.
Black peppercorns are the most familiar and come from the corns
that have reached their full size but are still green and not quite ripe. They
are picked and allowed to dry in the sun. Enzymes in the berries cause the
skin to turn black during the drying process. They are the strongest in
flavor.
White peppercorns are the mature berries that ripen to a red
color before being picked. After harvesting, they are soaked and rubbed free of
the outer skin down to the smooth white underlayer, then dried and bleached by
the sun. They are slightly milder than black pepper.
Green peppercorns are the unripe peppercorns picked at the same
stage of ripeness as black peppercorns, but not allowed to dry. They can be
pickled in vinegar or brine. They are the least pungent.
Red peppercorns are the mature, but unshelled version of the
peppercorn. One can usually find them in some gourmet and health food stores.
They can be quite expensive.
Ground pepper will only stay fresh for about three months, but
peppercorns will last indefinitely. To make the most of your pepper harvest, store the
peppercorns in an airtight container in a cool, dark location. Grind them
immediately before use for the best flavor.
There is nothing like freshly ground black pepper simply combined with
a good quality olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar. This makes a
wonderful dipping sauce for fresh bread. Simple, yet elegant. All the better if
the pepper was grown in your very own garden!
Date: 24 Jun 2018
SUNSHINE boosters for recovering
plants after shipping
Q:
I live in Garden City, NJ and have a sun room with a
tropical plant collection that I keep at about 40-45
degrees in winter. I used Sunshine booster during winter
for my plant collection and results were amazing! I
haven't lost a single plant. Now I see you have more
products and I am planning to purchase more plants, how
should I use Sunshine boosters to help plants recover
after shipping?
A:
Spray SUNSHINE-E solution right after receiving a plant
from shipping. It will boost up the plant and make it
50-60% stronger and easier to recover after shipping
stress. After that, apply SUNSHINE-SuperFood
microelement booster to provide everything necessary for
the plant to grow vigorously and happily. SUNSHINE-E is
indeed a wonderful plant stimulant and stress reliever,
although it is not a "magic-cure-all" medicine where one
can't find its active ingredient. The hormone
(epibrassinolide) is well-known and used in different
countries along with other hormones for promote growth,
fruiting, blooming, rooting, etc. One of the most amazing
properties of SUNSHINE is that it works in extremely low
dozes. Only a few drops will be enough to make a solution
in distilled water, to treat a large size plant. If you
want to try it out, one 5 ml bottle will last for several
applications. Large bottles of SUNSHINE 50 ml and 100 ml -
great for small and big gardens. It is a good idea to
start bi-weekly applications to improve your plants
tolerance to Summer heat, drought and improve disease
resistance. The formula works through plant metabolism
within 2-4 days, repeat application not sooner than in one
week. After application of SUNSHINE-E, don't forget to
boost your plants with SUNSHINE-SuperFood .
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.
When northern gardens fade into gray, our tropicals wake up. Winter is
color season here - and even if you live up north, you can still enjoy these
same flowering trees indoors or on a sunny patio.
From the fiery Royal
Poinciana to the golden Tabebuia and
violet Jacaranda,
these eight trees prove that winter can bloom anywhere
How to Care for Winter-Flowering Trees
We're often asked, at Top Tropicals, “Can I really grow tropical
trees in winter?”
Yes — with the right light and care, you can.
Here’s what works best both outdoors and indoors, according to our
expert, Tatiana Anderson.
🌡️ Fall Planting Guide
Let’s talk about timing, because that’s the part most people
get nervous about.
Everyone asks: “Isn’t it too cool to plant now?” —
and the answer is no!
Fall and early winter are actually the best months for tropicals in Zones 9
to 11.
Here’s why: the air has cooled off, but the soil is still warm.
Roots love that combination. They quietly spread underground while the rest
of
the plant takes a break.
By spring, those roots are ready to feed a burst of new growth — and
that’s when you’ll see the first big flush of flowers.
Pick a sunny spot that gets plenty of light — six to eight hours
if you can.
Loosen the soil and mix in compost or pine bark so it drains well.
Dig a hole about twice as wide as the pot and just as deep.
Set the plant level with the ground, backfill, and water it deeply to
settle everything in.
Then add mulch — two or three inches is plenty — but keep it
away from the trunk so it can breathe.
Tatiana’s tip: “Fall planting builds roots while everyone
else is resting. By spring, your tree wakes up ready to grow.”
🌳 Outdoor Care (Warm Climates Zones 9–11)
Now, let’s talk about what happens after planting — because
real gardening starts once the plant is yours. Tropical trees thrive on
routine: steady sunlight, deep watering, and just a bit of attention.
Water them about once a week when the weather is mild, more often if
it’s dry or windy.
Always check the soil first — if it feels dry two inches down, go
ahead and water.
Mulch helps more than most people realize — it keeps roots cool in
summer and warm in winter, and it saves you from watering as often.
Now, for those of you in Zone 9, here’s the truth: your trees can
take a chill, but they don’t love surprises.
A quick night in the upper 20s F won’t hurt mature plants, but young
ones appreciate a little help — a frost cloth or being planted at the
south side.
And don’t underestimate the wind. Cold, dry gusts can burn leaves
faster than frost.
Use fences, hedges, or taller shrubs as windbreaks, and take advantage of
microclimates — those warm pockets next to the house, brick patios, or
corners that get extra afternoon sun.
Tatiana’s tip: “A tropical garden in Zone 9 isn’t
about fighting nature — it’s about cooperating with it. Find the
warm corners, protect from the cold wind, and your trees will thank you with
flowers all winter.”
🏚️ Indoor & Patio Care (Cooler Climates)
For our northern friends — yes, you can grow tropicals indoors!
You just need good light, warm air, and a little attention.
Pick a large pot, with drainage holes and a light tropical soil mix.
Place it in a bright window — south or southwest if you can —
or under grow lights for about 12–14 hours a day.
Keep temperatures between 65 and 85 F, and water when the top inch of soil
dries out.
Misting helps keep leaves clean and adds humidity.
Rotate the pot every couple of weeks so all sides get sun. In summer, move
your plant outdoors gradually so it can enjoy real sunlight — then
bring it back in before nights drop below 40 F.
Tatiana’s tip: “Don’t be afraid of growing trees in
pots. They adapt beautifully — just select the right trees and pay
attention to their needs.”
How to Care for Winter-Flowering Trees