Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 4 Dec 2021

Sunday Breakfast with Peanut Butter and Blackberry Jam...

It's time for our favorite day and another Easy stroll through Top Tropicals' Garden with savings of 50% and MORE! What a wonderful way to start the day.

Speaking of wonderful, is there any memory as wonderful as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich from back in the day?! PB&J's, a true Classic, easy, savory and delicious and a universal favorite... And for a truly Top Tropicals variation of the Classic sandwich, have we got something special for you...
Bunchosia argentea and Randia Formosa. OK, we admit it may not roll off the tongue quite as easily as PB&J, but your tongue and taste buds will be thankful for the delicious flavors of the Peanut Butter Fruit Tree - Bunchosia argentea, and Blackberry Jam Fruit - Randia formosa.

Combine the rich and creamy delicious Peanut Butter with the not too sweet and fresh pulp of the Blackberry Jam Fruit and you have a unique and tasty combination destined to be a classic of its own while making your garden look even more beautiful!

Saving on your favorite plants is Easy.
Easy like Sunday Morning...

For this Easy Sunday we have priced these at incredible savings:
The Peanut Butter Tree, regularly $49, is on Easy Sunday sale for only $24
The Blackberry Jam, regularly $39, is on Easy Sunday Sale for only $19

Classic Combination

Combine the two for your own Classic Combination and save even more, instead of full price $88, it's only only $39 for the set!

Blackberry Jam Fruit

Randia formosa - Blackberry jam fruit, Jasmin de Rosa - fragrant white flowers of this Gardenia relative and edible fruit that tastes like blackberry jam... Kids love the fruit! Many claim that it's even better than preserves. This exotic shrub will fruit in a container within a year and produces as many as 25 to 30 fruits at a time. It is relatively cold hardy, blooms for a few months in the fall and winter, so fruiting and flowering can be enjoyed when many other plants are dormant.

Picture of 2 y.o. plant full of fragrant flowers, ready to set fruit:

Peanut Butter Tree

Bunchosia argentea - Peanut Butter Tree.
One of the most fascinating exotic fruit, as amazing as Miracle fruit, Peanut Butter Fruit is loved by both kids and adults. Yes, it tastes exactly like peanut butter! Sweet, soft pulp with peanut flavor. The tree is small in size, grows 10-15 ft max, or can be kept as a bush. Starts fruiting within 2-3 years from seed! Keep it in a pot if you have limited space, it can be grown indoors, too. The fruit can be eaten fresh or made into milk shakes. Very rare in cultivation, and relatively cold hardy.

Picture of 2 y.o. tree full of fruit:

Remember, the special prices are good for only 24 hours and expire Monday morning at 7 am EST.
Limited to availability, while supply lasts, hurry up!

Enjoy!

Date: 18 May 2021

Mark your calendar:
June 19, 2021
Summer Solstice Celebration with PeopleCats

Special Event you can't miss!

First day of Summer and the longest day of the year! Live Jazz in the Garden, lots of cool vendors and "A Roof for Rufus" cat adoptions...
Come join the Top Tropicals crew for the longest planting day of the year. Onika, Bella, Mark and David will be here soaking in the sun and helping you to pick the right plants...

Saturday, June 19th
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Top Tropicals is proud to partner with A Roof for Rufus cat adoptions. Each cat attending this event has been hand picked and approved by King.
Don't miss this event! Talk to the kitties and find your companion in life. PeopleCats never betray and they will love you forever!

SEE KITTIES PROFIILES >>

In the photo: PeopleCats from Roof for Rufus Rescue waiting for their forever homes.

Date: 5 May 2021

NEW: Top Tropicals B-Farm

Our new grow farm in Sebring, FL

Since the demand in rare tropical plants increased dramatically, we had to extend our nursery so we can satisfy all our customers' plant needs. So we started a new grow farm!
Our new, second location: Top Tropicals B-Farm in Sebring, FL (Highlands County), is still under construction, but we already grow a huge selection of rare flowering and fruiting plants for you. And of course Mr B is the supervisor of his own B-Farm!
Those who live in Central Florida, are welcomed to pick up their orders from B-Farm, save on shipping cost, and eliminate shipping stress for your plants. Please contact our Customer Service to make an appointment for picking up your order in Sebring. At B-Farm, our office is still under construction so we do not have regular hours open for public yet. For now, please shop online and you may pick up your plants either from our Ft Myers Garden Center, or from B-Farm in Sebring.
Please note: Due to 2 locations, some plants may or may not be available at one of the locations, please verify over the phone first, before planning your pick up trip!

Date: 10 Mar 2021

Healthy Plants: Q&A from Mr Booster

Jasmine Grand Duke flowering

Q: Hey can you help me figure out why my jasmine grand duke supreme is not flowering? Ive had it for almost a year (in NY) and only had 1 flower bloom and that immediately turned brown and died. Since then no flowers have come. The leaves are green and healthy and its growing like crazy but not flowers. Please help me figure this out.

A: For profuse flowering, Jasmine sambac needs 2 things: bright light and special plant food. We have plenty of both here in Florida. If your grow this plant indoors in colder climate, get it to flowering can be a bit tricky.
Your plant grows well overall with lots of vegetative growth, this is a good sign, it means it's healthy, and not being overwatered which is one of the most common problems with Sambacs. You're doing a great job! This jasmine just needs more sun and fertilizer.
Make sure to keep it in the brightest spot of your home. The more hours of light, the better. When night temperatures stay above 65F, it is beneficial to bring the plant outside on a balcony, patio, or in a garden in full sun as a potted specimen (move to bright light gradually). You should give this Jasmine plenty of food with every watering. We recommend SUNSHINE Pikake - Fragrant Flower Booster. This is a natural fertilizer that can be applied to plants year round without risk of burning the roots or nutrient lock up in the soil. It provides all necessary elements for the flowering cycle - just add a bit into watering can, every time you water.

Date: 5 Jan 2021

Growing Loquat in container

Q: I purchased a Sherry Loquat tree from you in April of 2020. It got off to a slow start initially, but now is five feet tall with healthy leaf growth! It is in a 15-gallon pot and was brought into the house by October 15th. I live in Zone 6 and kept the plant outside from end of May to October 15th. I have given the tree artificial lights in addition to slow release fertilizer. Can you please advise me on what steps I need to take to get the Sherry Loquat tree to fruit? E.g., lighting requirements, soil pH, soil type, etc.

A: Loquat is normally winter flowering and spring fruiting tree, here in Florida it is usually heavily covered with fruit by April. With a proper care, you may see flowers throughout the winter and they may set some fruit for you. Considering that during this time you have to keep the plant indoors, here are some recommendations:

1. Soil. Well-drained, porous potting mix. Do not use any heavy garden soils. For our plants we use the following mix which is excellent for containers: Abundance

2. Light. The brighter the better. Sunroom would be great, or at least put the tree next to a large window. Extra lighting with grow lights is beneficial. Any type of light will work, you can even use a simple clip-on light, the brighter the better. 8-10 hours a day.

3. Water. Loquat is drought tolerant but for fruiting it will need regular watering; just don't keep soil soggy, let is slightly dry before waterings.

4. Fertilizer program. Use liquid fertilizer. We recommend Sunshine Boosters that are safe to use with every watering and year around - SUNSHINE C-Cibus - Crop Nutrition Booster.
We recommend to switch plants from traditional "slow-release" fertilizer to the liquid one because it makes a huge difference in plant growth and flower/fruit quality and quantity. Sunshine Boosters are scientifically balanced fertilizers that supply all necessary elements for daily plant needs. They are natural and eco-safe, great for any edibles.

5. Micro-elements. These are essential for potted plants, because in containers roots can't reach out to elements that are usually present in soil when trees grown in the ground.

Apply micro-element remedies that are very effective for improving fruit production, especially when flower or fruit drop occurs:
SUNSHINE Honey - promotes more efficient blossoming and pollination, makes flowers bigger and reduces bud drop.
SUNSHINE SuperFood - improves plant vigor and quality and size of flowers
These are all natural, eco-friendly supplements that work great for fruit trees and other edibles.

Read more about Loquat trees: The best grafted Loquat varieties.