Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 2 Feb 2025

Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica)

Loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica)

🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 10: Loquat Tree.
  • 🍑 Loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica) is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and highly cold-hardy tropical fruit tree.
  • 🍑 Heavy Producer: Loquats are juicy, aromatic, and apricot-like in flavor, ripening from early Spring to early Summer.
  • 🍑 Compact and Ideal for Small Gardens: Perfect for beginners and those with limited space.
  • 🍑 Undemanding: Loquat trees thrive in any soil, tolerate summer heat, winter cold, heavy rains, and occasional flooding.
  • 🍑 Nutrient-Rich: High in sugar, acids, vitamins B and C, minerals, and pectin. Eaten fresh or used in fruit salads, jams, jellies, chutneys, sauces, pies, and wine-making. It's also popular as a natural sweetener.


📚 Learn more from previous posts:


🎥 YouTube video about Loquat
📁 Overlooked fruit: tasty Loquat recipes (PDF)

🛒 Start your fruit garden with Loquats

#Food_Forest #Loquat

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Date: 10 Feb 2025

When you have a big crop of Star Fruit: sweet and Spicy Carambola Salsa recipe

Carambola Salsa

Carambola Salsa

⭐️ When you have a big crop of Star Fruit: sweet and Spicy Carambola Salsa recipe



😁 Ingredients:

  • · 2 ripe Carambola (starfruit), finely diced
  • · 1 small red bell pepper, diced
  • · 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • · 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
  • · 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
  • · Juice of 1 lime
  • · 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
  • · Pinch of salt


📞 Instructions:

  • · Combine the diced carambola, red bell pepper, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro in a bowl.
  • · Add lime juice, honey, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
  • · Chill in the fridge for 15–30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
  • · Serve with tortilla chips, grilled fish, or as a topping for tacos.


🎁 This recipe balances carambola's sweet-tart flavor with a spicy kick! 😏

🛒 Plant your own Carambola Tree

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Date: 14 Mar 2025

Carambola Jam recipe

⭐️ Carambola Jam recipe



😁 Ingredients:


  • · 4 ripe carambolas, washed and thinly sliced
  • · 1 cup granulated sugar
  • · 1/2 cup water
  • · Juice of 1 lemon
  • · 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (optional)


📞 Instructions:


  • · In a saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  • · Add the sliced carambola and ground ginger. Reduce heat and simmer for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fruit softens and the mixture thickens.
  • · Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then transfer to sterilized jars.
  • · Refrigerate and enjoy on toast, with yogurt, or as a glaze for meats.


🎁 This simple yet unusual jam highlights carambola’s unique star shape and tangy-sweet flavor! 😏

🛒 Plant your own Carambola Tree

#Food_Forest #Recipes

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 28 Mar 2025

This is how a young Loquat tree is fruiting

A young Loquat tree fruiting

🙂 This is how a young Loquat tree is fruiting



For the previous posts⤴️

📚 Loquat in previous posts:


🎥 YouTube video about Loquat
📁 Overlooked fruit: tasty Loquat recipes (PDF)

🛍 Shop Loquat Trees and enjoy fresh fruit benefits

#Food_Forest #Loquat

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 16 Apr 2025

Mango and Ricotta/Cottage Cheese Dumplings

Mango and Ricotta/Cottage Cheese Dumplings

❤️ Mango and Ricotta/Cottage Cheese Dumplings


  • 🥭 Ingredients:


  • · 1 large ripe mango, peeled and finely chopped
  • · cup ricotta cheese or cottage cheese (use ricotta for a smoother texture or cottage cheese for a more textured filling)
  • · 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust based on the sweetness of the mango)
  • · 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • · 1 package of wonton wrappers
  • · Water, for sealing the wrappers
  • · Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
  • · Butter or oil, for frying


🥭 Instructions:



Prepare the Filling:
In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped mango, ricotta or cottage cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix well until the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Assemble the Dumplings:
  • · Lay out the wonton wrappers on a clean surface. Spoon about one tablespoon of the mango-cheese mixture into the center of each wrapper.
  • · Dip your finger in water and run it along the edges of the wrapper to moisten them. This helps seal the dumplings.
  • · Bring the edges of the wrapper together to form a triangle or purse, making sure to expel any air pockets as you seal the edges firmly.

  • Cook the Dumplings:
  • · For Frying: Heat butter or oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the dumplings and fry until golden brown on both sides. Remove from the pan and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.
  • · For Steaming: If you prefer a healthier option, you can steam the dumplings. Place them in a steamer basket over boiling water and steam for about 10-15 minutes or until the wrappers are translucent.


🥭 Serve:



Serve the dumplings warm. Dust with powdered sugar if desired for a sweet finish.

Optional Sauce:
You can serve these dumplings with a simple dipping sauce made by mixing some honey with a splash of lime juice. This adds a zesty contrast to the sweet and creamy filling.

These mango and cheese dumplings are a creative twist on traditional dessert dumplings, bringing together flavors that are both refreshing and comforting. Enjoy your cooking!

🛒 Plant your own Mango Tree and always have mango supply

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Mango

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