Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 10 Feb 2026

These Avocados survived 3 nights of 25F hard freeze, Florida Record Freeze

Cold hardy avocados

⛄️ These Avocados survived 3 nights of 25F hard freeze, Florida Record Freeze



⛄️ Recent winter freezes have once again raised the same urgent question among avocado growers - which varieties actually survive cold weather, and what does survival really look like afterward?

⛄️ After widespread freeze events, trees across many regions showed very different outcomes, from minor leaf burn to complete canopy loss.

⛄️ This video taken on February 4, 2026 at Top Tropicals BFarm in Sebring, FL, reflects what we observed in real conditions after 3 nights of hard freeze.

⛄️ The trees in the video had no protection.

❄️Weather data

Feb 1-6, 2026, Coldest in Recorded History (132 years of observations)
Top Tropicals Farm and Nursery at Sebring FL

🌡 Min temps: 25F, wind chill 14F
⏳ Duration of cold: 3 nights of 8-10 hour hard freeze, along with 7 days of cool daytime temps around 50F
🌀 Wind: 20 mph, with 40-50 mph gusts.

🛒 Explore cold hardy Avocado varieties

📖 Our Book: Avocado Variety Guide, Snack or Guacamole?
· Hard copy · PDF File Download

📚 Learn more:


· Avocado Variety Guide
· How to protect Avocado from cold and how hardy is it?
· Avocado that laughs at frost: Mexicola Grande for cooler climates
· Cold hardy Avocado Joey - you eat it with the skin
· Cold-hardy avocados: how cold-hardy are they?
· Cold-hardy avocado varieties - what freezing they really survive
· Cold-hardy avocado survival groups - what the numbers really mean

#Food_Forest #Avocado #Discover #How_to

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Date: 22 Feb 2026

How to grow Papaya from seed, step-by step - FAQ

Carica papaya - Papaya fruit

Carica papaya - Papaya fruit

🍊 How to grow Papaya from seed, step-by step - FAQ



💚 Is papaya a tree?


No. Papaya is a herbaceous plant with a hollow trunk. Treating it like a tree is one of the most common mistakes growers make.

💚 How fast does papaya grow from seed?


Very fast. Papaya can start producing fruit in 10–15 months when grown in warm conditions.

💚 Can papaya be grown in containers?


Yes. Dwarf papaya varieties stay under 4–5 ft tall in containers and still produce full-size fruit.

💚 Will seeds from grocery store papaya work?


They will germinate, but the variety is unknown and usually not dwarf. If you want a compact plant, use seeds from a known dwarf variety.

💚 Do papaya plants come true from seed?


Yes. When the seed source is known, papaya grows true to type.

💚 How long do papaya seeds take to germinate?


Fresh seeds usually germinate in 2–3 weeks with warmth. Stored dry seeds can take 8–10 weeks.

💚 What temperature do papaya seeds need?


Above 70F, ideally 85–90F. Bottom heat greatly improves success.

💚 Do papaya seeds need to be cleaned before planting?


Yes. The slimy coating must be removed or seeds may rot instead of sprouting.

💚 What soil is best for papaya seedlings?


A well-draining mix or coconut fiber. Soil should be moist, never soggy.

💚 Why do papaya seedlings rot so easily?


Overwatering and poor drainage are the main causes. Young papaya roots are very sensitive to excess moisture.

💚 Do papayas like transplanting?


No. Papayas hate root disturbance. Reduce transplanting and move into larger containers sooner rather than stepping up gradually.

💚 How big should the container be?


After a 4-inch pot, move directly into a 1-gallon or even 3-gallon container to minimize root disturbance.

💚 Does papaya need staking?


Yes. Papaya grows fast, and the stem can outpace root development. Even light wind can knock it over.

💚 How much sun does papaya need?


Full sun. Shade causes leggy growth, poor flowering, and little to no fruit.

💚 Should papaya be watered heavily?


No. Once established, papaya prefers drier conditions. Large plants tolerate rain better than young ones.

💚 Can papaya be planted in the ground?


Yes, but only in well-drained soil and elevated spots. Low areas with standing water will kill it.

💚 Is fertilizer important for papaya?


Yes. Papaya is a heavy feeder. Poor soil means poor growth and little or no fruit. Use Green Magic once every 6 months or Sunshine Boosters C-Cibus with every watering.

💚 Should papaya be pruned to control height?


No. Pruning ruins its natural form. If height is an issue, grow a dwarf variety instead.

🛒 Explore Papaya varieties

📚 Learn more:

Papaya Plant Facts

Botanical name: Carica papaya
Also known as: Papaya
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Small tree 10-20 ftFull sunWater Requirement: Low. Allow soil to dry out between wateringsWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryYellow, orange flowersWhite, off-white flowersEdible plantEthnomedical plant. Plants marked as ethnomedical and/or described as medicinal, are not offered as medicine but rather as ornamentals or plant collectibles. Ethnomedical statements / products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We urge all customers to consult a physician before using any supplements, herbals or medicines advertised here or elsewhere.Subtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
Get personalized tips for your region

· Carica papaya in Plant Encyclopedia
· How to grow papaya from seed without killing it:
Part 1: Papaya basics
Part 2: Seeds germination
Part 3: Containers, sunlight, and common mistakes
· Carefree Garden: How Easy Is It to Grow a Papaya Tree?
· Male papaya produces fruit!
· Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #6. Papaya
· How to have fresh Papaya fruit year around
· The truth about Papaya
· Papayas contain a secret enzyme

🎥 Nobel Prize goes to this pregnant male papaya

#Food_Forest #How_to #Papaya #Discover

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Date: 31 Jan 2017

Plants of Love. TopTropicals Webinars

Plants of Love - Valentines Day Sale. For Valentines day, look beyond roses for a plant that will last a lifetime! It is not a surprise that the most popular plants that has been ordered from TopTropicals for Valentines day for the past 3 years, are: Vanilla, Chocolate, Grape, Strawberry tree, Rose apple - all things you get for your Valentines!

This year we are celebrating Valentines day with our special local event - "Aphrodisiacs, or Plants of Love".

When: Saturday, February 11, 2017, from 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Toptropicals Garden Center, 13890 Orange River Blvd, Ft Myers, FL 33905
Agenda:
10:00 am - Explore the grounds: Customers can come in to look through the nursery and guided tours through gardens.
12:00 pm - Aphrodisiac plants. Class on plants used for aphrodisiacs throughout history.
1:00 pm - Plant giveaway. Must be present to win one of the aphrodisiac plants in lecture.
2:00 pm - sale ends.
Special Love Discounts for local visitors! Snacks and drinks.

Just a few examples of the most famous plants of love that we will be talking about -
Coffea arabica - in East Africa and Arabia it was a sacred beverage to African sufis. For aphrodisiac results mix in cardamom and honey.
Banisteriopsis caapi, Ayahuasca - giant liana from tropical Amazon forests psychedelic, ritual inebriant that promotes potency. Drink is made from the bark and is taken in love rituals to revive the mythical past of the tribe.
Areca catechu, Betel Nut - seeds have stimulating effect on the entire body and eros. It's a traditional aphrodosiac in Ayurvedic medicine and is counted among the eight types of pleasure in the Brahmanic tradition. It has magical and religious properties and used as an offering to the Gods.
Theobroma cacao, Chocolate - mild stimulant, beans contain aphrodisiac. Antient Indian "recipe of chocolati" will be shared at the event! Cocoa was considered the "food of gods".
Cinnamon - in Southern Asia used as stimulant, in food or massage oil for erotic stimulation.
Cola nitida, Cola nut - used in love magic, was used as currency in W Africa.
Cananga odorata, Ylang-Ylang - increases eroticism with oil inhaled. Prescribed to treat impotency and frigidity.
Butea monosperma, Flame of The Forest - is traditionally used to manage male sexual disorders.
Mimosa pudica, Sensitive Plant - significantly increases the libido and hormonal levels of testosterone.
Satureja Viminea, Kama Sutra Mint Tree - used for love gel...
- and much more!

TopTropicals Webinars. Welcome to Top Tropicals Webinar! Discover the world of Rare Plants and surround yourself with a Tropical Paradise! Our plant experts will be answering your garden questions. Our next LIVE air time is just before Valentines Day - Saturday February 11, at 2 pm ET, with a topic of... of course, Aphrodisiac Plants! Get your questions ready!

Date: 4 Apr 2025

Why settle for ordinary when you can have this?

👍 Why settle for ordinary when you can have this?



🌸 Transform your garden with the Chinaberry Tree (Melia azedarach) - a fast-growing, fragrant beauty that doubles in size in just one season!

🌸 Its lilac flowers and sweet vanilla-like scent will fill your garden with elegance, while its hardy nature ensures it thrives even in colder climates.

🌸 Enjoy lush, green foliage and a lovely shade canopy, all with minimal care. Plus, it's low-maintenance, pest-resistant, and has medicinal benefits!

Ready to add this aromatic gem to your landscape? Don't wait bring home the Chinaberry Tree today!

📚 Learn more about Chinaberry Tree

🛒 Order Chinaberry Tree and breathe in the Vanilla Fragrance

#Trees #Remedies #Perfume_Plants #Discover

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Date: 20 Apr 2025

How to tell the difference between Jasmine Sambac Varieties

Jasminum Sambac varieties

⏳ How to tell the difference between Jasmine Sambac Varieties



💮 Jasminum Sambac is hands down the most fragrant jasmine in existence - and the most popular among tropical gardeners and plant collectors.

💮 Native to India, it's the source of jasmine perfume oil and the signature ingredient in jasmine tea.

💮 This plant comes in several varieties, each with unique flower size, shape, and growth habit - ranging from compact shrubs to vigorous bushes and climbing vines. It takes both sun and shade and makes a perfect container plant and indoor plant favorite.

💮 All varieties of Sambac are equally fragrant. To get more flowers, just use Sunshine Pikake plant booster and enjoy the perfume all day long!

💮 At Top Tropicals, we grow every known variety of Jasminum sambac in cultivation:

Arabian Nights - compact slow growing shrub with small delicate flowers

Belle of India - compact vine with long elegant petals, shade lover

Grand Duke of Tuscany - the most popular, vigorous bush with carnation-like flowers

Grand Duke Supreme - bigger, more vigorous version of Grand Duke with larger flowers

Gundu Malli - new hybrid between Arabian Nights and Grand Duke

Little Duke - more compact version of the Grand Duke

Maid of Orleans - vigorous full sun climber, great for hedges and fences

Mali Chat - very delicate, rare variety, with miniature 3-tier flowers, not easy to establish, shade lover

Mysore Mulli - vigorous vining shrub for sunny or semi-shade locations

🛒 Smell the Difference – Shop Sambac varieties

Learn more:
📚 Jasminum Sambac Absolute Flower - book download
📱 Sambac varieties
📱 Jasminum Sambac Page

#Perfume_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits #How_to #Discover

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