Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 25 Apr 2024

Top Tropicals is now in Telegram!

Cat texting telegram

Welcome to our new Telegram Channel!
We finally did it, and excited to connect with all of you on this amazing platform. After using Telegram for a few years for both business and personal communications, we realized it is a winner of the modern Social Media!

In Top Tropicals Telegram Channel you will find much more than on our website or Newsletter: Fun Plant Facts, Nature Wonders, Amazing Plant Videos, Gardening How-to Tips, Exotic Recipes, Contests, Sweepstakes, Give-aways and so much more. Plus, of course, your favorite PeopleCats!

Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security, it's super-fast, simple and free. You can use Telegram on all your devices at the same time - your messages sync seamlessly across any number of your phones, tablets or computers. It's perfect for sharing your comments, photos, videos, even making calls.

You can watch news, browse your interest, message to friends and colleagues, save your files, create groups, make phone calls, and the most amazing thing - Telegram works where nothing else works, no WiFi or cell service! It proved to be more reliable than any other apps and (surprise!) even works in airplane without wifi connection - proved!

The platform has its own cloud and offers limitless storage. And the last and not least - it's ad-free! Telegram is free and will stay free - no ads, no subscription fees, forever. It's a clean, clear and easy to use for all ages and applications. Try it yourself and discover how easy and pain-free it is!

Telegram is for everyone who wants fast and reliable messaging and calls.
See you in Telegram!

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Date: 9 Apr 2023

Discovering the Amazing Guava Fruit Tree

Guava fruit collage

A Gardener's Delight:
How to grow Guava Tree, delicious recipes and more...

Imagine stepping into your garden, plucking a fresh, juicy guava off a tree, and savoring its sweet, tropical flavor. Sounds delightful, doesn't it? Guava trees are not only a wonderful addition to any garden but also offer an array of delicious and nutritious fruits. Let's explore the fascinating world of guava fruit trees, dive into the different species, and share some tasty ways to enjoy this remarkable fruit.

If you're blessed with a warm climate, find a sunny spot with well-drained soil for your tree. Water it regularly, especially during dry spells, and keep it well-fed with a balanced fertilizer. Pruning is essential for maintaining a bushy, healthy tree that'll reward you with an abundance of fruits...

Continue reading

Guava tree fruiting in a pot

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Date: 26 Jan 2026

Why Turmeric was named the 2026 Herb of the Year

Turmeric - Curcuma

Turmeric - Curcuma

🌷 Why Turmeric was named the 2026 Herb of the Year



🌷 Turmeric was named the 2026 Herb of the Year by the International Herb Association, and it is easy to see why gardeners are paying attention. This tropical plant from the ginger family is best known for its bright orange underground rhizomes, used for centuries as a spice, natural dye, and traditional remedy.

🌷Native to India, Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is closely related to Ginger and Cardamom. Its rhizomes are a staple in curry and widely used in Asian, African, and Caribbean cuisines. In recent years, turmeric has also gained attention for potential anti-inflammatory properties.

Spice Turmeric Plant Facts

Botanical name: Curcuma longa
Also known as: Spice Turmeric, Longevity Spice, Indian Saffron, Tumeric
USDA Zone: 8 - 11
Highligths Small plant 2-5 ftSemi-shadeFull sunWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyPink flowersSpice or herb plantDeciduous 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
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🌷 Herb, spice or flower?



• Botanically, turmeric is a spice, since it comes from the plant’s rhizomes rather than its leaves. In the kitchen, however, it often functions like an herb. Fresh turmeric can replace powdered turmeric in most recipes and delivers brighter flavor and color.
• Beyond edible Turmeric, there are many Curcuma hybrids grown purely for ornament. These selections produce striking, long-lasting flower spikes in shades of pink, white, orange, red, and purple, rising above lush tropical foliage. Ornamental curcumas are popular as patio plants and indoor accents, adding dramatic color and texture even where they are grown strictly in containers.

🌷 Growing turmeric anywhere - even in cool climates



Although Turmeric is a tropical perennial, it grows very well in containers, making it suitable for gardeners everywhere. When grown in pots, turmeric is treated as a warm-season plant that can be moved indoors as temperatures cool.

🌷 How to grow Turmeric



Turmeric is a compact, but bold plant, reaching 3-4 feet tall and wide, so it needs a roomy container. It prefers:

• Rich, well-drained soil
• Slightly acidic conditions (around pH 6–6.5)
• Consistent moisture
• Warm temperatures and bright, indirect light

The plant produces flowers that do not set seed, so turmeric is grown entirely from rhizomes.

🌷 Harvesting and using Turmeric



As the season ends, turmeric naturally goes dormant and the leaves yellow and dry. This signals harvest time. Dig the rhizomes, clean them, and dry them in a cool, shaded place.

Rhizomes can be:
• Boiled, dried, and ground into powder
• Frozen whole and grated as needed
• Pickled for long-term storage

Some healthy rhizomes can also be saved and replanted the following season, making turmeric both productive and renewable.

Compact, bold, and useful, turmeric proves that tropical plants can thrive well beyond the tropics - especially when grown in pots.

🛒 Plant Curcuma for both flowers, spice and herb

📚 Learn more :


Turmeric (Curcuma) in Plant Encyclopedia
Curcuma - the tropical tulip with a secret spice twist
Curcuma: one plant, two powers - color and spice!
How Curcuma Turmeric keeps blood pressure in balance.
Turmeric Curcuma: Grow Your Own Brain Boosters
The most interesting edible gingers?

#Food_Forest #Container_Garden #Remedies #Discover

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Date: 18 May 2026

Want Massive Mulberry Harvests? Do These 5 Things Before May Ends

Mulberry Dwarf Everbearing, on a tree

Mulberry Dwarf Everbearing, on a tree

Mulberry Dwarf Everbearing

Mulberry Dwarf Everbearing

🍇 Want Massive Mulberry Harvests? Do These 5 Things Before May Ends



Don’t let your mulberry tree fool you. While they are incredibly low-maintenance, what you do in May dictates your summer harvest. Avoid these common mistakes for a bumper crop of juicy berries.

Mulberry trees are famously bulletproof, handling intense heat and pumping out massive crops with little care. But May is the month that decides it all. Right now, they are pouring energy into fruit development. A few simple mistakes this month can quietly sabotage your harvest.

Fortunately, maximizing your crop is easy if you follow these five simple rules:

1. The Deep Soak Rule


While established mulberries tolerate drought, moisture stress causes them to drop young berries early. Drop the sprinkler—frequent, shallow watering only wets the surface. Instead, give the tree a slow, deep soak that penetrates the root zone. Check the soil two inches down; if it’s dry, water thoroughly.

2. Lock it in with Mulch


Late spring heat evaporates soil moisture fast. Apply a 2-to-4-inch layer of pine bark or compost to keep roots cool and suppress weeds. Crucial rule: Leave a 4-inch gap around the base of the trunk. Piling mulch against the bark traps moisture and invites devastating fungal rot.

3. Don't Over-Fertilize


Mulberries are naturally vigorous. If you feed them this month, use a balanced, slow-release organic plant food. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers. Excess nitrogen triggers a massive explosion of green leaves, causing the tree to completely forget to grow fruit.

4. Put the Pruning Shears Away


Heavy spring pruning clips off active fruiting wood and decimates your harvest. Mulberries are also notorious "bleeders" - cutting now causes them to lose significant sap, stressing the tree during fruit set. Only remove dead or damaged wood. Save major shaping for winter dormancy.

5. Exploit the Softwood Cuttings Window


Want more trees? May is prime time for softwood cuttings. Cut a few 6-inch flexible green stems, strip the lower leaves, dip in rooting hormone, and tuck into moist potting mix in partial shade. They root incredibly fast!

Mulberry Plant Facts

Botanical name: Morus sp.
Also known as: Mulberry
USDA Zone: 8 - 11
Highligths Large tree taller than 20 ftSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyEdible plant
Get personalized tips for your region

🛒 Choose from Mulberry varieties

📚 Learn more:


Mulberry (Morus hybrids) in Plant Encyclopedia
Mulberry yogurt swirl: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes
Why gardeners say this is the best Mulberry ever
What are the best Mulberry varieties

#Food_Forest #Discover #How_to

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Date: 22 Apr 2022

Spend time among trees...

"...Time spent among trees is never time wasted..."
- Katrina Mayer -

Ceiba pentandra

One of the most impressive and massive trees in the world - Ceiba pentandra - Kapok Tree. A majestic tropical tree! The ancient Maya of Central America believed that a great Ceiba tree stood at the center of the earth... Would you like to try growing it in the center of your backyard? Considering it will take decades to grow this big...

Ficus

Ficus macrophylla (Banyan). Did you know that exotic Banyan Trees are close related to Fig trees?..

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