Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 27 Jul 2024

Five most exotic avocado varieties

Avocado Bacon

Avocado Bacon

Avocado Black Prince

Avocado Black Prince

Avocado Mexicola

Avocado Mexicola

Avocado Reed

Avocado Reed

Avocado Russel (red)

Avocado Russel (red)

Five most exotic avocado varieties



👀 We introduced 10 most popular varieties in our earlier posts. Here are 5 more - interesting and unusual cultivars.

1. Bacon - A large Mexican variety with dark-skinned medium sized fruits, and a rich creamy flavor. It is very cold hardy, late-producing variety of Avocado tree with exceptional fruit. It is a highly productive tree with a lovely upright and spreading habit. Its dark green, glossy leaves lend an attractive, tropical appeal to the 15-20 feet of heigh. The oval fruits ripen in late fall and into spring. The fruits are easy to peel and have a light, subtle flavor. The tree has angelic sweeping branches which helps keep the tree shorter and easier to pick its fruit.

2. Black Prince - The fruit was large, oval, 16-36 oz, green and slightly pebbly. The fruit turns black couple days after it is picked, ripens and softens. Black Prince deserves its title! The fruit pulp is thick, and has a rich, nutty flavor. The trees grow vigorously. Superior variety for a backyard grower. Harvesting mid-August to mid-September.

3. Mexicola - black fruit, rich butter content, one of the most cold hardy varieties. Mature trees may withstand temperatures in the low-mid 20s.

4. Reed - The fruit is large, weighing over a pound and round in shape. It has a large seed, but plenty of edible flesh. The skin remains green even when ripe. It is described by some as the best tasting avocado, buttery, bold, rich and nutty with an oil content of about 20%. It is a type A avocado, but fruits consistently year after year without other avocado trees around. It can be kept to around 15 feet with pruning. The branches do tend to droop horizontally.

5. Russel (green and red) - easily recognized by its gourd-like shape, large, 24-36 oz and up to 13 inches long! Flesh is yellow, sweet, excellent quality, the seed is small.

📚 Learn more: Avocado Variety Guide - check this out for interactive chart of Avocado varieties and sort them by flower type A or B, tree habit, fruit shape and quality, cold hardiness, origin, season and more!

What is your favorite Avocado variety?
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#Food_Forest #Avocado


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Date: 13 Feb 2025

Avocado variety everyone should have: how big does a dwarf Condo Avocado grows?

Avocado tree Fuerte with fruit

Avocado variety everyone should have: how big does a dwarf Condo Avocado grows?

  • 🌳 Several dwarf avocado varieties, also known as Condo Avocados, are ideal for container gardening and small spaces.
  • 🌳 One popular variety is Fuerte, which begins to fruit when it's just 3-4 feet tall and remains under 15 feet, even after 10 years of growth.
  • 🌳 The fruit is of high quality, medium-sized, and rich in buttery content.


📚 Learn more from previous posts:


What is the best Avocado variety? Five most popular Avocado cultivars.
Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes. # 2: Avocado Tree
More posts on #Avocado

✔️ Check out Avocado Variety Guide interactive char. Sort them by flower type A or B, tree habit, fruit shape and quality, cold hardiness, origin, season and more!

🛒 Shop Avocado varieties

#Food_Forest #Avocado

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 12 Feb 2025

How to grow a Guava Tree: Practical Guide to Growing Guava

Guava (Psidium sp.)

🍉 How to grow a Guava Tree: Practical Guide to Growing Guava

  • 🍑 Guava Trees (Psidium sp.) are beloved for their flavorful fruit and easy-growing nature. These fast-growing trees are reliable producers and can thrive in a variety of climates, making them a favorite among home gardeners. Guavas are compact and can be grown in containers, making them suitable for small spaces and urban gardens.
  • 🍑 Light and Soil


    Guava trees thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily to produce the best fruit. They prefer well-draining soils rich in organic matter but are adaptable to a range of soil types, including sandy or loamy soils. Slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal. While guavas tolerate poor soils, enriching the soil with compost or manure will improve growth and yield.
  • 🍑 Pruning tips


    Pruning is essential for maintaining the shape, size, and productivity of guava trees.

· Frequency: Prune guavas annually, ideally after the fruiting season, to encourage new growth and improve airflow.
  • · Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches to maintain tree health.
  • · Shape the tree to allow sunlight to penetrate the canopy, which enhances fruit production.
  • · For container-grown guavas, keep the tree compact by trimming back vigorous shoots regularly.


🍑 Guava in containers


Guavas are well-suited to container growing. Compact varieties like the "Nana" guava are ideal for pots. Use a large container (at least 15-20 gallons) with good drainage. Fill it with a high-quality potting mix enriched with organic matter. Place the container in a sunny location and water consistently. Regular pruning helps maintain a manageable size and promotes fruiting in container-grown guavas.
  • 🍑 Watering


· Guava trees require consistent watering, especially during dry periods and the fruiting season. While they can tolerate short periods of flooding, ensure the soil is not waterlogged. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on your climate.
  • · Fertilize guavas 3-4 times a year during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorus to promote flowering and fruiting. Adding organic matter like compost or manure annually boosts soil fertility and improves yields.


🍑 Harvesting

  • · Guava trees are quick to fruit, often producing their first harvest within a year of planting. For container-grown trees, fruiting can start in even smaller pots, such as 1-gallon containers.
  • · Signs of ripe guava fruit include:
  • - A change in color from green to yellow (depending on the variety).
    - A sweet, fruity aroma.
    - Slight softness when gently pressed.
  • · Harvest ripe guavas by hand or with pruning shears. Consume fresh or use them to make juices, jams, or desserts.


🍑 Health Benefits of Guava

  • · Guava is a nutrient powerhouse, offering numerous health benefits:
  • · Vitamin C: Boosts the immune system and helps protect against colds and infections.
  • · Potassium: Supports healthy blood pressure levels.
  • · Antioxidants: Contribute to glowing skin and may reduce the risk of cancer.
  • · Fiber: Aids digestion and helps regulate blood sugar levels.


🍑 Popular Varieties of Guava

  • · Tropical Guava (Psidium guajava): Sweet and aromatic, suitable for warmer climates.
  • · Cattley Guava (Psidium littorale): Cold-hardy with a slightly tart flavor.
  • · Cas Guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum): Known for its sour taste, perfect for juices like Costa Rica’s traditional "Agua de Cas." Cold hardy, disease resistant and vigorous, productive variety.
  • · Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana): Fruity and floral, thriving in cooler climates.


🍑 Additional Tips

  • · Guava trees are relatively pest-resistant but may require monitoring in humid climates for mealybugs. Use neem oil if needed.
  • · Planting multiple guava varieties ensures a continuous supply of fruit.
  • · With their fast growth, compact size, and delicious fruit, guava trees are a fantastic addition to tropical garden, greenhouse or patio.


📚 More from previous posts about #Guava

🛒 Shop Guava Trees

#Food_Forest #Guava

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Date: 12 Apr 2025

What does a mature Champaka Tree look like? Practical Growing Guide

Joy Perfume tree (Magnolia champaca)

☀️ What does a mature Champaka Tree look like? Practical Growing Guide.

  • 🏵 Champaka, or Joy Perfume tree (Magnolia champaca) is the most desirable perfume tree for Southern landscapes - and a Signature Plant of Top Tropicals! You can see several of these beautiful trees around our B-Farm in Sebring, including the one right by the office front door.
  • 🏵 The flowers are used to make the world's most expensive perfume, Joy - and they smell like fruity bubble gum… you won't be able to stop sticking your nose in this flower! The Joy Perfume Tree blooms on and off year-round.
  • 🏵 The Champaka tree has a striking columnar shape and becomes very bushy and full when established - whether in a pot (with a proper fertilizer program) or in the ground.
  • 🏵 The lemon-lime, light green leaves are lush, soft, and tropical-looking, with a unique and beautiful color!
  • 🏵 Champaka trees begin flowering within 2-3 years from seed.
  • 🏵 Singing birds love this tree and in Spring make their nests in its bushy crown.
  • 🏵 The tree is relatively cold hardy and can withstand light freeze for a short time once established. Make sure to provide regular watering for Champaka tree.
  • 🏵 We have beautiful Champaka trees in all sizes:


    3 gal pot: 3-4 ft tall - ready to bloom within a year, can be shipped
    7 gal pot: 5-6 ft tall - ready to bloom, can be shipped
    15 gal pot: 7-8 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
    25 gal pot: 10 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
    * Free delivery for qualified orders


🎥 These Champaka trees in the video are 5 years old (3 years in the ground) and already bloomed for the last 3 years!

🛒 Claim Your Joy Today – Own Your Perfume Champaka!

📚
Learn more from previous posts:
#Perfume_Plants #Container_Garden #Trees

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Date: 14 Apr 2025

How to Plant a Perfume Hedge
And What Does a Champaka Tree Look Like?
Practical Growing Guide

Champaka  tree  in  landscape

Photo above: Magnolia champaka (Joy Perfume tree) in landscape. This tree was planted 3 years ago from a 7-gal pot. The tree is now 5 years old from seed and has been covered with flowers for two seasons in a row. Check out short video.

Q: How big does the Champaka tree grow, tall and wide? And what is the growth habit? I'm thinking of planting a perfume hedge along my property with several of these beautiful trees (8-10 trees). How far apart should I plant them and what container size should I start with? And how soon will they start blooming?

A: Magnolia champaka, or Joy Perfume tree is the most desirable perfume tree for Southern landscapes - and a Signature Plant of Top Tropicals! You can see several of these stunning trees around our B-Farm in Sebring, including the one right by the office front door.

The flowers are used to make the world's most expensive perfume, Joy - and they smell like fruity bubble gum... you won't be able to stop sticking your nose in this flower! The Joy Perfume Tree blooms on and off year-round.

The lemon-lime, light green leaves are lush, soft, and tropical-looking, with a unique and beautiful color.

The Champaka tree has a striking columnar shape and becomes very bushy and full when established - whether in a pot with a proper fertilizer program or in the ground. In Florida, mature trees can reach 20-25 ft tall, although in true tropical environments they may grow much taller. Check out short video of a mature tree. It doesn't get very wide, and if you are planning to plant several trees as a perfume hedge, you can space them as close as 10 ft apart. This tree - light green, fragrant, evergreen, fast-growing, bushy, and dense - makes the perfect perfume hedge!

Champaka trees begin flowering within 2-3 years from seed. Singing birds love this tree and often build nests in its bushy crown during spring. The tree is relatively cold-hardy and can withstand light freeze for short periods once established. Just make sure to provide regular watering.

We have beautiful Champaka trees in all sizes:

3 gal pot: 3-4 ft tall - ready to bloom within a year, can be shipped
7 gal pot: 5-6 ft tall - ready to bloom, can be shipped
15 gal pot: 7-8 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
25 gal pot: 10 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
* Free delivery for qualified orders - contact us for estimate

Plant Your Perfume Hedge Today!

Imagine walking along a path lined with Champaka trees - Joy -fragrant blossoms drifting through the air, lush green leaves swaying gently, and birds singing above. With just a few trees, you can create your own heavenly hedge of joy and fragrance. Let your garden bloom with elegance, beauty, and the world's most luxurious scent!

Champaka  flower