❔ Why this tree grows in almost every yard of Central Florida

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  🔖 Tibouchina granulosa - Glory tree is a dazzling addition to every southern garden!
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  🔖 Also known as the Purple Spray Tree, it puts on a spectacular show with its velvet-like, deep purple blossoms that bloom from late Summer through Winter. These flowering panicles completely cover the tree, creating a breathtaking display of color that turns heads!
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  🔖 In Highlands County, Florida (where our farm is located), this tree is the gem of nearly every garden, and for good reason. With its long-lasting blooms and tropical charm, it's a must-have for anyone looking to add vibrant beauty to their landscape.
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  🔖 When you ask the neighbors why they planted this tree, they always answer: "Everyone must have one!"

📚 More Tibouchinas in previous posts:

• 💋 Is purple your favorite color? This is your plant!
• 💋 Why this Tibouchina is so popular: giant leaves & bold purple flowers of Quaresmeira

🛒 Shop Tibouchinas

#Hedges_with_benefits #Trees

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😡 Why my Lychee tree is not producing fruit and why I can't grow a Lychee tree from a seed?

Practical advice on propagation and harvest- for the previous post 👆

🍑 Propagation and mycorrhiza

• 💋 Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and plant roots. In a Lychee orchard, mycorrhiza plays a crucial role by enhancing the nutrient uptake of lychee trees, particularly phosphorus, leading to better growth and fruit production, especially in soils with low phosphorus availability.
• 💋Lychee trees are typically propagated by air layering, as they cannot be propagated effectively by seeds or grafting.
• 💋Lychee seedlings do not grow well because they require a special mycorrhizal environment that, in nature, is only provided under a mature mother tree. This dependency on mycorrhiza explains why lychee seedlings lack vigor and cannot serve as rootstocks for grafting.
• 💋If you have tried growing lychee from seed, you may have noticed that the seedling, after reaching a few inches in height, often stops growing or even shows signs of retarded growth. This is a clear indication of a lack of mycorrhiza.
• 💋The easiest way to have a healthy, productive Lychee tree, is to obtain a quality, air-layered tree from a reputable source.

🍑 Alternate Bearing in Lychee Trees

• 💋 Lychee trees often produce fruit every other year due to "alternate bearing", where the tree focuses on a heavy crop one year, leaving less energy for fruiting the next.
• 💋This cycle is influenced by weather, tree variety, and how flower buds develop alongside the current year's fruit. For example, "Mauritius" trees may bear fruit annually, while "Brewster" trees may produce a good crop only every 3-4 years.

By considering these factors and providing appropriate care, you can enjoy the beauty and bounty of a lychee tree in your garden.

📚 Learn more from previous posts:

The best varieties of Lychee
The best fruit in the world - grow your own Lychee tree
How to grow a Lychee tree

🛒 Shop Lychee trees

#Food_Forest #How_to

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😼 Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits:
#1. Guava 🍉

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  🟡 Guava is rich in vitamin C, which boosts the immune system and helps protect against colds and infections.
• 🟡 Guava helps regulate blood sugar levels, making it a good option for people with diabetes.
• 🟡 Its potassium content helps maintain healthy blood pressure.
• 🟡 Guava's antioxidants, like lycopene and vitamin C, contribute to glowing skin and may reduce the risk of cancer.
• 🟡 Guava is eaten fresh, made into juices, jams, and jellies, or added to desserts and smoothies.

📚 More about Guavas from previous posts:

• 💋 What Guava variety is the best for Guava Wine
• 💋 How to grow guava tree for Juice
• 💋 The most wanted collectible Honey Moon Guava
• 💋 Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #2. Guava
• 💋 Costa Rican Cas Guava
• 💋 Guava for Drinking
• 💋 Guava for Juicing

🛒 Plant a Guava Tree

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Guava

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🥭 What is the biggest mango fruit?

🔍 We discovered one of the biggest Mango fruit after we planted this new variety - Kiew Yai.

Right now the fruit is almost a foot long!

⏳ The tree was planted in April - only 3 months ago.

😋 Looking forward to tasting it soon and sharing our taste impressions with you. Stay with us!

⬆️ Reminder: In order to have good quality fruit, your Mango tree must be grafted. Grafted varieties start fruiting right away, while seedlings may take from 7 to 10 years to fruit and the taste of the seedling's fruit will always be a surprise, they may be small in size and very fibrous.

📝 Check out our earlier posts on Mango

🛒 Order Kiew Yai and shop more Mango varieties

#Food_Forest #Mango

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🍹 How to make tasty Carambola Banana Whip

• ✔️ 1 ripe Carambola
• ✔️ 3 ripe Bananas
• ✔️ 1 tbsp Honey
• ✔️ 1/2 tsp Cocoa (optional)

Blend ingredients until smooth. Scoop into frosted mugs. Garnish with Carambola and Banana slices.

🍷 Enjoy while cold ❄️

📚 From previous posts:

• • Why Bananas? They are good for you and are fun to grow!
• • How to grow your own Carambola

🛒 Order Carambola and Banana trees

#Recipes #Food_Forest

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