🥭 10 steps: how to grow a mango tree?

Follow these steps and you'll be on your way to growing a healthy mango tree and enjoying delicious fruit:

1. ❗️ Choose the right variety that suits your needs and yard. See earlier posts:
5 most Favorite Mango Varieties
10 Dwarf "Condo" Mango
5 large and vigorous Mango varieties

2. 🌳 Buy a grafted tree from a reputable nursery to ensure better fruit quality and faster fruiting.

3. 🏡 Planting site: choose a sunny location with well-draining soil. Ensure there is enough space for the tree to grow, as some varieties can become quite large.

4. ⛏️ Planting: dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball. Mix in organic compost to enrich the soil. Place the tree in the hole, making sure the growth point is 1-2"above the soil line. Fill the hole with soil, pressing gently to remove air pockets. Water the tree thoroughly.

5. 💦 Watering: Water the tree regularly, especially during the first few weeks. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings to prevent root rot.

6. Mulch: apply mulch around the base of the tree to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.

7. Fertilize: use a balanced fertilizer formulated for fruit trees. We recommend Sunshine Boosters Mango Tango formulated specially for mango trees.

8. ✂️ Prune to shape the tree to encourage good airflow and sunlight penetration, and to improve the yield.
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9. 🕷 Pest and disease control: monitor for scale and mealybugs and treat them with systemic pesticides. Keep an eye out for fungal diseases and treat them promptly with copper spray.

10. 🥭 Harvesting: Mangoes are ready to harvest when they change color and soften slightly.

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#Food_Forest #How_to #Mango

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🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 2: Avocado Tree.

• Avocado (Persea americana) is a must-have in any tropical or subtropical garden, along with the mango. It’s a favorite fruit known for its health benefits and superfood status.
• Cold Hardy: Some varieties can survive temperatures below 25F, making it more cold-tolerant than mango trees.
• Beautiful and Productive: Aside from the fruit, it's a lovely ornamental tree.
• Grafted Varieties for Quality Fruit: Many plant enthusiasts enjoy growing Avocado from seed. Keep in mind that only grafted trees guarantee quality fruit and production right away, while seedlings take 7-8 years.
• Growing Secrets: The avocado tree can be a bit tricky to establish. The two main secrets to successful growth are:
a) Good drainage
b) Regular watering
Avocados don’t like to dry out, but they also can’t tolerate wet feet. To ensure proper drainage, plant the tree on a raised mound (4-6 inches) and keep the soil consistently moist.
• Compact Varieties Available: There are several compact varieties ideal for container culture, small spaces, and patios. Dwarf "Condo" varieties like Wurtz and Fuerte are perfect for containers, while semi-dwarf options such as Russell, Lila, Mexicola, Poncho, and Yamagata also perform well in smaller gardens.

📚 Learn more from previous posts:

• 🟡About #Avocado trees
• 🟡Avocado Varieties Guide
• 🟡10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

🛒 Shop Avocado varieties

#Food_Forest #Avocado

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🍉 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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👍 St. Patrick's Day Sale: Live green, not just wear green! Enjoy 15% discount 🛍

• 🍀 St. Patrick's Day is coming, and luck is in the garden! Live green, not just wear green! There's no better way to celebrate than by adding a touch of green to your space. Whether it's a new fruit tree, a colorful flowering plant, or a fresh herb for your kitchen, now's the time to add GOOD LUCK and prosperity to your Garden and Home!
• 🍀 Shop online or come visit us, and let us help you create a little piece of paradise in your own backyard! To make it even sweeter, we're offering a special holiday discount! Use code below at checkout and save 15% on your favorite plants. But hurry - just like a four-leaf clover, this deal won't last long!

🍀 LUCKYPLANTS 🍀



Min order $150. Excluding S/H.
Exp. 3-18-25

🛍 Shop your lucky plants

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😳 March 17: not only St. Patrick's Day! St. Gertrude of Nivelles: Patron Saint of Cats, Gardeners, and Those Who Fear Mice! 🐭

• 
  🐈 March 17 isn't just about St. Patrick! It's also the feast day of St. Gertrude of Nivelles, the Patron Saint of Cats, Cat Lovers, Gardeners, and Travelers! While her feline connection only emerged in the 1980s - over 1,300 years after she lived - the idea has spread far and wide. Some trace it back to a 1981 Metropolitan Museum of Art catalog, which first linked St. Gertrude to cats.
• 
  🐈 Gertrude, a 7th-century Benedictine abbess, was known for her kindness, hospitality, and yes - her love of cats! She cared for the monastery's feline friends, offering them food and affection. In her honor, Nivelles, Belgium, holds an annual Le Tour Sainte-Gertrude, a grand procession celebrating her legacy.
• 
  🐈 Gardeners also look to St. Gertrude's feast day as the perfect time to start spring planting - because a beautiful, sunny March 17 is seen as a sign of a good growing season ahead! So, when you're decked out in green for St. Patrick's Day, give your furry friend an extra cuddle in honor of the original Cat Lady Saint!
• 
  🐈 And of course, Plant People usually are Cat People - this is why we have our PeopleCats.Garden!

🔠 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats

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