Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

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:



🎥 Nobel Prize goes to this pregnant male papaya

#Food_Forest #How_to #Papaya #Discover

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Date: 23 Feb 2026

❄️ The Hardiness Report: February 2026 ❄️

🐾 Smokey & Sunshine’s real-world survival data from our Sebring, Florida Research Gardens. Smokey analyzed the data. Sunshine just stayed happy. Here is what they found.

Macadamia tree surviving 25F freeze as Smokey inspects leaves and Sunshine holds steaming coffee in frosty garden.
Sunshine: Twenty five degrees. Wind chill fourteen. And it is still standing... like nothing happened?
Smokey: This is macadamia strength.
Sunshine: I should put a macadamia nut in my coffee and borrow some of that strength.
Smokey: Do not get too nutty yet. It still needs curing and cracking.

📊 Weather Data – February 1–6, 2026

Sebring, Florida – 132 years of recorded observations
This was not a light frost. It was a prolonged, windy, penetrating hard freeze.

  • 🌡 Minimum temperature: 25F
  • ❄️ Wind chill: 14F
  • ⏳ Duration: 3 nights of 8–10 hour hard freeze
  • ☀️ Daytime temperatures: around 50F for 7 days
  • 🌀 Wind: sustained 20 mph, gusts 40–50 mph

While all our plants in pots were protected in greenhouses, our in-ground plantings faced the freeze outdoors. We covered what we could. Even so, some plants were damaged, some died, and some surprised us by surviving.

In the next few newsletters, we will share the real survivors - the plants that proved themselves in the ground, under real conditions. Smokey and Sunshine have been out in the fields assessing the damage from the February 1–6 freeze. While many plants struggled, the Macadamia proved to be a true standout. This is how we grow them to handle the tough years.

Why does this matter? Because we have gotten used to warm winters, and this freeze was a rude awakening. Not everyone lives in Miami. If you garden in places where a real cold event can happen, you have to be prepared - and you have to plant what can take it.

🌰 Macadamia: Freeze Tested and Standing

Three year old macadamia tree after three nights of 25F hard freeze in February 2026, showing healthy foliage.

3 year old macadamia tree after 3 nights of hard freeze in February 2026 - standing strong.

When temperatures dropped to 25F with wind chill near 14F, our established macadamia trees remained upright, green, and structurally intact. Leaves held. Branches stayed firm. No collapse, no panic.

That is not luck. That is macadamia hardiness.

Often considered a "tropical luxury nut," macadamia proved it can handle more than many gardeners expect. In USDA Zones 9b-11, with proper drainage and site selection, it is not just ornamental - it is a long-term food tree with real resilience.

In a winter that reminded us not to take warmth for granted, macadamia earned its place on the survivor list.

The nut itself is famous for its strength. The shell is among the hardest in the nut world, requiring serious pressure to crack. Inside, the kernel is creamy, buttery, rich, and deeply satisfying. High in monounsaturated fats and naturally low in sugar, macadamias have long been valued both for flavor and for nutrition.

The tree is equally impressive. An evergreen with tough leaves and elegant spring flowers, it matures into a productive, manageable canopy. Nuts develop slowly over six to seven months. Production begins in a few years and increases steadily as the tree matures. Plant it once, and it can reward you for decades.

Macadamia tree with pink flower racemes and developing round green nuts on branches.

Macadamia flowers and developing nuts on the tree.

Cold will come again. It always does. The question is not whether winter will test your garden. The question is whether your trees are ready. Macadamia proved it is. If you are building a garden that feeds you for decades, this is a tree worth planting.

🛒 Add Macadamia Tree to your garden

Fresh macadamia nuts with outer husks removed and hard brown shells exposed in a container.

Date: 27 Jul 2023

Top varieties of pineapples

Pineapple

Q: I want to grow my own pineapples, which varieties do you recommend for the best production? Do I need any special organic fertilizer?

A: Growing your own pineapple is pure bliss. Watching the transformation from a small crown into a luscious fruit is immensely rewarding. Every tropical gardener should experience the joy of growing this tropical gem and relishing its sun-kissed sweetness straight from the garden. Pineapples are easy to grow and can fruit in containers too, so if you live in a colder climate, no problem! They will take very little space in your greenhouse or sunroom. Just remember to feed your pineapple plants with Sunshine Boosters so they will feed you the biggest and the sweetest fruit! Sunshine Boosters are natural, organic-amino-acid based plant nutrients that are perfect for any edibles.
There are several varieties of pineapples in commercial cultivation. Below are the most interesting cultivars. Discover the pineapple paradise!

Elite Gold: Bursting with tropical flavor and vibrant gold flesh, Elite Gold dazzles with its unique taste and ornamental beauty.

Florida Special: Perfectly balanced sweetness and acidity, this variety thrives in warmer climates, gifting you a taste of Florida's sunshine.

Sugar Loaf: Irresistibly sweet with a hint of citrus, Sugar Loaf's compact size makes it an ideal choice for container gardening.

White Jade (Spineless Sweet): Exceptionally sweet and without spines, White Jade pampers you with a delectable, thorn-free harvest.

Lava Burst (Burgundy Variegated Rainbow): This visually stunning ornamental pineapple variety boasts striking burgundy and green leaves, resembling a rainbow of colors. Its fruit edible but small; its exceptional beauty adds a touch of exotic elegance to any garden or indoor space. Lava Burst is a delightful conversation starter and a captivating addition to your plant collection, making it a favorite among pineapple enthusiasts for its aesthetic appeal.

Embrace the sense of accomplishment and the satisfaction of savoring homegrown, mouthwatering pineapples - nature's sweetest gift!

Read more about Pineapples: The most luscious Hospitality Fruit.

Shop Pineapple Paradise

Pineapple

Date: 2 Feb 2022

5 most rewarding tropical fruit trees

Top Tropicals @ Garden America Radio Show

...The most popular garden radio show Garden America is featuring Top Tropicals topic "5 most practical and rewarding fruit trees for subtropical areas".

1) Jackfruit Orange Crush (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
...We recently obtained this variety and it is hands down the best Jackfruit we ever tasted. It is crunchy, sweet, aromatic, with bright orange pulp...

2) Dwarf Guava Hawaiian Rainbow (Psidium nana)
- A very small version of the favorite aromatic Guava.
- Grows only up to 5-6 ft tall with a short trunk and branching, bushy habit.

3) Yellow Pitaya, Dragon Fruit (Selenicereus megalanthus)
- This particular species of Dragon fruit is the sweetest and has great flavor unlike most pitayas
- doesn't mind regular water and rains but is also drought-tolerant

4) Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)
- Can be kept as a very compact tree, and fruits in a pot.
- Flowers and fruits right away. The plants are covered with flowers now and setting fruit.
- Very cold hardy to upper 20's, drought tolerant, fast growing

5) Macadamia Nut (Macadamia integrifolia x tetraphylla)
- The most delicious and popular sweet nuts that are usually so expensive, can be produced in your garden!
- Cold hardy, fast growing, and very productive.

Listen to Facebook-Live Show (recording):

Date: 28 Apr 2021

Cold hardy tropical fruit trees for Zone 9

Q: Can you suggest tropical fruit that can be grown (cold hardy) in Zone 9?

A: There are quite a few tropical/subtropical trees that will grow well in zone 9. Our favorites are: Figs - very cold hardy and drought tolerant.
Loquats - grafted trees that start fruiting right away, reliable producers.
Tropical Mulberry - very fast growing trees that can take freeze, heavy producers.
Macadamia - these trees are of a compact nature, very easy to grow and start producing nuts right away.
Many different varieties of Eugenias - tropical cherries - all-time favorites. Another tropical cherry - Malpighia, or Barbados cherry - starts fruiting in small size under one food tall! Great for containers.
Tropical (Low Chill) Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums. See full list of low-chill, relatively cold hardy fruit trees.
And of course - Bananas!

Don't forget to fertilize your fruit trees to improve their cold hardiness!

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