Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 7 Jan 2019

Three interesting varieties of Avocado

TopTropicals.com

Q: I intend to gift three avocados, at least one type A and one type B, to a friend who lives in an area where the temperature never goes below 25F. The idea is to give them a ripening season as long as possible. Which combinations do you suggest, and which are the A and B?

A: When talking about "A" type and "B" type in Avocados, we are referring to the flowers. An avocado will produce both male and female flowers on the same plant. "A" type means that the flowers are female in the morning and male at afternoon. "B" type means that the flowers are male in the morning and female in the afternoon. If you plant to start a commercial growth, then it's important to create a proper mix of both types. However, in hot and humid climate a single tree produces flowers of both types, so it is NOT necessary to have both A- and B- types planted together in the backyard. Even a single tree produces enough fruit for a home gardener.

It is also important to know that while there are "more cold hardy" avocados (hardy to as low as 15F), it refers to a full grown established tree. Young trees still need protection from the cold until they are bigger and more established. One can not expect a small tree planted in June to survive the first winter with a hard freeze. It'll take a few years until the tree is strong enough.

These a few rare varieties that may be of your interest.

Poncho Avocado
Very cold hardy variety. Produces medium to large green fruit. It survived temperatures around 10F near San Antonio, Texas (Zone 8b). Mature trees can take temperatures down to 15F for short period of time without significant damage.

Anise Avocado
This avocado has strongly scented leaves that smell like Anise. Very rare variety. Fruit is of excellent quality, creamy and buttery.

Catalina Avocado
Catalina is a very nice mid-season pear-shaped fruit that is especially rich and creamy. It is an extremely popular variety in South Florida in the Cuban Community. The Story of this variety says...
...Catalina is an amazing avocado floated across from Cuba, 60 years ago just before Fidel Castro took over the Island Nation. Wise Cubans jumped into the ocean to escape the Castro regime and tossed in some favorite scions for us to enjoy here in the States. We owe a great debt to poor old Don Miguel Cruz de la Santa Maria Espinoza Sanchez Alvarez Jr. who sadly was lost at sea. His amazing scion wood, wrapped in cellophane and aluminum foil floated over, washing ashore on Miami Beach. His shiny little package was miraculously picked up on the shoreline and immediately grafted and cared for by keen-eyed avocado lovers in Miami...
So be sure to think about this story every time you eat a Catalina!

These three Avocados will provide you with fruit ripening during the whole warm season. See more information on avocado varieties and the most cold hardy cultivars.

Check out our full selection of avocado varieties. They are 15% OFF today!

Date: 14 Nov 2025

What is a Dwarf Condo Avocado that fruits at 3 ft tall?

Dwarf Condo Avocado Fuerte

What is a Dwarf Condo Avocado that fruits at 3 ft tall?

  • Every fruit lover dreams of growing lots of avocado varieties, but space often gets in the way. The good news is that some avocado trees stay naturally small and compact, making them perfect for patios, balconies, and even indoor growing. These are called Condo Avocados.
  • They have the same tasty fruit as full-sized trees but take up much less room. You can easily grow them in large pots or containers. They begin to fruit when it's just 2-3 feet tall and remain under 10-12 feet, even after 10 years of growth.
  • The most popular condo avocados are:


🟢 Wurtz (Little Cado): A true dwarf avocado tree that stays small and grows well in containers. It can even produce fruit indoors near a sunny window.
  • 🟢 Fuerte: A semi-dwarf variety that’s easy to manage and does well in pots or small yards.
  • 🟢 Joey: Not a true dwarf, but naturally compact. With a bit of pruning, it can stay small and fit nicely in limited spaces.


Condo avocados are a great way to enjoy homegrown avocados even if you don’t have a big yard. Just give them sun, good soil, and regular care - and you’ll have fresh avocados right on your porch!

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

🛒 Shop Avocado varieties

📖 Our Book: Avocado Variety Guide, Snack or Guacamole?

📚 Learn more:


#Food_Forest #Avocado

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Date: 29 Oct 2025

Grow your own brain food: Avocado and Cocoa

Avocado and Cocoa recipes

Avocado and Cocoa recipes

Chocolate tree fruit (Cocoa, Cacao beans) - Theobroma cacao

Chocolate tree fruit (Cocoa, Cacao beans) - Theobroma cacao

Avocado fruit

Avocado fruit

☕️ Grow your own brain food: Avocado and Cocoa

  • Avocado and cocoa aren't just a delicious combo - they’re also great for your brain. Studies show that Avocado's healthy fats improve blood flow and memory, while Cocoa’s flavonoids boost attention, mood, and overall cognitive performance. Together, they help protect brain cells from inflammation and aging.
  • Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats and lutein, nutrients that support sharp thinking and long-term brain health. Cocoa, meanwhile, enhances circulation in the brain and has been linked to lower risk of stroke and dementia. So, growing your own avocado and cacao trees means growing your own natural brain boosters right in your garden.
  • Try blending the two in simple treats like avocado chocolate mousse or a smoothie with banana and almond milk - creamy, rich, and packed with brain-loving nutrients.


🍽 Delicious Avocado-Chocolate recipes:

  • 🍵 Avocado Chocolate Mousse


    To make this, simply blend ripe avocado, unsweetened cocoa powder, honey (or maple syrup), and a splash of vanilla for a rich, creamy mousse that feels indulgent yet guilt-free.
  • 🍵 Avocado Chocolate Smoothie


    This is perfect for breakfast and to make it, combine avocado, cocoa powder, banana, almond milk, and a touch of nut butter for a thick, chocolatey breakfast smoothie.
  • 🍵 Avocado Brownies


    This one is for the sweet tooth lovers, use mashed avocado in regular brownie batter, add cocoa powder, and bake for fudgy, nutrient-dense brownies.
  • 🍵 Chocolate Avocado Pudding Pops


    To make this bite-size snack, blend avocado, cocoa powder, dates (or honey), and coconut milk, then freeze in molds for refreshing delights.


🛒 Plant your own Chocolate tree (Cocoa, Cacao), and Avocado tree for long lasting brain power

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#Food_Forest #Remedies #Discover #Recipes

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Date: 20 Dec 2025

Grumichama spoon drizzle: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Grumichama spoon drizzle

Grumichama spoon drizzle

Eugenia brasiliensis fruit tree - Grumichama

Eugenia brasiliensis fruit tree - Grumichama

🍴 Grumichama Spoon Drizzle

Ingredients

  • Ripe grumichama fruit (Eugenia brasiliensis), pulp only
  • Water, a small splash
  • Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Instructions

  1. Remove seeds from ripe grumichama fruit and collect the pulp.
  2. Blend the pulp with a small splash of water until smooth and pourable.
  3. Spoon or drizzle over vanilla ice cream and serve immediately.

📚 Learn more:

Plant Facts

Eugenia brasiliensis, Eugenia dombeyi
Grumichama, Brazilian Cherry
USDA Zone: 9-11
Small tree 10-20 ftSemi-shadeFull sunModerate waterEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short timeSeaside, salt tolerant plant

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Date: 6 Jan 2026

How to grow papaya from seed without killing it, Part 2: seeds germination step by step

Ppaya fruit

Ppaya fruit

🍊 How to grow papaya from seed without killing it, Part 2: seeds germination step by step



Papaya germination is simple (see part 1), but it is rarely forgiving. Most failures happen not because seeds are bad, but because moisture, temperature, or patience is off by just a little. In Part 2, we focus entirely on germination - from preparing seeds to creating the right conditions for strong, healthy sprouts.
  • 🍊 Papaya seed germination requirements


    The simple papaya growing rules that actually work

    Fresh seeds taken from ripe fruit usually germinate in 2–3 weeks, as long as temperatures stay above 70F. Warmer is better - ideally 85-90F.
    Bottom heat helps a lot. Seed germination mats work very well.
  • 🍊 Key conditions:


🟡Well-draining potting mix or coconut fiber
  • 🟡Moist soil, never soggy
  • 🟡Consistent warmth
  • 🟡Stored dry seeds often go dormant and can take 8–10 weeks to sprout. When stored properly, papaya seeds remain viable for at least 12 months.


🍊 How to extract and prepare papaya seeds correctly


Growing papaya from seed sounds easy until this happens

So you bought a papaya at the grocery store and decided to plant the seeds. Here is the correct way to do it.

Removing the seeds
  • 🟡Cut the fruit in half lengthwise
  • 🟡Cut each half lengthwise again
  • 🟡Scoop seeds from each quarter with a teaspoon

  • Choosing viable seeds
  • 🟡Good seeds are black and about 1/4 inch in diameter
  • 🟡Small, green, or white seeds are immature and will not germinate
  • 🟡Fresh papaya seeds are coated with a slimy layer that prevents sprouting inside the fruit. This coating must be removed.

  • Cleaning and storing
  • 🟡Rinse seeds thoroughly (a strainer works well)
  • 🟡Remove all pulp and slime
  • 🟡Dry seeds on a paper towel

  • If storing seeds:
  • 🟡Dry completely for several days
  • 🟡Even slightly moist seeds will rot in storage

  • If planting right away:
  • 🟡Remove all pulp and slime and plant as soon as possible

If your papaya seeds have sprouted, you have already passed a major hurdle. Unfortunately, this is where many plants are lost next - not from poor germination, but from transplanting mistakes, excess water, or lack of sun. In Part 3, we cover containers, sunlight, watering, and the most common mistakes that kill papaya after it starts growing.

🛒 Explore Papaya varieties

📚 Learn more:

Plant Facts

Carica papaya
Papaya
USDA Zone: 9-11
Small tree 10-20 ftFull sunDry conditionsModerate waterYellow, orange flowersWhite, off-white flowersEdible 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


🎥 Nobel Prize goes to this pregnant male papaya

#Food_Forest #How_to #Papaya

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