Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 1 Sep 2024

When you are in the mood for something special - you need a Loquat Liquor

When you are in the mood for something special - you need a Loquat Liquor
When you are in the mood for something special - you need a Loquat Liquor. This is what you do with so many loquat fruit.

🍑 Loquat tree is an excellent choice for any garden, as it is quite cold hardy, drought-, poor soil- and salt tolerant. The delicious fruit look and taste similar to apricots, but there is only one problem: there are too many of them! Make Loquat the perfect fruit for an easy home winery...

🍹 Loquat Liquor recipe

Wash loquat fruit and slit in 4-5 places. You may leave seeds in for Apricot-nutty flavor similar to Amaretto. Combine fruit with vodka and sugar in a wide mouth jar and cover. Stir fruit once a day until sugar is dissolved. Then stir once a week for 4 weeks. Drain liquid and strain through fine cheesecloth. Enjoy!

You can dispose the used fruit but we usually give it a second life: add water, bring to boil, let sit, chill, and it will make another (almost non-alcoholic) drink!

  • ✔️ 3 quarts of loquat fruit
  • ✔️ 1 quart vodka
  • ✔️ 3 cups sugar
  • ✔️ vanilla to taste (optional)


📚 From previous posts:
🎥 YouTube video about Loquat
📁 Overlooked fruit: tasty Loquat recipes (PDF)

🛒 Shop Loquat varieties

#Recipes #Food_Forest #Loquat

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Date: 10 Feb 2025

When you have a big crop of Star Fruit: sweet and Spicy Carambola Salsa recipe

Carambola Salsa

Carambola Salsa

⭐️ When you have a big crop of Star Fruit: sweet and Spicy Carambola Salsa recipe



😁 Ingredients:

  • · 2 ripe Carambola (starfruit), finely diced
  • · 1 small red bell pepper, diced
  • · 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • · 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
  • · 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
  • · Juice of 1 lime
  • · 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
  • · Pinch of salt


📞 Instructions:

  • · Combine the diced carambola, red bell pepper, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro in a bowl.
  • · Add lime juice, honey, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
  • · Chill in the fridge for 15–30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
  • · Serve with tortilla chips, grilled fish, or as a topping for tacos.


🎁 This recipe balances carambola's sweet-tart flavor with a spicy kick! 😏

🛒 Plant your own Carambola Tree

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Date: 7 Jun 2025

From seed to fruit. How to grow Loquat from seeds, step-by-step guide. Part 2: after germination

Loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica) - fruit

Loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica) - fruit

✍️ From seed to fruit. How to grow Loquat from seeds, step-by-step guide. Part 2: after germination



Continued from previous posts⤴️
  • 🍑 4. Transplanting Seedlings


  • When to Transplant: Once seedlings reach about 2-4” (5-10 cm) in height.
  • Transplanting and fertilizing: Move each seedling to its own pot and add controlled release fertilizer (Green Magic is the best), or use liquid balanced fertilizer Sunshine Boosters after 1-2 weeks once the seedlings establish.
  • Watering. Keep soil in a pot slightly moist but not soggy
  • Temperature. Keep seedling warm - above 70F (21C), and protect from extreme heat over 90F (35C) . For small plants, avoid freezing temperatures during winter. As the seedlings get bigger, they get higher drought-, heat- and cold tolerance. Established Loquat trees (2-3 years and older) may take light freezing temperatures.
  • Planting in the ground. You can plant the seedling in the ground when it reaches 2-3 ft tall (50-100 cm) in frost-free areas. During chill winter nights, young seedlings can be cold protected until established.


🍑 5. Sunlight Requirements

  • Light Exposure: Loquat established seedlings thrive in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Start seedlings in bright shade and protect from afternoon hot sun to avoid leaf burn. Once seedlings are established and new growth appears (2-4 weeks), gradually move them to full sun.
  • Why adequate sunlight (full sun) is important:
- promotes healthy growth
- helps to avoid fungus and insect problems
- is critical for future flowering and fruit production

🍑 6. Fruit production

  • Loquat seedlings start producing seed within 3-4 years from seed, providing adequate sunlight, warm temperatures and regular irrigation.
  • Grafted Loquats start producing right away or the next year
  • Fruit will develop over the winter and ripen from March through May depending on location


🛒 Shop Loquat Trees and enjoy fresh fruit benefits

📚 Learn more:


🎥 YouTube video about Loquat
📁 Overlooked fruit: tasty Loquat recipes (PDF)

#Food_Forest #Loquat

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 20 Aug 2025

Avocado cacao mousse: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes

Avocado cacao mousse

Avocado cacao mousse

🍴 Avocado cacao mousse: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes

  • 🟢Blend ripe avocado with cocoa powder, honey, and a splash of vanilla.
  • 🟢Chill and serve like chocolate pudding.
  • 🟢Nobody will guess the secret ingredient!
  • 🟢Healthy and tasty!


🛒 For all-home-grown ingredients you will need:


Avocado tree fruit
Chocolate tree fruit
Vanilla Orchid Beans

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Avocado

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Date: 15 Nov 2025

What to do and not to do before a cold snap?

Cat and potted plants

Cat and potted plants

Frost covers

Frost covers

What to do and not to do before a cold snap?



Growing tropical plants outdoors? Here are a few practical notes for your cold protection guide.

⭕️ 5 things to DO to prepare your plants before a cold snap:



1. Water well. A well-hydrated plant is stronger. Juicy stems and leaves handle cold better than dry ones.
2. Add mulch. A thick layer around the base helps insulate the roots and keep them warm.
3. Block the wind. Move pots to a sheltered spot or set up a windbreak.
4. Cover at night, uncover by day. Use frost cloth, blankets, or plastic at night - but remove during the day so plants don’t overheat in the sun and can get as much light as possible.
5. Add gentle heat if needed. Christmas lights or a small heater can help - just use caution and make sure everything is safe.

❌ 5 most common mistakes, what NOT to do before or during a cold snap:



1. Don’t prune. Fresh cuts and new growth are tender and will freeze first.

2. Don’t overwater. Cold and soggy roots can rot. Keep soil moist, not soaked. Water just enough to quench the plant’s thirst and fill stems and leaves with moisture. Cold and wet is a dangerous combination.

3. Don’t let plants dry out either. Wilted, thirsty plants are more likely to suffer cold damage. Cold and dry can be just as harmful as cold and wet.

4. Don’t use dry fertilizer. It can burn roots in cold soil. A gentle liquid feed like amino-acid Sunshine Boosters is an exception and safe to use with every watering. Its intake naturally slows down as watering decreases.

5. Don’t just watch the thermometer. Duration and wind chill matter. A long cold night with wind can do more harm than a brief freeze.

✔️ Keep these in mind, and your plants will thank you when the cold passes!

#How_to

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