I wonder how many people know that the Pineapple (Ananas comosus) was actually the very first New World
tropical fruit to have been sampled fresh by European royalty? It happened 527
years ago, when one made it to Spain, being personally delivered to King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabella by Christopher Columbus... He had obtained a huge number
of them, however only one actually survived intact and edible! That
pineapple was instantly declared to be the most luscious wonderful fruit ever!..
...During the 1700s before the Revolutionary War, the overly monetarily
intoxicated super-rich were actually paying a modern equivalent ofâ - get this
- 8000 dollars for a single fruit!..
...In conclusion, I will add the simple recipe for my personally favorite
go-to comfort food...
Pineapple plantation in Hawaii
Date: 2 Apr 2026
Skip the Egg Hunt - Start a Plant Hunt
🐰
Sunshine: I went egg hunting. Found something better. Let’s
grow it on the balcony. Mango-filled donuts, here I come.
Botanical name: Mangifera indica Also known as: Mango
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Groundhog said long winter… and it sure felt like it. But now it is
finally over, and balconies and patios are waking up again.
Easter is here, and with it comes that fresh start feeling - time to open
the doors, bring plants back out, and start growing.
We made it through the cold. For northern gardeners, that is every year;
for borderline zones, it is a reminder that freezes happen. That is exactly
why
growing in pots makes sense - you stay flexible.
Container growing is not just about pots - it is about choosing the right
plants. The best options stay manageable, produce well, and handle being
moved.
Let's look at what works. Start with plants that naturally stay compact and
adapt well to containers. These are the ones that won’t outgrow your
space and will reward you quickly. These are proven performers in containers
-
compact, productive, and easy to manage:
Botanical name: Randia formosa, Mussaenda formosa, Randia mussaenda, Rosenbergiodendron formosum Also known as: Blackberry Jam Fruit, Jasmin de rosa
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Fig Tree Plant Facts
Botanical name: Ficus carica Also known as: Fig Tree, Brevo
USDA Zone: 7 - 10
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Simple rule: if it stays compact and handles pruning, it
works in a container.
Skip the egg hunt this year - go on a plant hunt instead.
Start with one or two plants this Easter - not ten. Get them established,
learn how they grow, and then expand.
Container basics (keep it simple):
Pot size: start with 3–7 gallon, upgrade as
plant grows
Soil: fast-draining mix (never heavy garden soil)
Water: soak well, then let top inch dry
Feeding: consistent light feeding works better than
heavy doses
Sun: most tropicals want full sun (6+ hours)
🐣 Browse our Easter Container Collection
Randia formosa - Blackberry Jam Fruit
Bunchosia argentea - Peanut Butter Fruit
Peanut Butter Fruit Tree Plant Facts
Botanical name: Bunchosia argentea, Bunchosia armeniaca Also known as: Peanut Butter Fruit Tree, Ciruela Del Monte
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Myrciaria cauliflora - Jaboticaba
Jaboticaba Plant Facts
Botanical name: Myrciaria cauliflora, Plinia cauliflora, Eugenia cauliflora Also known as: Jaboticaba, Duhat
Smokey and Sunshine HIRING NOW: Customer service / sales in garden center
Smokey and Sunshine HIRING NOW
👨�Smokey and Sunshine HIRING NOW: Customer service / sales in garden center
Sunshine: Smokey, we need plant people. Smokey: Does your girlfriend know plants? Sunshine: Of course. She fertilized my donuts so they would grow larger. Smokey: Did it work? Sunshine: Kind of. I gained three pounds.
TopTropicals.com is looking for a part-time customer service and sales team member for our Ft Myers Garden Center.
If you genuinely love plants, enjoy helping people, and don't mind getting your hands dirty in a tropical nursery environment – then working with rare tropical plants, fruit trees, and fellow plant lovers can be fun and rewarding!
💼 Responsibilities
· Help walk-in customers select plants and check out
· Answer customer questions by phone, email, social media, and message board
· Open and close office, operate cash register
· General customer service and sales support
📚 Requirements
· Genuine love for plants and willingness to learn. We will train
· Friendly, patient, and polite with customers
· Strong work ethic and reliability; punctuality is essential
· Ability to follow instructions and work efficiently
· Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs and comfortable working outdoors in Florida heat and weather
· Drug-free - background check and drug test upon employment
· Valid Florida driver's license and reliable transportation
· Must love cats - our famous "PeopleCats" helpers patrol the gardens daily
� Preferred qualifications
· Basic computer skills (email, office, internet). We will train · Previous plant knowledge or nursery experience · Sales or customer service experience
💰 Pay
· Starting pay: $18/hour depending on experience and performance · Opportunity for growth based on performance
📅 Schedule
· Part-time to start, potential for full-time later · Friday and Saturday, 9 am - 4 pm
📍 Location:
Top Tropicals Garden Center
13890 Orange River Blvd
Ft Myers, FL 33905
✍️ How to apply:
Please email a brief resume and a short paragraph explaining why you'd like this job.
Resume guidelines: · Keep it brief; include job history and education · Please avoid long descriptions of unrelated experience · Tell us why working with plants and people interests you
🚶➡️ To apply in person:
You are welcome to visit our Garden Center during business hours:
Monday-Saturday, 9 am - 4 pm
To apply in person, ask for Kristi - our manager.
No phone calls please.
Thanks for applying - we hope to see you working alongside our plants, #PeopleCats, and fellow plant lovers soon.
Want fruit without the wait? These tropical powerhouses deliver a "fast-food" garden in record time.
🍓 The Top 3 Speed Demons
1. The Favorite: Papaya🍊
If you want speed, Papaya is king. It can go from a small seedling to heavy fruit in 6-10 months. It behaves more like a giant herb than a tree: it is fast, has shallow roots, and is incredibly responsive to water and fertilizer. In warm climates, it is a plant it and watch it go legend. More details
2. The Reliable: Guava🍉
Guava is the most forgiving fruit tree you can own. It handles heat, poor soil, and the occasional week of neglect without missing a beat. Most varieties begin producing in just 1-2 years, staying compact enough for small yards or large pots. More details
3. The Surprise: Eugenias 🍒
This family (including Surinam Cherry, Grumichama, Cherry of the Rio Grande, and Pitomba) often flies under the radar. They look like ornamental shrubs, but they establish quickly and can fruit within year two. They handle pruning beautifully, making them perfect for edible hedges. More details
🍓 The Fast-Fruit Honor Roll
🍓 Ultra-Fast (Under 1 Year)
Papaya and Banana: The heavyweight champions of speed. Strawberry Tree (Muntingia calabura): Non-stop cotton candy berries. Grafted Favorites: High-quality Mango, Avocado, Peach, Nectarine, and Persimmon.
Mango Plant Facts
Botanical name: Mangifera indica Also known as: Mango
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Avocado Plant Facts
Botanical name: Persea americana, Persea gratissima Also known as: Avocado, Alligator Pear, Aguacate, Abacate
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Peach Plant Facts
Botanical name: Prunus persica, Amygdalus persica Also known as: Peach
USDA Zone: 5 - 10
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🍓 Very Fast (1-2 Years)
The Berries: Mulberry (especially Everbearing), Fig, and Barbados Cherry. The Exotics: Strawberry Guava, Loquat, and the curious Peanut Butter Tree (Bunchosia). The Sweet Treats: Blackberry Jam Fruit (Randia formosa).
🍓 Tropical Staples (2-3 Years)
Starfruit (Carambola): A heavy producer that looks stunning in the garden. Annona Family: Sweet Sugar Apples and creamy Atemoyas. Macadamia Nut: A long-term investment that starts surprisingly early.
🍓 Fast Climbers and Bush Fruit
Passionfruit: Will cover a fence and fruit in a single season. Berries: Mysore Raspberry and classic Blackberries for quick returns.
