SUNSHINE Epi - plant booster, 100 ml
100 ml
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SUNSHINE Epi - plant booster, 50 ml
50 ml
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Date:

Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Mango Keitt (Mangifera indica)

Mango Keitt (Mangifera indica)

🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 1: Mango Tree.
  • 🥭 Mango trees (Mangifera indica) are a Florida garden essential, and if you own one, you're truly embracing the Sunshine State's spirit!
  • 🥭 Delicious, Nutritious Fruit: Known as the "King of Fruits," packed with vitamins and fiber.
  • 🥭 Fast-Growing & Low-Maintenance: Thrives with minimal water once established, and is heat-tolerant.
  • 🥭 Quick Fruit Production: Grafted trees produce right away and you can expect large crops in just 2-3 years.
  • 🥭 Cold Protection: Young trees need protection from frost, but mature trees handle cold better.
  • 🥭 Compact Varieties Available: Dwarf "condo" mangoes are perfect for containers and smaller spaces.
  • 🥭 Grafted Varieties for the Best Taste: When selecting a mango tree, be sure to choose a grafted variety for an immediate payoff of high-quality, fiberless fruit. Grafted trees will produce sweet and flavorful mangos right away, unlike seedling trees, which can take up to 7-8 years to bear fruit. Grafted mangoes are known for their rich taste, which you can find only in home gardens. Commercially grown mangos, while more durable for shipping, tend to be fibrous and less flavorful. Opting for a grafted variety ensures that you enjoy the full, vibrant sweetness of mangoes.


📚 Learn more from previous posts:
  • 🟡about #Mango trees
  • 🟡10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes


🛒 Shop Mango varieties

#Food_Forest #Mango

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Date:

Discover 10 best fruit trees to grow
in Florida and Southern landscapes

10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida, collage

Q: We recently moved into our new home in Florida, and the property is a great size - 5 acres - but it currently has no trees, just a few palms. I'm looking to plant some productive fruit trees to start building our own Food Forest. What fruit trees would you recommend as a good starting point?

A: With five acres of space, you have a fantastic opportunity to create a fruitful garden that can provide for your family for many years to come. Below are our top recommendations for must-have, easy-to-grow fruit trees that thrive in Florida's climate, grow quickly, and start producing right away.

1. Mango Tree

Mango fruit

Mango trees (Mangifera indica) are a must-have for any Florida garden, embodying the essence of the Sunshine State with their delicious and nutritious fruit packed with vitamins and fiber. These fast-growing, low-maintenance trees thrive with minimal water and are heat-tolerant. Grafted varieties produce high-quality, fiberless fruit in just 2-3 years, while dwarf "condo" mangoes are perfect for smaller spaces or containers. While young trees need frost protection, mature trees handle cold better. Grafted mangoes offer rich taste that you won't find in commercially grown, fibrous varieties, ensuring a sweet and vibrant harvest from your own garden.

2. Avocado Tree

Avocado fruit

The Avocado tree (Persea americana) is an essential addition to any tropical or subtropical garden. Known for its health benefits and superfood status, it's a favorite fruit that's not only productive but also a beautiful ornamental tree. Some avocado varieties are more cold-tolerant than mango trees, with the ability to survive temperatures below 25F. While many enjoy growing avocado from seed, only grafted trees guarantee quality fruit and immediate production, as seedlings can take 7-8 years to bear fruit. To successfully grow avocado, ensure good drainage by planting on a raised mound (4-6 inches) and keep the soil consistently moist. There are also compact varieties like Wurtz and Fuerte that thrive in containers or small spaces, making them ideal for patios and small gardens.

3. Tropical Cherries

Eugenia Lolita cherry fruit

Tropical cherries, such as Cherry of the Rio Grande (Eugenia aggregata), Grumichama (Eugenia brazilensis), Pitomba (Eugenia luschnathiana), and Black Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uniflora var. Lolita), are popular and easy-to-grow fruit trees that offer fast growth and excellent fruit production. These compact, versatile trees thrive in both the ground and containers, starting to produce fruit almost immediately. Eugenias are low-maintenance, requiring minimal water, thriving in various soil types, and being pest-free. They are heat-tolerant and can endure cool winters, surviving light frosts. Birds love the fruit, but don't worry - there will always be plenty for everyone.

4. Barbados Cherry Tree

Malpighia Barbados cherry fruit on a branch

Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra), also known as Acerola, is a tropical cherry renowned for having the highest vitamin C content of any fruit. This nutrient-packed fruit is perfect for jellies, jams, and freezing without losing its vitamin C. The Barbados Cherry is a fast-growing, dense shrub that fruits multiple times a year, providing abundant harvests for gardeners seeking quick results. It thrives in alkaline soil, tolerates drought, and is relatively cold-hardy, withstanding light freezes. Birds love the fruit, making it a great addition to wildlife-friendly gardens. The dwarf variety, Nana, with its small leaves and fruit, is perfect for containers, borders, or even bonsai, adding ornamental value to any space.

5. Noni Tree

Morinda Noni fruit on a 
branch

The Noni Tree (Morinda citrifolia) is a top superfood plant that makes a fantastic addition to any Southern garden. Known for its numerous medicinal benefits, Noni fruit offers anti-inflammatory properties, relief from arthritis, and support for conditions like diabetes, metabolism, and weight loss. It's even believed to help fight cancer. Noni trees grow quickly and begin producing fruit within 2 years from seed. This tough, resilient plant thrives in poor soil, endures summer heat, and withstands drought conditions. Despite its tropical appearance, Noni is surprisingly cold-hardy, recovering well after leaf damage in cooler weather. In addition to its health benefits, the Noni tree has ornamental value, with large, waxy leaves and unique fruit, where the flower appears to grow directly on the fruit!

6. Macadamia Nut Tree

Macadamia nuts on a plate

The Macadamia Nut Tree (Macadamia integrifolia) is a fantastic addition to any garden, allowing you to grow these delicious, high price tag, nutrient-rich nuts right at home. These trees are cold-hardy, grow quickly, and thrive in all Florida soil types. Once established, they are productive and can tolerate both flooding and drought. Older trees can survive colder winters, while young trees need protection from temperatures below 25-26F. Macadamia trees like plenty of water and a special fertilizer program, including liquid fertilizers and microelements, to ensure healthy root development and optimal production. Aside from being rich in healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, macadamia nuts offer numerous health benefits, such as improved digestion, heart health, weight management, and blood sugar control. They are also packed with tocotrienols - antioxidants which may protect against cancer and brain diseases.

7. Papaya Tree

Papaya fruit with seeds

Papaya trees (Carica papaya) are resilient, easy to grow, and produce fruit year-round. Rich in papain, a digestive enzyme, papayas are a superfood that promotes gut health. These fast-growing trees often begin producing fruit within the same year they're planted, providing quick rewards for gardeners. Many varieties, especially dwarf papayas, are space-efficient, reaching only 6-8 feet tall while still yielding large crops, making them perfect for small gardens. Surprisingly hardy for a tropical plant, papayas can withstand light freezes and strong winds (tested in hurricanes!). While they are self-fertile, planting 2-3 different cultivars improves pollination and increases yields. "Solo" cultivars, with their smaller, round or oval fruits, are sweet and less susceptible to fruit flies.

8. Guava Tree

Pink Guava fruit

Guava trees are beloved for their flavorful fruit, commonly used in juices, drinks, and desserts. Popular varieties include Tropical Guava (Psidium guajava), Cattley Guava (Psidium littorale), Cas Guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum), and Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana). Despite their tropical nature, guavas are surprisingly cold-hardy, suitable for cooler climates and occasional frost. These trees thrive in moist conditions and can tolerate some flooding, while their compact growth makes them easy to maintain at any height or shape. Guavas are fast-fruiting, often producing fruit within a year of planting, and even some varieties in 1 gal containers. The dwarf Nana variety is perfect for container culture, producing full-sized fruit in a compact form. Guava trees are mostly pest-resistant, though mealybugs may require occasional treatment with neem oil in humid, rainy areas. Planting multiple guava trees ensures a continuous supply of fresh, juicy fruit and delicious guava juice for everyone to enjoy.

9. Jackfruit Tree

Jackfruit fruit at the base of the tree

The Jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a striking, fast-growing tree known for producing the largest fruit grown on a tree, making it a showstopper in any garden. Nutrient-packed and often used as a meat substitute in South Asian cuisine, Jackfruit is also delicious in curries, chutneys, and as dehydrated chips. These trees grow quickly, have large waxy leaves, and can be maintained at a compact height of 7-8 feet, making them ideal for smaller spaces and easier cold protection. Despite being a tropical species, Jackfruit trees are relatively cold-tolerant and can survive light frost (although on the account of production volume), with established trees being more hardy than seedlings. Jackfruit trees begin producing fruit within 3-4 years from seed, and varieties come true to seed, eliminating the need for grafting, though it can be done for specific varieties.

10. Loquat Tree

Loquat fruit on a branch

The Loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica) is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and highly cold-hardy tropical fruit tree that thrives in Florida gardens. Loquats are heavy producers, with juicy, aromatic fruit that ripens from early spring to early summer, offering a delicious apricot-like flavor. This compact tree is perfect for small gardens, beginners, and those with limited space. Loquats are undemanding, thriving in any soil and withstanding summer heat, winter cold, heavy rains, and occasional flooding. Nutrient-rich, they are high in sugar, acids, vitamins B and C, minerals, and pectin. Loquats are versatile, enjoyed fresh or used in fruit salads, jams, jellies, chutneys, pies, sauces, and even wine-making, and they are often used as a natural sweetener.

Date:

How to Grow Jackfruit: Practical Guide

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) tree

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) tree

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) fruit

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) fruit

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) fruit at the base of the tree

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) fruit at the base of the tree

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) fruit at the base of the tree

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) fruit at the base of the tree

🫡 How to Grow Jackfruit: Practical Guide
  • 🍈 Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a tropical tree that produces the largest fruit in the world, weighing up to 80 pounds and reaching 36 inches in length. The trees thrive in frost-free, humid climates with plenty of sunlight. They require well-draining soil rich in organic matter and regular watering to flourish. Despite their reputation as ultra-tropical, mature Jackfruit trees can tolerate light frost for a few hours without significant damage. Additionally, they can be grown in containers in colder areas with proper care and pruning.
  • 🍈 What Climate is Essential for Growing Jackfruit Trees?


  • Jackfruit trees require a tropical or subtropical climate, with temperatures ideally between 60-95°F. While young trees are frost-sensitive, mature trees can withstand light frost for short periods. However, cold winters can reduce fruit production. Frost-free temperatures are crucial for optimal growth and fruiting.
  • 🍈 How Often Do Trees Need Fertilizing, and What is the Best Type of Feed?


  • Jackfruit trees are heavy feeders. Fertilizing them regularly is key to their health and productivity. During the active growing season (spring to fall), apply a balanced dry fertilizer once a month. Liquid amino-acid-based fertilizers, such as Sunshine Boosters, can be used year-round with every watering. These fertilizers help maintain healthy growth and encourage abundant fruiting. Supplement with organic matter like compost, manure, or peat moss to enrich the soil.
  • 🍈 How Important is Pruning, and When is the Right Time to Prune?


  • Pruning is essential for maintaining a manageable tree size and promoting healthy fruit production. Jackfruit trees produce fruit at the base of the trunk, allowing them to be pruned annually to a height of 7-12 feet. This practice not only makes harvesting easier but also encourages more fruiting. Prune after the fruiting season or in late fall to remove excess growth and shape the tree. Regular pruning also improves air circulation and reduces the risk of disease.
  • 🍈 Key Tips for Successful Jackfruit Production

  • · Climate: Ensure frost-free temperatures and adequate humidity.
  • · Soil: Use well-draining soil enriched with organic matter.
  • · Watering: Maintain consistent soil moisture without waterlogging.
  • · Pruning: Keep the tree under 7-10 feet for easier management and better yield.
  • · Fertilizing: Apply balanced fertilizers and supplements regularly.


🍈 Jackfruit facts
  • · The fruit consists of large, edible bulbs of yellow, sweet, banana-pineapple-flavored aromatic flesh.
  • · Seedlings start fruiting within 3-4 years, with fruit ripening 4-6 months after flowering.
  • · A mature tree can produce up to 200 pounds of fruit annually.
  • · For colder regions, growing Jackfruit in containers is an option, provided the tree is regularly pruned and topped.


👍 Jackfruit trees grow fast and fruit abundantly with proper care, making them an exotic addition to tropical fruit collections.

📚 From previous posts:
The largest tree-borne fruit in the world
How to grow the biggest fruit on Earth

🛒 Plant your own Jackfruit

#Food_Forest #How_to

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Date:

How to take care of a mango tree in winter

How to take care of a mango tree in winter
🥭 How to take care of a mango tree in winter

  • ❄️ Watering

  • During winter, mango trees need minimal watering. Overwatering can cause root rot, especially when temperatures are low. Water the tree only when the soil feels dry about 2 inches deep.

  • ❄️ Fertilizing

  • Avoid feeding in the winter with dry fertilizer. It may cause root burn, plus encourages new growth that is more susceptible to cold damage. Wait until spring when the weather warms up to resume heavy feeding your tree. You can continue using Sunshine Boosters natural liquid fertilizers - Sunshine Mango Tango: it is safe to apply year around since its intake is regulated by reduced water, and only the necessary amount of essential elements will be delivered.

  • ❄️ Temperature Protection

  • Mango trees are sensitive to cold. If you live in a region with freezing temperatures, move your mango tree indoors or to a sheltered location like a garage with a bright light source. If it's in a small container, consider bringing it inside for the winter.

  • ❄️ Sunlight

  • Ensure the tree gets as much sunlight as possible. If indoors, place it near a South-facing window where it can soak up the sun during the day.

  • ❄️ Check for Pests

Winter can bring pests indoors. Regularly inspect the tree for any signs of insect problems around the leaves and stems.

By following these guidelines, your mango tree will be healthier and better prepared for the next growing season.

📚 Learn more: Mango trees and how to deal with cold weather.

🛒 Shop Mango varieties

📝 Earlier posts on #Mango:

#Food_Forest #Mango

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Detailed plant profiles: 3 plants found

Plant Boosters, SUNSHINE in a Bottle
Plant Boosters
SUNSHINE in a Bottle

See SUNSHINE BOOSTERS PAGE

When people purchase plants and trees either on-line, or from their local nursery, expectation and anticipation for their new find is high. Many times, however, disappointment is encountered due to a variety of reasons. These reasons include changes in light, temperature, water, soil conditions and transportation; just to name a few. So how can the stress on newly transported and transplanted plants be mitigated? Easy! There are plant stimulators able to reduce the shock encountered.

One such plant stimulator is SUNSHINE Epi, a revolutionary, broad spectrum, plant stress reliever, originally developed by innovative Russian scientists. Extracted initially from plant pollen, SUNSHINE Epi can bring back and keep the vigor to stressed plants in both the home and garden. Sunshine is indeed a plant stimulator on the cutting edge of plant care technology. Reasonably priced, and easy to use, Sunshine will be your plants' best friend, next to yourself, of course.

SUNSHINE Epi is a natural plant growth hormone and the first representative of a new generation of agricultural chemicals. It has a broad spectrum of stimulative and protective activities. Synthetically prepared epibrassinolide, active ingredient of SUNSHINE Epi, belongs to a class of brassinosteroids and is identical in all respects to naturally occurring plant hormone.

See also Overview of fertilizers.



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Fertilizers, Macro and Micro elements
Fertilizers
Macro and Micro elements

Plants, like living organisms, require adequate nutrition for grown. The concept of plant nutrition includes the following substances:

Carbon dioxide. In the process of photosynthesis with the participation of chlorophyll, in the leaves of plants from water, carbon dioxide and light, organic compounds are formed that participate in the construction of the organism. This is the main and only significant source of organic matter for plants.

MACRO-elements. The macroelements include inorganic compounds necessary for the vital activity of a living organism. The prefix macro-means a relatively high content of these elements in the composition of plants, respectively, their high demand. The macroelements include: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sodium, potassium, chlorine, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Liquid Sunshine Boosters - Mild stable formulas, can be used year-around. Organic acid-based, Sunshine Boosters are perfect for organic gardens, edibles and do not affect crop pure taste. Amino-acid stable formulas have NO EDTA chelators to eliminate nutrients lockup in soil. Pollinating insects friendly. Designed for continuous use, Sunshine Boosters contain no excess salts, maintain soil pH at optimal level (5.5-6.5) and do not require soil flushing or additional pH regulators. They can be use with every watering, year around.

Water-soluble fertilizers - dry (powdered) fertilizers that must be diluted in water before use. EDTA-chelated. Can be used only during hot weather, during active growth season.

Smart release (granulated) fertilizers - Slow-release during 1-3-6-12 month period. EDTA-chelated. Can be used only during hot weather, during active growth season.

MICROelements. Microelements are inorganic compounds involved in the synthesis of enzymes and biologically active substances. The content in a living organism is very low, but they play a vital role in the life of plants. The microelements include: iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum, cobalt.

ULTRA-microelements. Very small amounts of almost all elements of the periodic table are contained in all organisms. They fall into plants with root nutrition from the soil. The necessity for the life of ultramicroelements is not fully proved. Of more or less necessary are considered: vanadium, iodine, nickel, titanium, aluminum, cadmium, fluorine (for plants).

See full article: The role of elements in plant nutrition.

Fertilizers, or Plant Food, contain macro- and micro-elements, for example:

Macro-elements: Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P), Potassium (K).

Micro-elements: Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zink (Zn), Sulfur (S).

Application: Follow directions on the labels. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Less concentration is always better than overdose. Generally, for tropical plants, dry fertilizers should be used only during the growth period when temperatures are above 65F, and Amino-acid based liquid fertilizers can be used year around.

See also: Plant Growth Hormones

For more information about Sunshine Boosters, see SUNSHINE BOOSTERS PAGE and learn more about Essential Nutrients.



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Tillandsia xerographica, Xerographica
Tillandsia xerographica
Family:Bromeliaceae
Subfamily:Tillandsioideae
Xerographica
Groundcover and low-growing 2ft plantSemi-shadeFull sunDry conditionsEpiphyte plantRed, crimson, vinous flowers

Beautiful species, very slow growing, but is easy to take care of. It loves sunshine and will take regular watering as long as the water won't stand in rosette, but can stand some drought quite well. This plant grows epiphytically on trees and on rocks in at elevations of 600 to 1,800 feet. Its silvery gray leaves, sometimes almost white, wide at the base and tapering to a point, make an attractive, sculptural rosette, 3 feet or more in diameter and 3 feet high in flower. The inflorescence, on a thick, green stem, from 6 to 15 inches in height, densely branched. The leaf bracts are rosy red; the floral bracts are chartreuse; and the petals of the tubular flowers are red to purple. Xerographica is a slow growing species with very long lasting blooms (months). The plant is currently on the CITES list of endangered species, therefore import/export restrictions apply.



See detailed plant profile in new window: https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/tillandsia_xerographica.htm
Detailed plant profiles: 3 plants found