Black Jade Vine is a real gem of a rare plant collection and a
conversation piece when in bloom. The flower color is beyond description, as most of
the Jade vines. This spectacular woody climber is closely related to red Jade
vine (Mucuna bennettii). Branches sparsely velvet-hairy, and blackish purple
flowers hanging in racemes. Drooping flower-cluster-stalks are up to 1 ft
long and 6" in diameter! The blooms appear closely pushed together in grape-like
clusters. Flowers are clustered in threes; each cluster supported by a
deciduous bract. It is a very vigorous woody tree creeper - during warmer weather
it can grow 2 feet or more a week. Cold hardy in Florida to at least zone 9b.
This plant is a must for every rare tropical plant collection. It is
easy to grow and doesn't require much care once established other than regular
watering. In colder climates with a hard freeze, this spectacular vine can be
grown in a large container providing a strong trellis support.
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.
We take this opportunity to extend our grateful thanks to all visitors
and friends of our garden and website. The entire Top Tropicals team wishing
you a Happy New Year with Happy New Plants!
In 2019, Top Tropicals plans include (but are not limited to):
- improved design of the website, online store and shopping cart
- many new introductions of rare flowering plants including Red Jade
Vine, lots of new Adeniums
- rare fruit trees, including Mangosteen, Nutmeg, Clove and more
- extended selection of rare tropical seeds
- many new videos of rare tropical plants
- free and discounted shipping
Stay informed with our Newsletter updates!
New Year Resolutions for Gardeners in 2019
January is the month to plan and dream about your yard and garden. Grow
your garden a few steps at a time each year: pick a few resolutions for 2019
and plan accordingly. Next year, a few more, and so on until you build the
garden of your dreams.
This winter, resolve to:
- Hang a bird feeder.
- Order seeds of some rare plants so you can have an early start.
- Prune a tree into an espalier - it's a perfect time before Spring.
- Ask your grandparents what they grew in their gardens.
- Build a raised bed for succulents.
- If you live in a warm climate, plant a fruit tree or two.
- Start a compost pile.
- Plant a palm tree.
- Try some plant boosters to improve your plants hardiness.
- Chose Flowering trees, shrubs and vines suitable for areas in your garden that still have room...
- Install a rain barrel.
- Eat outside as often as possible.
- Show a child how to plant a tree.
- Provide a water source for bees and butterflies. They are not only
cool, but also pollinators that will help to set fruit and seeds!
- Call TopTropicals for garden advise - what to plant, where to plant,
and how not to kill it!
- Plant a berry-bearing tree or shrubs to feed the birds. Mulberry, Blackberry, Tropicals Cherries - are always good choices. They are 15% OFF now, offer expires 1/8/19.
- Rake and save fallen leaves for winter mulch for your garden beds.
- Save seeds from flowers to plant next year.
- Give plants as gifts all year long.
Malpighia punicifolia - Dwarf Barbados-Cherry, Dwarf
Acerola. This dwarf form of Acerola makes a wonderful low-growing shrub or
beautiful bonsai tree with edible fruit. Profuse bloomer, it is also a nice
ornamental! Due to its shallow and smaller root system, Acerolas can be interplanted
with other crops more closely than many trees. Acerolas grows in marl,
limestone, clay and other heavy soils as long as it drains well. Has the highest
vitamin C content of any fruit. 1 Cherry is equal to 12 oranges. Used in
jellies, jams, freezes without losing its vitamin C content. The plant is drought
tolerant and easy to grow.
Stay updated with TopTropicals Videos by subscribing to our
channel at
YouTube.com/TopTropicals and get our latest video news of what is fruiting and
blooming!
Variegated Sky Flower is grown for its summer flowers and ornamental
fruit. This evergreen fast-growing shrub spreads and arches to 10 feet tall and
wide and is great for live hedges and covering fences and corners. In the
summer, cascading clusters of blue tubular flowers appear followed by
wonderfully contrasting orange-yellow berries. This variegated form has creamy-yellow
margins around the one inch long serrated leaves. In mild climates, this plant
can be in flower nearly year round with flowers and fruit appearing at the
same time. It does best in full sun with frequent deep watering and is hardy
to about 20-25F. A good choice for espaliers, as a small tree or large bush;
all forms benefit from frequent selective pruning. Flowers are very attractive
to butterflies.
Great for providing a color contrast in the landscape, and is especially
well-suited as a bright-colored background or screening. Prune back in late
winter to encourage a more compact shape and strong flush of fresh spring
foliage. Requires moderate watering in a well-drained soil.
How to get a Jasmine to bloom.
Caring for jasmines as container plants during Winter
Locate the jasmine plant where it will receive bright filtered light at
least six hours every day.
Put a few pebbles in a shallow plate or tray and pour fresh water over
the pebbles. Set the pot on the pebbles, but don't let the water level touch
the bottom of the pot. This increases the humidity in the air around the
jasmine. Keep the plant away from wood stoves, heat vents and radiators.
Water the jasmine when the top 1/2 inch of the soil feels dry. Don't let
the soil get soggy, and never let the pot sit in water. Water the plant
sparingly during the winter.
Feed jasmine twice a month between Spring and early Fall, using a
granulated slow-release, or water-soluble houseplant fertilizer mixed at half
strength. Don't fertilize during the winter months.
Prune the jasmine as needed to maintain the desired shape. Never prune
in winter, as the plant will be preparing to bud.
Encourage the jasmine to bloom by putting it in a cool room at night for
four to five weeks during Fall to Early Winter. The plant should get plenty
of sunlight during the day, but during the night, move it to a pitch-dark
room where the temperature is between 40 and 50 degrees F. After four to five
weeks, leave the plant in its regular, daytime location. The plant should start
blooming in mid-Winter to early Spring.
Growing Nutmeg from seed: secrets of successful germination
Q: I
received a Nutmeg nut and I am wondering do I need to open a hard shell before
planting it? Any other tips on growing nutmeg from seed? When will you have
Nutmeg plants for sale?
A: We just
received fresh nutmeg seeds from Sri Lanka and planted them right away, so
we should have Nutmeg plants by Spring/Summer. These are some tips on how to
make germination a success:
- nutmeg seeds are viable only for a few weeks after harvesting so
plant them as soon as possible.
- wash the seed and soak it in warm (100F) water with a few drops of SUNSHINE-S
booster that improves germination. Soak for up to 24 hours. You may use
a thermos to keep it warm.
- there is no need for scarification. The outer shell of nutmeg is
hard, however, it is not thick so the water will penetrate easily. On the photo
above, you can see 2 seeds: the one on the right expanded twice in size after
sozking.
- Plant in a porous soilless mix, preferably light seed germination mix, in 4-6" pot, and keep moist but not soggy. You
may cover the pot with plastic to keep moisture in.
- Unless you are germinating the seed in hot tropical conditions, you
should use bottom heat - 80-85F. A heating pad is the best solution (make sure
it doesn't have a timer that automatically shuts it off). For safety, use
GFI protected electric outlets since you will be watering the pot.
- Be patient and allow a few weeks for germination. Once the seed
sprouted, keep it in bright filtered light and apply SUNSHINE Superfood to young seedling, along with a small dose of Slow Release Fertilizer, for kickstart.
- Move the seedling out in bright sun light once the temperature
outside is above 70F.
We have a very long waiting list for Nutmeg plants (item 3878) and seeds (item 6203), so you may reserve one for yourself using our Wishlist
form; this way you will be notified immediately when we have the plants in
stock, as they won't last long. A few seeds are still available for sale,
order now while they are fresh:
Capricorn - 12/22
- 1/19.
An EARTH sign ruled by the planet Saturn. Capricorn's plants usually have
few flowers, or small flowers, are knobby or woody, and may have an unpleasant
smell or taste. Saturn rules plants with long lives and slow growth, so
plants with annual rings are also associated with the Goat.
Physiologically, Saturn rules the systems that give the body its
structure and form: the skeletal system, and the skin, teeth, joints, and knees, so
plants that are high in calcium can be very beneficial. Those can be woody
plants and shrubs that show annual rings, as well as some poisonous or
narcotic plants. Saturn plants are useful in treating arthritis and rheumatism.
Traditional Capricorn appreciates a spice that is powerful but familiar. Black pepper adds flavor and a bit of heat to both food and life,
creating movement without too much change.
Holiday gift shopping still not covered? Let your loved ones chose a
wonderful plant they like! Show how much you care, buy a Top Tropicals Gift Certificate! It has no expiration date. It will be
20% larger face value, for example:
- You pay $100, we'll issue a $120 gift card
- You pay $200, then it will be of $240 value
The gift certificate will be emailed to you. Offer valid through
12/25/2018.
This amazing cherry is by far our favorite. Lolita is an exclusive
variety of Black fruited Surinam Cherry that starts as red and turns black as it
ripens. The fruit has exceptional flavor and has no aftertaste, unlike regular
Surinam cherries. It is large, 1-1.5" size, super sweet when fully ripe. The
tree is a dwarf statue, 5-6 ft or smaller if pruned. It is upright and
freely branching. Plants start flowering and fruiting in 1 gal container. The
plants we have in stock are ready to fruit in 2019.
These cherries are cold hardy and can take short periods of frost. Once
established, the plant can withstand upper 20's without damage.
Lolita is very hard-to-find, and we have limited quantities, hurry
up!
To expedite your order for Christmas, request rush
shipping in order notes, contact us or call Anna Banana direct @ 239-771-8081.
