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Index > Garden Blog

Date:

Avocado Black Prince

Grow Your Own Food
Avocado variety - what's the taste?

Avocado Black Prince

We obtained Black Prince Avocado variety this year and at first didn't know much about it. Until we tried the first fruit! The fruit was large, oval, green and slightly pebbly. We were not sure if it would taste like some green avocados - watery and less buttery? The fruit turned black couple days after it was picked, ripened and softened. We were pleasantly surprised, Black Prince deserves its title! The fruit pulp is thick, and has a rich, nutty flavor. The little trees grew this year vigorously and didn't show any bug or deficiency problems. Superior variety for a backyard grower! Giving it 5 stars! *****
We have Black Prince Avocado in 3 gal pots, as well as in XX-Large size for local pick up - for those who want a large fruiting size tree, please contact our Garden Center to pre-order from our Growing Farm (B-Farm). It can be delivered and installed for you!

Why grow your own Avocado tree?

Why grow your own Avocado tree? This is why. Now we import 89% of the U.S. avocado from Mexico. How much of a difference we could make if we were all growing our own avocados? Support our own horticulture, help Avocado to become grown in the USA!

Avocado Varieties

Date:

What tree will fruit indoors?

Fruit trees for indoor containers

Q: I love your tropical fruit selection and I wish I lived in a warmer climate. Is there any fruit tree that can be happy indoors during winter and have fruit? I am not expecting a big crop but it would be fun to have a small piece of tropics at home. I don't have much gardening experience, can you suggest something easy for a start?

A: Several tropical fruit trees can be grown indoors, in pots, providing bright light that is necessary for flowering and setting fruit. Among them are many varieties of Bananas, Guavas, Annonas and tropical Cherries - these can be easily maintained in containers. Even dwarf varieties of Avocado and Mango are good candidates for indoor culture. You can bring containers indoors for winter and take outside into full sun during warm months so your plants can store lots of energy in Summer.
The easiest fruit tree for indoor culture that doesn't require bright light and can be grown indoors year around is a Coffee tree. Start with it, it is on sale today! Once you gain some experience, you can upgrade to a Chocolate tree!
Remember, all container grown plants need balanced nutrition program. It can be easily provided with Sunshine Boosters your around. For fruit trees, just add some Sunshine C-Cibus Crop Booster to your cart.

Coffee video

Date:

Grow your own food:
How hardy is a Loquat tree?

Loquat trees and fruit

Q: I am looking for a fruit tree for my backyard that is low maintenance, fast fruiting, and can take some cold (I live in Orlando FL and we do get occasional frost in winter). I like the taste of Loquat fruit, it reminds me of apricots. How cold hardy is this tree?

A: Loquat tree is a very good choice for Florida gardens. It can take both cold and heat and produces lots of tasty fruit right away. Last winter when we had a record freeze in our area with a couple of nights around 25F, the only trees that didn't get any damage at all were Loquats and Macadamias, and those were still young, newly planted 4 ft trees.
To learn more about Loquat trees, check out this video and article: Golden Loquat - the symbol of Prosperity.

Loquat video

Date:

Grow your own food:
Avocado Q & A

from Ed Jones, the Avocado Guy

two avocado fruit

Q: Do I need to have more than one avocado tree in order to produce fruit?

A: While a single avocado tree will normally produce enough fruit for most people, it never hurts to have more than one tree and even more than one variety to increase the chances for good pollination. Be sure to look at our catalog for the many different varieties available from our store.

Avocado tree

Date:

New video: Royal Poinciana
The most beautiful tropical shade tree

Royal Poinciana video

"The Royal Poinciana is one of the most spectacular flowering trees in the USA, and probably among the top 10 on this planet. In full bloom, it is like a regal elephant caparisoned in red and yellow brilliance." (Larry M. Schokman, The Kampong, National Tropical Botanic Garden)
One of the most conspicuous flowering trees seen in the tropics, Royal poinciana (Delonix regia) has bright fiery red/orange blossoms cover its mimosa type leaves which close up and go to sleep for the night. This large tree, which naturally assumes a spreading umbrella shape, is now found in gardens, parks, and planted along streets throughout the tropics. In late spring, as the new leaves appear, the tree is covered with masses of five-petalled red flowers resembling orchid flowers. Blooming is followed by long, flattened, leathery dark brown or black seed pods. Delonix requires full sun and adequate space to take its characteristic form....
Read Article about this tree.

Royal Poinciana tree

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Royal Poinciana tree flowers




The most spectacular
tropical flowering trees

See full list of flowering trees


Bombax ceiba - Red Kapok 
tree
3272 Bombax ceiba - Red Kapok tree
Grown in
6-10"/1-3 gal pot

$42.95
  
Sale $37.95


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Saraca indica - Ashoka 
Tree
1405 Saraca indica - Ashoka Tree
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$62.95


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Tabebuia caraiba - Yellow trumpet tree
1306 Tabebuia caraiba - Yellow trumpet tree
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$47.95


Buy Tabebuia caraiba - Yellow trumpet tree from Top Tropicals

Plumeria Witsanu Gold, grafted
5771 Plumeria Witsanu Gold, grafted
Grown in
6"/1 gal pot, grafted

$42.95


Buy Plumeria Witsanu Gold, grafted from Top Tropicals

Acacia farnesiana - Sweet 
Mimosa
3247 Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa
Grown in
6-10"/1-3 gal pot

$37.95


Buy Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa from Top Tropicals

Melia azedarach - Chinaberry 
tree
2978 Melia azedarach - Chinaberry tree
Grown in
6-10"/1-3 gal pot

$37.95


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Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus
2091 Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$42.95


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Magnolia (Michelia) champaca - Joy Perfume Tree, Champaka, 3 gal 
pot
2853 Magnolia (Michelia) champaca - Joy Perfume Tree, Champaka, 3 gal pot
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot, large plant

$72.95
  
Sale $67.95


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Erythrina caffra - South African Coral tree, Caffra
3326 Erythrina caffra - South African Coral tree, Caffra
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot, very large plant

$37.95
  
Sale $17.95


Buy Erythrina caffra - South African Coral tree, Caffra from Top Tropicals

Erythrina livingstoniana - Cry Baby 
Tree
6730 Erythrina livingstoniana - Cry Baby Tree
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$42.95
  
Sale $17.95


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Date:

Join us tomorrow, Saturday, 6/25!

Grow-food Event

9 am - 4 pm: Plant Market. 15% all plants. Raffle. FREE fertilizer samples
Gift bags - for first 25 customers with $50 order
FREE plant with every order!

Facebook event page - Download invitation

15% discount for online orders

Grow-food Event

Those who can't join us in person, please use this code for 15% off your entire order, just shop online!

GROWFOOD15

Min order $100. Exp. 6-25-22.

Shop Fruit and Edibles



New arrivals of fruit trees!

See full list of fruit and edibles

Date:

Mango trees: how to deal with cold weather

Mango lights

By Ed Jones, the Mango guy

...Well, you did it didn’t you? You love fresh mangoes, don’t you? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to pick your own mango fresh off a tree in your back yard?
So you bought a mango tree hoping to do just that. You are in USDA growing zone 10 or 11 aren't you? If so, you should have no problems with weather extremes other than possibly an occasional frost in zone 10A. If you can cover your tree, you will not likely see any damage. But what if you are a little further north and you have decided to try your luck on the magnificent mango fruit tree? Mangoes are a tropical fruit tree best grown in tropical zones with temperatures that stay above 40F. If you are in zone 9A or 9B, you may still have luck growing a mango tree...

Date:

New Video:
Black Surinam Cherry Lolita

Link to YouTube Video

...Black Surinam Cherry - tropical cherry variety Lolita, very hard-to-find. The fruit starts as red and turns black as it ripens. It has an exceptional flavor. The fruit is very sweet, without aftertaste, large 1-1.2 inch, very juicy. Reliable producer. The tree is upright, freely branching. Seedlings come true to seed. These cherry trees are relatively cold hardy and can take light frost. Once established, the plant can withstand upper 20's without damage....

Lolita Cherry Video

Subscribe to our Channel:

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!


Revised video:
Garden in Trenches

We apologize for the broken link in our last newsletter and repeat Garden in Trenches per our subscribers request:

Link to YouTube Video

YouTube Video from the front line. Ukrainian soldiers continue growing vegetables and herbs at the front line, right in the trenches...

Date:

Plant Horoscope - Taurus

Plant Horoscope - 
Taurus

By Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats

...Taurus is the second astrological sign in the modern zodiac. This sign is associated with several myths and bull worship from several ancient cultures. It was the first sign of the zodiac established among the Mesopotamians, who called it "The Great Bull of Heaven"...
Taurus, like other earthly signs, refers to plants in a peculiar way. This is not to say that he does not love them, and how can he not love the grass that feeds him or trees in the shadow of which he rests during the midday hours? Yes, he loves them. Well, just need someone else to grow all these flowers and trees, someone else look after them, making sure that they are always in good condition and would be apt to give Taurus full portion of sensual pleasures!..

Date:

Memorial Day Sale

"...How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes..."
- Maya Angelou -

Memorial Day

On May 30, people across the nation will make it a point to remember and honor the many sacrifices of military service members who have given their lives for our country. Celebrate this important day with us by planting a tree in memory of our heroes - and here is your 22% discount:

MEMORIAL22

Min order $150. Exp Monday, 5-30-22.

Royal Poinciana

In the photo: Royal Poinciana, one of the most impressive trees of Tropics and Subtropics.

Memorial Day Tree Specials

- with additional instant discount -


Magnolia (Michelia) champaca - Joy Perfume Tree, Champaka, 3 gal pot 2853 Magnolia (Michelia) champaca - Joy Perfume Tree, Champaka, 3 gal pot
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot, large plant

$72.95
  
Sale $67.95


Buy Magnolia (Michelia) champaca - Joy Perfume Tree, Champaka, 3 gal pot from Top 
Tropicals

Terminalia catappa - Tropical Almond
2266 Terminalia catappa - Tropical Almond
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot, large plant

$57.95
  
Sale $52.95


Buy Terminalia catappa - Tropical Almond from Top Tropicals

Flamboyant tree, Royal poinciana, Delonix regia
1176 Flamboyant tree, Royal poinciana, Delonix regia
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$52.95
  
Sale $47.95


Buy Flamboyant tree, Royal poinciana, Delonix regia from Top 
Tropicals

Ice Cream Bean tree, Inga feuille (edulis)
1114 Ice Cream Bean tree, Inga feuille (edulis)
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$52.95
  
Sale $47.95


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Tropicals

Cestrum nocturnum - Night blooming jasmine
1046 Cestrum nocturnum - Night blooming jasmine
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot, large plant

$27.95
  
Sale $22.95


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Datura Metel - Horn-of-Plenty
2014 Datura Metel - Horn-of-Plenty
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot, large plant

$32.95
  
Sale $22.95


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Cerbera x manghas hybrid - Enchanted Incense (Red 
Flower)
5293 Cerbera x manghas hybrid - Enchanted Incense (Red Flower)
Grown in
6"/1 gal pot

$52.95
  
Sale $47.95


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Miracle Fruit, Large Leaf variety, Synsepalum subcordatum
3146 Miracle Fruit, Large Leaf variety, Synsepalum subcordatum
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$69.95
  
Sale $59.95


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Senecio confusus - Mexican flame vine (Pseudogynoxus chenopodiodes)
1189 Senecio confusus - Mexican flame vine (Pseudogynoxus chenopodiodes)
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$37.95
  
Sale $32.95


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Tropicals

Odontonema cuspidatum - Firespike, Red
1373 Odontonema cuspidatum - Firespike, Red
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$32.95
  
Sale $27.95


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Ilex paraguariensis - Yerba 
Mate
5428 Ilex paraguariensis - Yerba Mate
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$37.95
  
Sale $27.95


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Medinilla cumingii (myriantha) - Malaysian 
Orchid
4095 Medinilla cumingii (myriantha) - Malaysian Orchid
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot, very large plant

$42.95
  
Sale $32.95


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