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A note from our customer:
Dwarf Avocado
"Our beautiful Dwarf Avocado we bought in April 2021. Thought
you'd enjoy seeing!"
~Marge & Nick
Index > Garden Blog
A note from our customer:
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Avocado Variety Guide: Snack or Guacamole?
Collector's inspiration
Photo above: It's NOT an egg plant! It's a Red Russell :)
A comprehensive guide to Avocado varieties by: flower type A or B, tree habit, fruit shape and quality, cold hardiness, origin, season and more!
Many gardeners who are eager to purchase their first avocado tree often wonder which variety to choose. Most people are familiar with two primary classifications commonly found in grocery stores: Small & Black or Large & Green.
Frequently, we hear customers ask, "Do you have the one I like, the smaller fruit with bumpy skin? Not that big, tasteless, and watery one!" What they may not realize is that this basic (but practical!) classification doesn't encompass all the wonderful qualities avocados have to offer. There are numerous hybrids in cultivation, and once you plant your first tree and taste the REAL fruit (not from the grocery store), you'll be eager to explore other varieties. It's a guarantee! While it's true that avocado fruit can vary in "butter" content and how "watery" or "buttery" it is, most superior varieties are equally delicious. Or perhaps we should say they are so versatile and distinct in taste that you'll start building your collection of these trees, much like fruit enthusiasts do with mango varieties.
Every garden has unique requirements based on climate, temperature, and property size. These factors must be considered before planning your avocado garden. Additionally, many gardeners may wonder about Type A vs. Type B classifications and whether they need more than one tree to yield fruit. You'll find all this valuable information in our Avocado Variety Guide.
Basic classifications of avocados
1) By flowering pattern and pollination behavior: Type A and Type B
2) By origin: Mexican, Guatemalan, and West Indian (along with many hybrids)
3) By fruit appearance, texture and taste: Guacamole Avocado ("Smooth skin") and Snack Avocado ("California" or "Hass" type)
4) By growth habit: full size trees, free branching or upright, semi-dwarf low growing, and dwarf ("condo avocados")
5) By cold hardiness: Cold sensitive (requiring frost-free conditions), cold tolerant (able to withstand light frost), and cold hardy (capable of enduring some hard freezes once established)
6) By ripening season: Early or Spring (March-June), Mid or Summer (July-September), and Late or Fall-Winter (October-February).
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Go Bananas!
10 good reasons to plant bananas in your garden
Adding banana plants to your subtropical garden or plant collection can enhance the aesthetics of your outdoor and indoor space, provide fresh and nutritious fruits, and offer a fun gardening experience with relatively low maintenance requirements. It's a delightful way to connect with nature and enjoy the benefits of homegrown produce.
1. Tropical Ambiance: Banana plants bring a touch of the tropics to your subtropical garden. Their large, lush leaves create a lush and exotic atmosphere that can transform your garden into a tropical paradise.
2. Homegrown Flavor: Growing your own banana trees allows you to enjoy the freshest, most flavorful bananas right from your garden. Homegrown bananas often have a superior taste compared to store-bought varieties.
3. Nutritional Benefits: Bananas are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. By cultivating your own banana trees, you gain access to a nutritious and healthy snack option right in your backyard.
4. Quick Results: Banana plants are known for their fast growth. In subtropical climates, they can produce fruit in as little as one to two years. This means you don't have to wait long to savor the fruits of your labor!
5. Low Maintenance: Banana trees are relatively low-maintenance once established. They require regular watering, but their hardy nature makes them a relatively easy addition to your garden. They are not messy in a landscape.
6. Versatility: Bananas offer versatility in your garden. You can choose from dessert bananas for snacking, cooking bananas like plantains for culinary experiments, or even ornamental banana varieties to enhance your garden's aesthetics. There are so many varieties to enjoy! You can't find this big selection in a grocery store.
7. Sustainable Living: Growing your own bananas reduces your reliance on store-bought produce, contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle. It also minimizes the carbon footprint associated with transporting fruits to market.
8. Educational Value: Cultivating banana plants can be an educational experience for both adults and children. It offers insights into tropical horticulture and can foster an appreciation for gardening and botany.
9. Landscaping Appeal: Beyond their fruit-bearing potential, banana plants add visual interest to your garden. Their unique form and striking leaves make them an excellent choice for landscaping and providing shade in your outdoor space.
10. Resilience: While bananas thrive in tropical conditions, many banana varieties are hardy enough to withstand cooler climates, making them a durable addition to your garden.
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We remember 9/11. We must never forget.
As September 11th arrives once again, our hearts are heavy with memories of the fateful day that forever changed our nation. We remember the lives lost, the heroes
who emerged, and the enduring resilience of our country.
As we pay tribute to the past, we recommit ourselves to building a brighter future. Remember to focus on the beauty that surrounds us every day - the kindness of a stranger, the laughter of loved ones, the warmth of a sunrise. In these simple moments, we will find
solace and inspiration.
"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)
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This Saturday, September 2nd: Garden Event
Kristi's Birthday Bash and Plant Market "Tropical Harvest"
September 2, 9 am - 4 pm
Join us in a celebration recognizing the central pillar of the great Top Tropicals temple - Kristi! We are excited to invite you to a special event, "Kristi's Birthday Bash and Plant Market", where we will be celebrating our beloved manager, Kristi, and showcasing a wide selection of tropical fruit trees and flowering plants.
This event will be an opportunity for you to explore our beautiful garden and discover a variety of plants for your own green oasis. We have lined up exclusive deals and sales on our exceptional plant collection, making it the perfect time to add some tropical flair to your home. Bring your friends and family, and immerse yourself in a day of gardening joy and community spirit!
Event agenda:
9 am - 4 pm: Plant Market. 30% OFF online prices. Raffle.
Gift bags - for first 25 customers with $50 order
Secret Garden: Super savings area 50% off
$2 and $5 sale racks: for local pick up only!
Event discounts valid at both locations:
Ft Myers Garden Center: 13890 Orange River, Ft Myers, FL
Sebring B-Farm: 9100 McRoy Rd, Sebring, FL
Facebook event page - Download invitation
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How cats eat pineapples
TikTok Reels from TopTropicals
Our PeopleCats love roaming in the gardens. They often guide customers in our Garden Center, and their favorite isle is fruit trees! At this time of the year, Pineapples are ripening, and these fruit are always fun for both people and PeopleCats.
In this short video, Philemon and Scooby are discovering new tastes of Pineapple varieties.
More to see: Watch Philemon eating Avocado!
Discover more exotic plants and fun garden happenings from our TikTok updates!
Subscribe to Top Tropicals TikTok:
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Easy,
stress-free plants
for Summer planting
Q: With the rising temperatures, I'm concerned about shipping my plants safely. Can they withstand the heat during transit? Also, is it okay to plant them in the ground now, or should I wait for cooler Fall weather?
A: Your concern about shipping plants in hot weather is valid. For sensitive plants, we'll delay shipping until conditions are more favorable in your area. However, there are plenty of heat-tolerant tropical plants that handle shipping well with minimal stress. These plants adapt easily when planted during the hot summer months. Simply follow the included planting instructions, gradually acclimate them to full sun, and they should thrive.
Certain flowering tropical plants, such as Allamandas, Calliandras, Caesalpinias, Adeniums, and Clerodendrums, are excellent options for shipping and establishing during the summer. Flowering vines like Jasmines also adapt well. Consider using Sunshine Booster fertilizers to promote robust growth, they are safe to use right after planting.
Additionally, many fruit trees flourish in heat. Mangoes, Avocados, Pomegranates, Pineapples, Loquats, Eugenias - Tropical cherries, Bananas, Jackfruits, Dragon Fruit, and Olive trees are great choices for summer planting. Noni trees are hardy survivors and usually ship and grow well during the summer, in spite of their lush tropical leaves.
Feel free to check with us about the specific plant you plan to order for its suitability in summer shipping. We're here to take care of your green babies and address your year-round planting needs!
Pitaya, Yellow Dragon Fruit, Selenicereus megalanthus
Jasminum sambac Maid of Orleans thrives and blooms in hot sun
Kalanchoe synsepala Magnificent - Walking Cup Kalanchoe, spectacular plant, loves dry and hot conditions
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Fertilizing during rainy season
Q: I have installed your Robuster unit to fertilize my fruit trees, but here in Florida, it is the rainy season and most of the time I do not need to irrigate during the summer. What do you recommend to keep up with fertilizing program?
A: This is what we recommend for fertilizing during rainy season:
For in the ground plants
If there are frequent rains, it's not necessary to use any fertilizers except for slowly soluble ones. During rainy periods, use a slow release fertilizer. Simply scatter 3 oz per 100 square ft. You can adjust the amount based on your specific area and number of plants.
Additionally, for foliar treatments, use Sunshine SuperFood microelement supplement and Sunshine Epi biostimulator.
When you water next time, regardless of whether it rained or not, resume
using liquid Sunshine Boosters.
For potted plants
When you water your potted plants, use liquid Sunshine Boosters. Every 1 or 2 weeks (we recommend weekly), apply Sunshine Garden Series (the same type you are using when watering) for foliar treatment. Use the same dosage as you would for watering. By following these recommendations, you can ensure that your plants receive the appropriate nutrients during the rainy season.
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Fertilizing a Mango tree in container
Q: I live in the area with cooler winters so I am keeping my mango tree in a pot. What fertilizer do you recommend for the best growth and fruit production?
A: If you're growing fruit trees in pots, using liquid fertilizers is a great choice. And when it comes to liquid fertilizers, ones that are based on amino acids are super cool because they're natural and plants can gobble up all the good stuff without any problems. So, if you have a mango tree, the absolute star in amino acid-based fertilizers is -
Your tree will be doing a happy dance with this stuff!
Why Sunshine Boosters liquid fertilizers are so popular?
Here are a few awesome reasons:
1. Speedy nutrients: Sunshine Boosters liquid fertilizers are like a fast pass for plants. They get absorbed by the roots super quick, giving your fruit tree a speedy delivery of all the nutrients it needs. This is especially great for potted plants with limited soil space, like those yummy fruit trees.
2. Nutrients for all: Sunshine Boosters are like the fairy godmothers of nutrients. When you pour them around the base of your tree, they spread out evenly, making sure every bit of the tree gets its fair share of the good stuff. No nutrient deficiencies allowed!
3. The power of precision: Sunshine Boosters liquid fertilizers and other cool plant supplements let you become a master mixologist for your plant. You can measure and mix them just right, giving your tree the exact nutrients it craves. It's like creating a customized cocktail for your tree's taste buds. Try adding the magic works of SUNSHINE Microelement Supplement Kit - that improves hardiness, vigor, and production.
4. Leafy goodness: Sunshine Boosters have a secret talent - they can be sprayed directly on the leaves! It's like giving your tree a refreshing nutrient-packed spa treatment. The leaves slurp up those nutrients, bypassing any soil limitations. Talk about a VIP treatment!
Remember, while liquid fertilizers are awesome, they work best when you team them up with other good plant care practices. So don't forget to water properly, keep that soil in tip-top shape, and give your tree plenty of sunshine. With this dream team, your potted mango tree will thrive and grow like a champ!
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Pomegranate:
healing drops of blood
The pomegranate, a treasured fruit with ornamental and medicinal value, has a rich history. Native to regions from Iran to the Himalayas, it spread across the Mediterranean in ancient times. Theophrastus described it over 300 years before Christ. Legends abound, including its association with the Garden of Eden's "tree of life," symbolizing hope and eternal life in Christian art. The fruit's many seeds became a symbol of fertility. Its erect calyx-lobes inspired Solomon's crown. Egyptians cultivated it, and dried fruits were found in Bronze Age tombs. Moses reassured the Israelites of finding pomegranates in the Promised Land. Its allure and medicinal properties inspired myths, epics, and artworks, transcending time and cultures. Some scholars even suggest it was the fruit in the Garden of Eden, not an apple...
The gemstone garnet, named after the fruit due to its resemblance to pomegranate "pits," carries significance in Slavic languages as "Granat." Believed to bring luck in love and friendship, this precious stone holds an association with the pomegranate's symbolic value.
Pomegranates have been consumed by man since before recorded history. From ancient times, the fruit was valued for its medicinal properties. Consuming the fruit will help to improve blood quality. The tiny beads of fruit, full of precious oil and juice, are brilliant as drops of blood or rubies. These "drops of blood" from the pomegranate when consumed will help to build healthy red blood cells, according to the ancients who wrote the "Law of Similars". According to Ayurveda obese persons should consume the pomegranate fruit as it will improve metabolism and assist in the weight loosening. There is a saying in Hindi - "Ek anaar sau bemaar" - meaning one pomegranate can serve one hundred sick people.
Pomegranate tree is easy to grow in your garden. Many varieties exist, and every one has its special features...
