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Date:

Is Magnolia edible? Vanilla Magnolia: its for cooking!

Florida Sweet Bay - Vanilla Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

Florida Sweet Bay - Vanilla Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

Florida Sweet Bay - Vanilla Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

Florida Sweet Bay - Vanilla Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

Florida Sweet Bay - Vanilla Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

❔ Is Magnolia edible? Vanilla Magnolia: it's for cooking!

💮 Florida Sweet Bay, or Vanilla Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) has beautiful flowers with strong vanilla fragrance, while the leaves offer unique culinary uses.
  • 🔹 Strong vanilla scent: fragrance can be noticed hundreds of yards away.
  • 🔹 White, delicate blooms.
  • 🔹 Unique leaf flavor: fresh leaves have a distinct taste, fun for cooking. Sweet Bay offers unique cooking flavors.
  • 🔹 Prefers moist, acidic soil conditions, tolerates flooding, ideal for wet spots in your yard.
  • 🔹 Pest-free: no bugs or other pests.


🛒 Shop Magnolia trees

#Trees #Perfume_Plants

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Top 5 exotic Mango varieties for rare fruit collection

Mango Kar Lon Long

Mango Kar Lon Long

Mango Mun Kun Si

Mango Mun Kun Si

Mango - Pina Colada

Mango - Pina Colada

Mango Ugly Betty

Mango Ugly Betty

Mango Giselle

Mango Giselle

🥭 Top 5 exotic Mango varieties for rare fruit collection.

Now that you have decided to collect them all but have limited space, these are the top 5 of the most interesting rare Mango cultivars:
  • 🟠 1. Kar Lon Long - rare and unusual, native to India. Fruits that can weigh up to 5 lbs each! The unique flavor that has been described as being a cross between a mango and a pineapple.
  • 🟠 2. Mun Kun Si - similar to Nam Doc Mai but much bigger. Rare variety, very popular among Thai and Vietnamese people. The fruit are extremely sweet, fiberless and somewhat crunchy ("Mun" means crunchy). Very late producer, fruit may still be on a tree as late as January.
  • 🟠 3. Pina Colada - very sweet, has rich flavor with a hint of coconut and pineapple.
  • 🟠 4. Ugly Betty - awesome mango, great sweet flavor, while the fruit is real ugly! Slightly mis-shaped at the top - hence the name.
  • 🟠 5. Giselle - from Gary Zill's breeding program and was a seedling of a mango called Tower. It was described as a juice mango and is named after Gary's wife.


❓What is your favorite Mango variety? Share in comments 👇

📝 See also earlier posts:

🛒 Shop Mango Trees

#Food_Forest

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Is scarlet you favorite flower color too?

Cordia sebestena - Scarlet Geiger tree

💋 Is scarlet you favorite flower color too?

❓What is your favorite flower color? Share in comments👇
  • 🔴 Cordia sebestena - Scarlet Geiger tree - is a showy small tree with bright scarlet flowers.
  • 🔴 Flowers are followed by white edible fruit.
  • 🔴 Named in memory of John Geiger, a 19th-century Key West pilot and wrecker.
  • 🔴 Flowers appear scattered over the tree during most of the warm season.
  • 🔴 Popular landscape tree, but beware it is cold sensitive and won't tolerate frost, otherwise it is easy to grow and undemanding.
  • 🔴 Other species are much more hardier: C. rupocola, C. lutea, C. boissieri (the most cold hardy).


🎥 Cordia sebestena - Scarlet Geiger tree

🛒 Shop Cordia trees

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🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

The best tropical fruit tree for container growing, and the fastest to fruit:

Rollinia (Rollinia deliciosa) - the biggest Annona fruit

Rollinia (Rollinia deliciosa) - the biggest Annona fruit

Sugar Apple (Annona squamosa)

Sugar Apple (Annona squamosa)

Guanabana (Annona muricata)

Guanabana (Annona muricata)

Pineapple Annona Golden (Annona costaricana)

Pineapple Annona Golden (Annona costaricana)

Custard Apple (Annona reticulata)

Custard Apple (Annona reticulata)

Mountain Soursop or Hedgehog (Annona montana)

Mountain Soursop or Hedgehog (Annona montana)

🏆 The best tropical fruit tree for container growing, and the fastest to fruit: Annona.

🍏 Annonas (Annona sp) are very much loved tropical fruit. The fruit has smooth, creamy flesh, just like a natural custard - hence one of the common names - "Custard Apple". Growing an Annona tree is a rewarding experience, its a small compact tree that will let you enjoy its creamy and exotic fruit right away.

The best tropical tree suited for container growing, due to its small height. It can be maintained within 6-8 ft tall.

The fastest fruiting tree: 2-3-4 years from seed to fruit, depending on species.

Most species are deciduous: drop leaves during winter-spring.

Thrives in frost-free climate. Some species are cold hardier than others. Container culture is a good way to cold protect these beautiful small trees.

❤️ 6 top most popular Annonas:
  • ▪️ Rollinia (Rollinia deliciosa) - the biggest Annona fruit and the most showy
  • ▪️ Sugar Apple (Annona squamosa) - the most popular
  • ▪️ Guanabana (Annona muricata) - the most cold sensitive but the fruit is so tasty!
  • ▪️ Pineapple Annona Golden (Annona costaricana) - cold hardy and easy to grow
  • ▪️ Custard Apple (Annona reticulata) - with red flesh
  • ▪️ Mountain Soursop or Hedgehog (Annona montana) - mentioned earlier, cold hardy


📚 Learn more:
Horoscope for Guanabana tree
Hedgehog Mountain Soursop - Annona montana
How to grow and hand-pollinate Guanabana Tree indoors (PDF)

🛒 Shop Annona varieties

#Food_Forest

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

What is the best fruit in the world? How to grow your own Lychee tree

Lychee (Litchi chinensis)

Lychee (Litchi chinensis)

Lychee (Litchi chinensis)

Lychee (Litchi chinensis)

🍊 What is the best fruit in the world? How to grow your own Lychee tree.

Lychee (Litchi chinensis) is often called the best fruit in the world. You've eaten these no doubt in Chinese restaurants: fresh or sun-dried (Litchi Nuts) or canned in syrup. Growing a lychee tree is a rewarding way to enjoy this sweet and exotic fruit right at home!
  • 📍 The fruit has been grown in China for over 2,000 years and was once considered a luxury food for the wealthy. Lychee trees can produce fruit for more than 100 years.
  • 📍 Lychee fruit is a burst of sweet, juicy and fragrant goodness with every bite. Unique blend of sweet and floral notes, a taste of the tropics! It is delicious on its own or in desserts, drinks, and salads.
  • 📍 Packed with vitamin C, has high water content - keeps you refreshed and hydrated. It is a guilt-free snacking with minimal calories. Loaded with antioxidants.
  • 📍 The tree loves full sun and prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil. It needs regular watering, especially during dry periods. keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
  • 📍Space needed: it can grow quite tall and wide, give the tree plenty of space to spread out. Relatively resistant to pests!
  • 📍Slow Grower: although air-layered trees start fruiting right in a pot, it takes years for the tree to grow big (approx. 10 years for 20 ft tree).


❓ What other BEST fruit in the world do you know? Mango, Sugar Apple, Mangosteen... What's your favorite? Share in comments.

🛒 Shop Lychee varieties

#Food_Forest

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Need more ideas for compact and showy flowering trees? Try Rainbow Cassias

Rainbow cassia - Cassia Marginata.

🌈 Need more ideas for compact and showy flowering trees? Try Rainbow Cassias.
  • ♦️ Some hybrid cassias have spectacular color combinations and are called Rainbow Cassias.
  • ♦️ We mentioned earlier some sunny, yellow-flowering cassias: Senna surattensis (Cassia glauca) - Scrambled Egg Bush, and Cassia siamea - Kassod Tree.
  • ♦️ Other cassias can be pink or with multi-color flower combination, so-called Rainbow cassias (which are hybrids between yellow and pink cassias):

    • Cassia grandis     - Red Cassia
    Cassia javanica - Apple Blossom Tree
    Cassia marginata - Rainbow Shower Tree
    Cassia roxburghii - Ceylon Senna
    Cassia x nodosa - Pink Shower, Appleblossom.
  • ♦️ Cassia trees are compact, fast growing, tolerant to drought and poor soils, free-flowering and relatively cold hardy. Always a great choice!


❓ What cassias do you have in your garden? Share photos in comments👇

🎥 Rainbow cassia - Cassia Marginata.

🛒 Shop showy Cassia trees

#Butterfly_Plants #Trees

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Top 3 most wanted Papaya varieties

Papaya Maradol

Papaya Maradol

Papaya Solo Sunset, Semi-Dwarf from Hawaii.

Papaya Solo Sunset, Semi-Dwarf from Hawaii.

Papaya Solo Waimanalo, Dwarf

Papaya Solo Waimanalo, Dwarf

🍊 Top 3 most wanted Papaya varieties

Papaya fruit is one of the superfoods as we mentioned earlier. Below are the top 3 most interesting varieties: a full size tree, a semi-dwarf and a dwarf.
  1. Maradol. Vigorous full size plant with high yield. Commercially grown throughout Central Mexico, these papayas are 3 to 5 pounds in weight and the shape of an elongated melon. Soft and juicy, they have salmon pink or red flesh that is very sweet with a slightly perfumed, fruity flavor. Cut them in half lengthwise. Delicious and irresistible with a sprinkle of fresh lemon or lime juice.
  2. Solo Sunset, Semi-Dwarf from Hawaii. Commercially grown primarily on Kauai, it has dark pink to reddish-orange flesh. The fruit is medium to small size, shape is somewhat round. This is the sweetest Papya variety we ever tasted!
  3. Solo Waimanalo, Dwarf - oval, large size yellow fruit with dark yellow flesh. Low bearing tree makes harvesting easy. Grows wonderfully in Central Florida in both a container or in the ground. Will go from seed to fruit in just one year. Waimanalo has yellow-orange flesh.


    4. ❓Do you eat Papaya fresh or you also cook with it? Share in comments👇

    🛒 Shop Papaya Trees

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    🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

10 steps: how to grow a mango tree?

fruiting mango tree

🥭 10 steps: how to grow a mango tree?

Follow these steps and you'll be on your way to growing a healthy mango tree and enjoying delicious fruit:
  1. ❗️ Choose the right variety that suits your needs and yard. See earlier posts:
  2. most Favorite Mango Varieties
  3. Dwarf "Condo" Mango
  4. large and vigorous Mango varieties
  5. 🌳 Buy a grafted tree from a reputable nursery to ensure better fruit quality and faster fruiting.
  6. 🏡 Planting site: choose a sunny location with well-draining soil. Ensure there is enough space for the tree to grow, as some varieties can become quite large.
  7. ⛏️ Planting: dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball. Mix in organic compost to enrich the soil. Place the tree in the hole, making sure the growth point is 1-2" above the soil line. Fill the hole with soil, pressing gently to remove air pockets. Water the tree thoroughly.
  8. 💦 Watering: Water the tree regularly, especially during the first few weeks. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings to prevent root rot.
  9. 🪵 Mulch: apply mulch around the base of the tree to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.
  10. 🧪 Fertilize: use a balanced fertilizer formulated for fruit trees. We recommend Sunshine Boosters Mango Tango formulated specially for mango trees.
  11. ✂️ Prune to shape the tree to encourage good airflow and sunlight penetration, and to improve the yield.

    12. 🎥 Shaping your Mango Tree.

    9. 🕷 Pest and disease control: monitor for scale and mealybugs and treat them with systemic pesticides. Keep an eye out for fungal diseases and treat them promptly with copper spray.

    10. 🥭 Harvesting: Mangoes are ready to harvest when they change color and soften slightly.

    🛒 Shop Mango Trees

    #Food_Forest #How_to #Mango

    🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Good luck tree that brings money and prosperity? And yet shade, spectacular flowers and edible nuts? It is

Pachira aquatica (Bombax glabra) - Malabar Peanut or Guiana Chestnut

💰Good luck tree that brings money and prosperity? And yet shade, spectacular flowers and edible nuts? It is Guiana Chestnut!
  • 🤞 Pachira aquatica (Bombax glabra) - Malabar Peanut or Guiana Chestnut is a beautiful, fast growing flowering tree with edible nuts!
  • 🤞 Tropical wetland tree native to Central and South America, known for its large, glossy leaves and its distinctive, braided trunk.
  • 🤞 The tree is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to those who own it, and is sometimes referred to as a "money tree."
  • 🤞 Pachira aquatica is also used in traditional medicine and often used for bonsai.


❓ What other plants bring good luck? Share in comments👇

🛒 Order Guaiana Chestnut Money Tree online

#Trees #Food_Forest

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Tropical Fruit Tree Contest:
enter to win the Jaboticaba Tree!

Tropical Fruit Tree Contest - win Jaboticaba

Everybody loved our previous Tropical Flowering Plant contest, especially the happy Winner who won the Joy Perfume tree for her beautiful Lotus photo entry. Since the winner received her prize, our subscribers have been looking forward to the next Contest, and here it is! Your chance, again!

Post a picture of your own container grown tropical fruit tree and win this potted Jaboticaba in the photo above!

Jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) is one of the most popular native fruit of Brazil and is used to produce their famous Jaboticaba Vine. Grape-like purple fruit with a thick skin and delicious melting pulp somewhat resembling Northern Black Currant in flavor. They grow right on the trunk! The tree is very slow growing, so large specimens are very expensive and hard to find.

$69.95 Value + FREE shipping
Yes, delivered to your door absolutely FREE!
Large, developed plant.

How to become a winner?

It's very simple! Post a picture of your own tropical fruit tree grown in CONTAINER in comments to this post and start receiving likes and hearts! The entry that gets more likes (hearts, thumbs up, etc.) will be the winner!

Invite your friends and family to vote: to put their likes and hearts and support your work!

Rules and terms:

1. Must be our Telegram Channel Subscriber (click JOIN to subscribe)
2. Only 1 post per participant. The post should contain 1-3 pictures and a plant name.
3. A plant must be:
a) tropical fruit tree grown in a container. No temperate apples and no in-ground trees at this time.
b) must be a perennial tree or a shrub (annual garden veggies will have their chance in our future contests)
c) your own plant, not in a nursery or botanical garden
d) fruit on the plant is a plus (more likes), but not a must.
4. Delivery - USA addresses only. To receive the prize, the winner will be requested to provide shipping info.
5. Unclaimed prizes will be canceled after 2 weeks.
6. Deadline - July 1, 2024 at 3 pm, then we will count the hearts and pick the Winner.
7. No purchase necessary to enter or win (see full rules PDF).

Good luck!

Enter to Win!

Top Tropicals Telegram Channel

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