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    • Fruit Tree Care >
      • Citrus Trees >
        • Important Citrus Update
        • Solutions for Citrus Tree Problems
        • Citrus Greening Disease
      • Tree Planting Video
      • More info on Tree Planting
      • Pruning Fruit Trees
      • Soil & Nutrition
      • Mini Grove Culture
      • Pesticides >
        • Organic Pesticides
    • Educational Videos
    • Wholesale Pricing >
      • Seedling Care Sheet
    • Abiu
    • Anon Trees
    • Atemoya Trees
    • Avocado Trees
    • Achacha
    • Barbados Cherry
    • The Baobab Tree
    • Cacao trees >
      • Cacao Growing Quiz
      • Cacao Grafting Video
      • Cacao History Quiz
    • Coffee >
      • Coffee Growing Quiz
      • La Roya
    • Dragon Fruit Vine
    • Fig Trees
    • Grumichama
    • Jackfruit
    • Jaboticaba >
      • Video on Jaboticaba Propagation
    • Lychee Trees >
      • Lychee Problems
      • Brewster Lychee Video
    • Macadamia Trees
    • Miracle Fruit Trees >
      • Local Sales and Specials
      • Growing Miracle Fruit
    • Mango Trees
    • Moringa Miracle Tree
    • Mulberry
    • Muscadine Grape Vines
    • Papaya
    • Peanut Butter Tree
    • Persimmon Trees >
      • More on persimmons
    • Pitomba Fruit Trees
    • Soursop Guanabana Trees
    • Southern Blueberries
    • Sapodilla Nispero
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  • Store Policies & FAQ
  • About Us
  • Browse Online Nursery
    • Anamu & medicinal plants
  • Pepe on Youtube
  • Customer Service
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    • Air Layering/Marcotting
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The latest information
​on the battle to save citrus trees
Penicillin vs. Citrus Greening: Florida’s Juiciest Experiment Yet!

Florida’s citrus groves are in a pickle, and it’s all thanks to a pint-sized pest called the Asian Citrus Psyllid, a bug so tiny it could hitch a ride on a flea’s back but wreaks havoc like a monster truck rally. This little menace spreads citrus greening (aka Huanglongbing or HLB, the “Yellow Dragon Disease”), turning trees into sad, fruit-dropping shadows of their former selves. Misshapen, unripe oranges plummet to the ground like they’re auditioning for a citrus tragedy, and Florida’s $9 billion industry is feeling the squeeze. Just check this out: the state’s orange haul dropped from 147 million boxes three years ago to a measly 103 million this year, per the Department of Agriculture. Ouch!

But hold onto your juice glass—there’s a wild card in play: penicillin! Yup, the same stuff that zaps your strep throat is showing some serious swagger in trials against citrus greening. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, trees treated with penicillin are bouncing back, looking almost as perky as a freshly squeezed mimosa in just 19 days. It’s like the trees are saying, “Take that, psyllids!”

​Now, before you start pouring penicillin on your backyard lemon tree, pump the brakes. Dr. Nick Place, dean at the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Service, says more research is needed to make sure this isn’t just a fluke. Plus, getting the green light to douse groves with antibiotics isn’t as simple as asking nicely—the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has to give it the thumbs-up, and they’re sticklers for details. Why? Because spraying antibiotics like penicillin on trees could lead to residues in your morning OJ, and nobody wants a breakfast carton with a warning label screaming, “May contain trace amounts of penicillin!” Imagine chugging your juice and wondering if you’re accidentally dosing yourself for a cold. Would you still sip? I’d probably stick to coffee that day

​The catch? While penicillin’s trial results sound promising, the broader picture is murkier. Other antibiotics like oxytetracycline and streptomycin have been tried, with mixed success—some growers swear by them, while others ditched them for being too pricey or underwhelming. There’s also the not-so-small issue of antibiotic resistance, which has the FDA and CDC side-eyeing widespread use, worried about superbugs that could make human meds less effective. Plus, penicillin’s star turn in trials hasn’t been fully vetted in peer-reviewed studies, so we’re still in “fingers-crossed” territory.

So, what’s the future for Florida’s citrus? If penicillin gets FDA approval, it could be a game-changer, keeping groves alive until scientists cook up resistant trees or a proper cure. But for now, it’s a high-stakes science experiment, and your next glass of OJ might come with a side of “what if.” Wanna roll the dice on that penicillin-spiked juice, or are you sticking to grapefruit for now? Check our citrus care video (#) (coming soon!) for more on keeping your trees happy—without antibiotics


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Grow Your Own Chocolate:
​The South Florida Handbook 


​Grow Your Own Chocolate: The South Florida Handbook
 is the ultimate guide for anyone eager to cultivate cacao trees in South Florida’s subtropical climate. Cuban-American grower Jason Pepe shares his expertise from his Fort Lauderdale mini cacao grove, offering a complete roadmap for growing, nurturing, and harvesting cacao. From selecting the perfect tree to mastering soil health, pollination, pruning, cold protection, and fermentation, this comprehensive handbook equips you with step-by-step instructions to produce your own cacao and craft tree-to-bar chocolate—a pursuit that could shape Florida’s sweet future.
Rooted in the Caribbean’s rich cacao traditions, Pepe connects South Florida’s groves to the vibrant heritage of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Hispaniola. Elevate your harvest with authentic recipes like Cuban Chorote and Haitian Chocolate Beignets, blending cultivation with culinary delight. Whether you’re a novice gardener, seasoned grower, or chocolate visionary, this book is your key to building a thriving cacao legacy with Pepe as your guide.



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Growing Soursop - Guanabana Trees: Complete Step by Step Guide
​

​Meet soursop, the Beyoncé of tropical fruits—spiky, elusive, and worth every ounce of effort. In this laugh-out-loud second edition, Cuban-American fruit guru Jason “Pepe” Tormo spills the juicy secrets to growing soursop (aka guanabana) in your own backyard, whether you’re in the Florida Keys or beyond. With his signature Cuban sass, Pepe guides you through every step—from picking the perfect tree to mastering hand-pollination hacks that’ll have your soursop tree pumping out fruit like a tropical slot machine.

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​A Florida Geisha:
The Story Of La Esperanza


A Florida Geisha: A Short Story (Seeds of Rebellion Book 1)

Dive into the vibrant, rebellious world of A Florida Geisha, the thrilling kickoff to Jason Pepe’s Seeds of Rebellion series. Follow Pablo Alvarez, a gritty Cuban-American farmer, as he risks everything to revive his family’s lost coffee legacy on Florida’s Pine Island. Smuggling rare Geisha seeds with his chaotic family and a shady smuggler, Pablo battles USDA crackdowns, federal red tape, and his own doubts to grow a caffeinated revolution. Packed with Cuban humor, heart, and defiance, this tale of family, grit, and forbidden beans sets the stage for a high-stakes series launching in late 2025. Perfect for readers who love underdog stories with a shot of Miami spice!

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Your one stop site for all of your mango research and social resources.

​​MARY'S HEIRLOOM SEEDS

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