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+--- Thread: Farming in Paradise Park? (/showthread.php?tid=8798)
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Farming in Paradise Park? - Cagary - 04-20-2011
Friend of mine is thinking of buying some land in Paradise Park and doing some farming.
Isn't the ground lava or is there some soil to plant in?
RE: Farming in Paradise Park? - james weatherford - 04-21-2011
Yes, it is lava, of the pahoehoe type.
Farming? Depends on what has been done or is done to the lava, and what is planted.
Also, HPP near the ocean is drier and sunnier than near the highway.
RE: Farming in Paradise Park? - JerryCarr - 04-21-2011
It can be done, but generally its BYOD. Bring (or make) your own dirt. Unless some previous owner has hauled in soil or done major composting, you will have to make some such arrangements. Also, as James says, whether the lava has been modified by ripping makes a tremendous difference. Lots for sale right now are plentiful, varied, and reasonably priced compared to four or five years ago.
RE: Farming in Paradise Park? - james weatherford - 04-21-2011
As a general matter, (some) tree crops are a better bet. Papaya, guava, mango, macadamia, etc. are demonstrated.
Fig is one I have found to produce very good.
Of course, the lots are only one acre.
One option is hydroponics and a screen house, of which there are several in HPP with orchids -- and other flowers? tomatoes?
RE: Farming in Paradise Park? - macuu222 - 04-22-2011
Yes....fig trees seem to like the lower part of HPP. It's an excellent producer on our property.
RE: Farming in Paradise Park? - james weatherford - 04-22-2011
A couple of useful link on figs
http://www.hawaiifruit.net/figs.htm
http://www.westernsare.org/Learning-Center/Conference-Materials/Western-SARE-Subregional-Materials/Hawaii-Conference/Hawaii-Posters-and-Handouts/Choosing-the-Best-Figs-for-Hawaii
RE: Farming in Paradise Park? - JerryCarr - 04-22-2011
James' suggestion of tree cultivation is excellent. While we have two garden plots of hauled in soil for veggies, our fruit trees require much less work and produce about as much food. We have five types of citrus, apiu, fig, lychee, mountain apple, mango, mullberry, and jaboticaba. The lychee only makes fruit every other year, and we knew mangoes were iffy at this elevation, but the others are quite productive. We have something to pick year round.
RE: Farming in Paradise Park? - macuu222 - 05-14-2011
We have WHITE KADOTA figs and am always having a hard time knowing when is the right time to harvest. Anyone have any hints? Also can they be dried?
RE: Farming in Paradise Park? - d96778 - 05-14-2011
Macuu...White Kadota Figs are the variety they use for dried figs. You harvest them usually from the lowest ones on the branch, and when they are very soft. They will have gotten considerably larger than they were while still green. I'm used to growing them on the mainland, & they seem to develop their flavor earlier there than they have here. We're in Hawaiian Shores at about the same distance back from the ocean as you are in HPP. We have a Kadota here that's been in the ground for 2 years now, & it has a very tall growing habit, so this spring, after harvesting most of the fruit a little at a time, I gave the tree a haircut, cut the branches into 2ft. sections & stuck those into some cinder soil & some are rooting & leafing out. The mother tree has really responded beautifully & has filled in really nice. It should begin to set some more fruit shortly.
Hope this has been helpful to you...
Dee
RE: Farming in Paradise Park? - macuu222 - 05-14-2011
Thanks Dee.... It has helped. I always thought the Brown Turnky(sp) fig was the one that you could dry. Mine in HPP have lots of fruit now but still very green and hard. Any idea about drying technique?