Bear with me, I'm new :)

[Doulanobles]

Aloha! I've lived on the island for a year and a half or so and am just now starting my garden. I have gardened in the past but never in a tropical climate. I think I need some basic wisdom from anyone here!

I live in HPP and have (4) 4x8 raised beds available. Can anyone tell me what might be best to start with and what common problems/pests I might encounter and how to handle them? So far, I have prepared the beds by putting my chicken tractor over them and letting them to the tilling. I put a few free plants I received in the ground but its not looking too pretty.

I'm planning on planting by seed and have purchased mostly veggie, herb and flower seeds. Wanted to get some input before I started.

Mahalo!

[Seejayne]

Welcome! Check out the new country store Fresh Farms Garden & Market in Mountain View Village. There is an on-site garden where I can walk you through some of the pros and cons for gardening here on the east side. We have all the organic soil, fertilizer, and micronutrients your garden needs & also $1 starts in case your seed selection is missing a few of my climatized varieties e.g. Heirloom tomato, callaloo, herbs galore, etc. Just to name a few pointers, you want your beds to drain well with southern exposure and it might be necessary to lay down some slug bait. The best thing I did for my garden was starting a compost and a worm bin. But come on by and we can talk more, Sun-Fri open 9 am-5:30 pm
Celia
www.freshfarmshawaii.com

[kalakoa]

quote:

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Originally posted by Doulanobles

I'm planning on planting by seed and have purchased mostly veggie, herb and flower seeds. Wanted to get some input before I started.

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I've had very little luck with packaged seeds of any kind -- get some starts from the market (any market) or friends, and let some of them run to seed for next season.

Fresh produce works well too; I started tomatoes, peppers, flowers, ginger, potatoes, and other goodies this way.

Most places are too wet for tomatoes, they will split, put up a clear roof.

[nana valley]

try this local group too!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BigIslandSelfSufficiency/

He who hoots with owls at night cannot soar with the eagles in the morning.