06-02-2008, 09:04 AM
Got into Hilo for the first time in two months yesterday. With all its short-commings I've got to say I'm really glad the city has a Wal-Mart.
I stopped by Hilo Garden Exchange and discovered that the seed section which used to sit just off the office and had scores of locally produced speciaity seed had been taken out and relegated to a small commercial display at the west entrance. Shame really. I noticed three small packets at the bottom- Hawaiian Wonder and Poamoho pole beans. I grabbed them plus something called an Oblong Toogan (15 seeds for $3.95 - so at twenty-six cents per seed they must be something really good. The seeds look like cucumber seeds.)
The trick here in the bug capitol of the world (Black Sands), is to find species which are not affected by infestation and that's not very many. I suppose there should be a separate string developed for this topic since it's such vital information especially for those new here thinking they are going to put in a standard temperate garden with no problems. There also seems to exist a micro-climate attrition factor meaning that some things will produce well in some areas and poorly or not at all in others and the effect goes beyond simple elevation differences and can be very dramatic in terms of producion even in the same communty. For instance, I have a friend who in the past grew large beautiful Kubota squash here in Blaks Sands. I took the seeds and tried growing them here - and I've had a lot of experience growing squash- but what I got was just a whimper from the plants even though they had full sun and great soil et al. Yet up at his place, the same seeds produced a great crop. No signs of infestation on either plants so what gives? - I've never figured it out so the key here has been to continually try new seeds and plants searching for those species which do do well. Top rated, at least for this neck of the albesias and the guavas are:
Somoan Spinach; I love these hudge dark green emolliant leaves with their delicate taste. I make a great Samoan spinach soup with chyote (sp) plus green onions, garlic, basil rosettes, dash sea salt,black pepper, coconut milk, olive oil plus whatever else I have on hand.
Passion Fruit; Eat four passion per day and you'll feel great
- they're full of zanthones like mangosteen.
Pink cane begonia flowers; sour as hell but full vit-c.
Breadfruit of course; Bugs won't even look at this plant and vining crops generally won't either including passion and will do almost anything to grow in the other direction.
Sweet Potatoe; Wait until the flowers start to fall off and then remove, cultivate and amend and start over with either slips or budding potatoes taken from the ground. Each plot is good for about three to five years.
Basil; Year round, make sure they get lots of sun.
Chyote, basically bug free and I believe probably the most productive plant we can grow here.
Anyway, at least for me it's been a process of finding and observing what grows in my particular area and just because someone does well with a certain plant somewhere else on the island doesn't automatically mean you will be successful with it where you have your garden.
JayJay
I stopped by Hilo Garden Exchange and discovered that the seed section which used to sit just off the office and had scores of locally produced speciaity seed had been taken out and relegated to a small commercial display at the west entrance. Shame really. I noticed three small packets at the bottom- Hawaiian Wonder and Poamoho pole beans. I grabbed them plus something called an Oblong Toogan (15 seeds for $3.95 - so at twenty-six cents per seed they must be something really good. The seeds look like cucumber seeds.)
The trick here in the bug capitol of the world (Black Sands), is to find species which are not affected by infestation and that's not very many. I suppose there should be a separate string developed for this topic since it's such vital information especially for those new here thinking they are going to put in a standard temperate garden with no problems. There also seems to exist a micro-climate attrition factor meaning that some things will produce well in some areas and poorly or not at all in others and the effect goes beyond simple elevation differences and can be very dramatic in terms of producion even in the same communty. For instance, I have a friend who in the past grew large beautiful Kubota squash here in Blaks Sands. I took the seeds and tried growing them here - and I've had a lot of experience growing squash- but what I got was just a whimper from the plants even though they had full sun and great soil et al. Yet up at his place, the same seeds produced a great crop. No signs of infestation on either plants so what gives? - I've never figured it out so the key here has been to continually try new seeds and plants searching for those species which do do well. Top rated, at least for this neck of the albesias and the guavas are:
Somoan Spinach; I love these hudge dark green emolliant leaves with their delicate taste. I make a great Samoan spinach soup with chyote (sp) plus green onions, garlic, basil rosettes, dash sea salt,black pepper, coconut milk, olive oil plus whatever else I have on hand.
Passion Fruit; Eat four passion per day and you'll feel great
- they're full of zanthones like mangosteen.
Pink cane begonia flowers; sour as hell but full vit-c.
Breadfruit of course; Bugs won't even look at this plant and vining crops generally won't either including passion and will do almost anything to grow in the other direction.
Sweet Potatoe; Wait until the flowers start to fall off and then remove, cultivate and amend and start over with either slips or budding potatoes taken from the ground. Each plot is good for about three to five years.
Basil; Year round, make sure they get lots of sun.
Chyote, basically bug free and I believe probably the most productive plant we can grow here.
Anyway, at least for me it's been a process of finding and observing what grows in my particular area and just because someone does well with a certain plant somewhere else on the island doesn't automatically mean you will be successful with it where you have your garden.
JayJay
JayJay
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