What would you plant for part-time enjoyment?

[Kelena]

Hi kani-lehua,

I don't buy them at that price (ah, maybe once or twice). I just admire them and dream about the day I come over. Papayas are cheap in Hawaii now, but they won't be if the farms die out.

[kani-lehua]

agreed.

"chaos reigns within.
reflect, repent and reboot.
order shall return."

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[missydog1]

All my pineapples, in three different houses, have started ripening about 4th of July and been done at end of summer.
Avocados do take awhile, as do mangoes.
Papayas are good but keep in mind they are 5 for a dollar at the farmer's market.
Citrus is real nice to have on the tree. Oranges take a looong time, months, to ripen. Tangerines can go off in the fall and do great here.
Lemons and limes are my favorite to have right at hand, and lilikoi.
Bananas are great but I get a hundred at one time, all ripe within a week or less, and then no bananas for another month or two. Feast or famine.

A lilikoi vine can definitely escape and take over. If you go off and leave it you might come back to lilikoi jungle.
All of it needs regular fertilizing, particularly young trees. The time when you want to leave them unattended is when they need you the most. Once mature they need little or no supervision.

[asly]

Thanks Kathy! I think I will pass on planting papayas as you say, they are so inexpensive at the markets, maybe pass on bananas too, I love the way the plant looks though.

Does anyone have experience in growing coffee for personal consumption, wondering how many bushes that could be? Also, vanilla or tea?

[Hotzcatz]

What's with this "east" and "west" stuff? Those are weird mainland directions that don't do a lot around here. Elevation and rainfall are much more important than direction. This island has "Hilo" side and "Kona" side, if you are referring to the whole island.

Coffee will probably grow well in most Puna locations and probably even higher elevations, too. It is a small shrubby tree and if you want enough coffee to make a pot of coffee each day through out the year, you'd need at least a dozen trees.

Tea would probably prefer the higher elevations. It is a bushy shrub and likes about the same growing conditions as camellias, I believe.

Vanilla is a vining orchid plant and the folks who are growing the most of it that I know of are at around 1,800 foot elevation or so. I think it has to be hand pollinated to produce vanilla beans since I'm not sure if we have the pollinator insect around here or not. The folks at the Vanilla place in Pauuilo would know.

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"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson

[asly]

Thanks Hotzcatz for the info. I'm planning on the coffe bushes for sure. However, vanilla sounds like a little more work that I may not be able to do if only there part time. I read the vanilla place's website regarding info on growing it and hand pollinating. I am interested in some types of tea and will be visiting with Sherri at Moonrise Tea Garden next month when I'm on island.

Do you have any suggestion on the best coffee stock?