What can't I grow at elevation?

[BigIslandBum]

I'm looking at buying a piece of property at 1100 feet and was wondering what fruits and vegetables won't grow at that elevation? Thanks

[csgray]

It is really more about local micro climates than elevation, although generally the higher up you go the cooler and wetter it is. Citrus does nicely at that elevation and bananas and sweet potatoes seem to grow everywhere. If you see certain plants only growing at lower elevations, or close to the ocean, they may not do so well at your place.

To find out what you CAN grow talk to your neighbors and look at what they grow, but understand that even .5 of a mile can change everything. Once you see what people right around you are successfully growing, start planting, some plants will make it, some plants won't, some just won't make it where you plant it but would do fine 25 ft. away.

Even your land will have micro climates. Spend a year watching your place and its seasons before you start planting large scale, you will be glad you did, because unless you are very lucky you will be digging holes in rock, and who wants to do that twice because you planted that mango in the wrong place? After you establish your first round of plants, start experimenting, young plants are fairly cheap, so risk some trial and error.

Good luck and have fun!

Carol

edited to add: Oops, sorry I was multitasking and missed that you were just looking. I'd still check out what the neighbors grow though.

[pslamont]

1100 feet is pretty low.... most everything will grow there given root space in soil, water and sunshine. But as Carol says, every piece of land is a little different. Still, 1100 is good.

I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says

"Oh Crap, She's up!"

[DanielP]

I have heard that Coconuts will not grow above a certain elevation, but not sure.

Dan

[Ryan.]

You'll want to keep in mind that some kinds of vegetation (fruit trees, etc.) are strictly lowland tropical and will not do well at the proposed elevation. In addition, other things may give the impression of doing well, only to disappoint when it comes time to bear fruit. Examples of varieties you may have trouble with include breadfruit, malabar chestnut, some coconuts, durian, mangosteen, soursop, etc. Mangos are known to grow up to 3,000 ft, but are said to only really thrive below 1,000. Papayas grow up to about 1,200 ft, but again do much better in the lowlands. You might consider purchasing or checking out a book to investigate further. One such title is "Hawaiian Organic Growing Guide" by Shunyam Nirav.

p.s. There are many things that will grow well at this elevation, so I don't mean to imply otherwise. The phrasing of the question, however was focused on the negative.

[BigIslandBum]

Yes, I figured the negative would be a smaller list The durian, mangosteen and soursop are disappointments but if we decide this is the property for us, we'll give them a try anyway. Thanks for all the replies.

[mella l]

We bought at 1700 feet. I wouldn't go any higher than 1800 as that was close to the limit for bananas and also some of the palms I wanted to grow. Well delay in plans for us. I think 1100 feet is optimum, the best of all worlds, jmho.

mella l

NO, really? Assume the best!

[pslamont]

Mella, I am at around 2800 and we are getting Choke Bananas of all kinds... Ice Cream, Willaims, Apple and even the Madagascar....

I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says

"Oh Crap, She's up!"

[kani-lehua]

ditto to the bananas. we're across the street from the lamonts and have tons of them minus the trees that the chickens have taken down [:0]. they are, though, on the smaller side. papayas do well at this elevation and so does citrus.



"a great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."

w. james

[mella l]

Pam! Hey I know that, I've eaten them! LOL Must have been some of the fancy orchids and fragrant tropicals, and for sure some of the palms I would love to grow one day. Oh yes that Madagascar Banana is a grand one!

mella l

NO, really? Assume the best!