Plantation House Eco Site Grand Opening

The entire Plantation House Eco Site will open to the general public on Sunday November 22, 2009 at 5pm. More details will follow. In the interim, our plants and farm produce are available at the site on Saturdays, 2-6pm and Sundays, 12 noon-6pm.

Green Sapote 2009

I planted a Green Sapote (Pouteria viridis) in 2005. The tree did blossom during late-2008 (along with a Yellow Sapote tree which is nearby) but no fruit held as the tree was infested with ants. Earlier this year many new blossoms appeared and now several fruit have held. The Sapote-named "family" is quite varied and includes un-related fruit like the Black Sapote (more of a tropical persimmon) and the White Sapote (a citrus relative) plus more related ones such as the Mamey Sapote, Yellow Sapote (eggfruit, canistel) and the Naseberry (Sapodilla).

New Australians 2009 (Macademia and Burdekin)

Burdekin Plums and Macademia Nuts have finally arrived at Plantation House. Both trees were planted in the early 1990s as part of my first wave of developing my garden. Until April 2009 we got no fruit but both trees are now bearing and the Plum (Australian "bush tukka")is heavily laden. For many years, Macademia nuts were promoted as Hawaiian but they really originated in Australia, please welcome the 2 new Australians at Plantation House.

White Sapote 2009

I planted a White Sapoote Tree in 1995 in my east yard and nothing happened until this April. The tree grew prolifically over the years but I kept pruning to check its growth as it is located between Keitt Mango and Nam Doc Mango trees, and acts as shade for some young coffee trees. The tree (now about 20 foot tall, after major Hurrican Ivan damage in 2004) is now filled with fruit (possibly over 200) and all are doing extremely well. Never really expected success with this one (more of a sub-tropical/temperate fruit) although I have succesfully fruited Black Sapote (more of a tropical persimmon) for several years in my front yard. Peaches first and now White Sapote, it is truly been an exciting year so far.

Peaches 2009

I planted a Peach Tree in my front yard in early-2006 to replace a Red Ceylon Peach which I had planted since the early-1990's but lost during Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Earlier this year, with the prolonged cooling we had I did some hard pruning, withdrew irrigation and the result was many pink/lilac blossoms during February/March/April. We now have about 30 fruit, approximaely the size of a cherry tomato holding on the tree. Looking forward to tasting in a couple of months.

Available January 2009

Herb and Vegetable Plants available now include: Basil (many types), Cilantro, culantro, parsley (2 types), lemon grass, thyme, peppermint tree, sage, mint, oregano, cabbage, pak choi, tomato (2 types), and sweet pepper.

Fruit Trees available include 5 different types of Mango and 6 different types of Avocado plus many more such as Carambola/Starfruit, Purple Sweetsop "Kampong Mauve", Soursop/Guanabana, Peanut Butter Tree, Strawberry Tree, Coconut, Naseberry/Sapodilla, Red Guava, Botler Suckers, Plantain Suckers, Banana Suckers, Cayman/Key/Mexican Lime, Lychee, Sweet Tamarind, Sour Tamarind, Custard Apple, and so on.

New Cooler Season Plantings - Dec 2008

We took advantage of the very un-usual and heavy December rains and planted additional beds of carrot (red, white, purple, orange and black), chive, spring onion, radish (various colours and shapes), beetroot, pak choi, cucumber, watermelon, and cabbage. We also stuck in some lovely Madagascar Jasmine Vines in the East Fragrant Garden, currently being developed. Fingers crossed!!

First Vegetables - Cooler Season 2008

Radish "Burro Gigante" and Aubergines "Enorma", "Thai Green", and "Long Purple" are all coming into season about now at Plantation House. Carrots "Danvers", "Chantenay Red Cored", Beetroot "Bolthardy", and several Squash/Zucchini and Tomato varieties are about 4-6 weeks away. Papaya, Pumpkin, spring onions/scallions continue to be available along with limited amounts of Okra. As normal, the Market at The Grounds at the Stacey Watler Agricultural Pavilion off Agricola Drive in Lower Valley continues every Saturday 7am to 1pm.

HurricanePaloma2008

Most of the Banana, Plantain, and Bottler suckers and Papaya were destroyed but that is normal. Did not expect to lose a 16-year old Jakatra Mango and get so much damage to Guavas, Mamey Sapote, Longan, Bignay, Biriba, Bay Rum and other Mangos including Cogshall, Carrie and Edwards. Been cleaning up and should be up and running by next weekend. Thoughts with my family and friends in Cayman Brac who feared much worst.

FruitTreesHerbsOrnamentalsSale

We have many fruit trees including mango (5 types), avocado (6 types), cayman/key/mexican lime, carambola/starfruit (2 types), sweet sop, soursop, custard apple, cashew, ackee, white grape, passion fruit, pineapple, guavas, roseapple, jackfruit, malay apple, and may more available for sale. Also, fresh herbs including basil (several types), turmeric, tahitian vanilla bean (very rare), black pepper (rare), thyme, culantro, parsley (2 types), lemon/fever grass, marjoram, oregano, culinary ginger, mint, broad-leaf thyme (2 types), rosemary, and Cayman tea basil. In addition, several types of ornamentals including various gingers, caribbean roses, arabian jasmine, coleus, black taro, achemea, seagrape, etc.

OctoberRains2008

The October rains are here and our vegetable for the "cooler growing season" should now be in. This year, we planted our usual beds of carrot, radish, beetroot and, for the first time, turnip and parsnips. Cucumber, eggplant, spring onion/scallion, watermelon, pumpkin and okra continue to be harvested from our summer plantings. All of our tomato (several varieties), sweet pepper (3 varieties), watermelon, cantelope (6 varieties), mushmelon, and various salad leaves have all been planted out. Some fruits and vegetables continue to also be harvested including cucumber, eggplant, spring onion, breadfruit, watermelon, pumpkin, papaya, mango (Keitt), june plum (golden apple, pomme cythere), guava, bilimbi, chella mella, and ju plum.

TropicalStormDollyJuly2008

The winds from Dolly levelled much vegetation including bananas, plantains, bottlers, guava, papaya, and sapodilla trees (including one planted by my dad in 1987) and destroyed juvenile fruit on my mango, june plum, papaya, lime, guanabana, and java apple trees. A little discouraged but such is gardening (smile). Now to clean up time, again.

Plantation House Eco Site

Plantation House Eco Site is located on 2 acres of land in the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean Sea. The Site is a working small farm and residence specialising in the limited-scale growing of tropical and sub-tropical fruits, nuts, spices, vegetables, medicinal and ornamental plants, and their products.

All of the traditional Caribbean plantation crops such as sugarcane, coffee, cacao, tobacco and pineapples are grown alongside newer crops such as atemoya, dragon fruit, santol and jaboticaba. Visitors are able to easily view these crops and learn much about growing their own within limited spaces.

The Site also has a small waterfall, stream and pool combination, a seperate reflection pool, and a fresh-water fish pond. There are many species of birds (including chickens) and the occasional agouti or iguana roaming in their natural habitat.

The Garden Shop offers fresh juices and food, preserves, teas and coffees and there are several garden structures such as gazebos and stone terraces that offer quiet places to sit and enjoy.

Plantation House Nursery is also located on the Site and has plants for sale in pot sizes ranging from 1/2 gallons to 15 gallons, as well as seeds and cuttings. Visit us at Plantataion House Eco Site from November 2008 onwards and enjoy a bit of the old Caribbean way of life.

Mangosteen Update on Earth Day 2008

I have been nurturing 2 Mangosteen plants for 2 1/2 years. These were grown from seed taken from store-bought fruit.

The trees (2 survivors from about 20 seedlings) have been growing in various sized pots under a "Geffner" Atemoya tree and are now at 3-gallon size. This Earth Day, if all goes well, they will find their permanent home in a specially constructed 60 cubic yard raised bed and kept under shade screening for another 2 years. Wish me luck please, after Mangosteen is the Queen of Fruits (smile). Happy Earth Day 2008!!

Abiu Update April 2008

About 4 months ago I put 2 air layers on my Abiu tree (now 17 months since planting). High winds had broke off one of the layers earlier and the other was dying back so yesterday I decided to cut it off. There were no roots formed as yet but the layer had significant root callousing. In doing this I also found to my surprise that 2 tiny fruit had already formed.