25 May 2010

How Much Shade is Too Much? Growing Vegetables and Herbs in Tropical to near Sub-tropical Lowlands

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Tropical to near sub-tropical lowland climatic conditions such as that of Cayman not only offers an endless palette of year-round growing opportunities but it also produces two distinct growing seasons. These seasons may be classified as the cooler and drier season (November – April) and the hot and humid rainy season (May –October).

Cayman enjoys 300+ days of sunshine annually and reflected sunlight (particularly from driveways, terraces and houses) often times create micro-conditions whereby shady spots can be converted into vegetable and herb gardens for specific plants.

The dappled shade of tall trees also provide similar conditions around the tree bases that may be used for edible gardening instead of the obligatory impatiens, vincas, and calendulas that many landscaping companies quite readily offer up.

Such is gardening that general rules are always tempting to offer but hard to defend. Nonetheless, as a practical gardener, I am always seeking out rules to live by and rule to break, so here goes….

3 General Rules for Sunlight:

1. Vegetables that produce flower and fruit such as tomatoes and eggplant require full sun. Full sun is defined as greater than 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Please note however that ‘ultra-tropical’ root-crop such as yam and cassava and Mediterranean leafy herbs such as rosemary and sage are notable exceptions.

2. Vegetables that produce root-crop such as beetroot and turnip can get by with 3-4 hours of direct sun daily. Actually, in our conditions they prefer dappled mid-day and afternoon shade.

3. Leafy vegetables such as lettuce and swiss chard are happy with 2-3 hours of daily sunlight (preferably morning sun).

Flower and Fruit:  Tomato, Tomatillo, Cape Gooseberry, Eggplant, Melon, Pumpkin, Corn, Okra, Cucumber, Papaya (yes, it’s a herb and so are) Plantain, Banana and Botler, Squash/Zucchini/Courgette, Cassava, Yam, Sweet Potato, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, Oregano, Marjoram.

Root-crop:  Beetroot, Radish, Carrot, Turnip, Parsnip, Onion, Spring Onion, Leek.

Leafy:  Lettuce, Swiss Chard/Leaf Beet, Arugula/Rocket, Spinach, Pak Choi, Bok Choi, Chinese Cabbage, Kale, Kohlrabi, Florence Fennel, Broccoli, Cabbage, Coco/Malanga/Taro, Parsley, Mustard Greens, Mint, Parsley, Celery, Culantro, Cilantro, Strawberry, Pea, Bush Bean.

Of course, for every set of general rules there are a set of caveats and every gardener will move to his/her own beat. Nonetheless, these generalisations might help those gardeners to get started who might not know what to plant where because they don’t know how much shade is too much.

Happy Gardening!
www.plantationhouse.blogspot.com

19 May 2010

Salt Tolerance of Various Tropical and Sub-tropical Fruit, Nut and Spice/Herb Trees: Putting the Right Plants in the Right Locations

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Often times in conversation the topic of gardening under saline conditions comes up.  This is especially important to home-owners in Cayman where not only can our soils and ground water be salty but on-shore winds bring salt spray as well. 

Further complications such as salt water intrusion during hurricanes, the dry season and at very high tides can make the more determined gardeners throw up their hands in despair.  Whilst there are things that can be done to reduce this threat such as growing natural windbreaks, utilising raised beds and adding soil amendments like compost and gypsum, it's best to choose the right plants for the right locations from the get-go.

Below is a salt tolerance listing that ranks various plants on a scale of 'Good to Poor'.  This listing may be used as a guide but please bear in mind that it is 'work-in-progress' and your own experiences with your unique growing conditions needs to be considered at the same time.

Good
Carissa (Natal Plum)
Coconut
Coco-plum
Date Palm
Sea-grape
Tamarind
Tropical Almond (Indian Sea Almond)

Moderate
Ackee
Breadfruit
Bignay (Antidesma)
Black Sapote (Chocolate Pudding Fruit)
Egg Fruit (Canistel)
Fig
Governor's Plum
Guava
Guinep (Mamoncillo)
Imbe
Indian Jujube (Ju Plum, Downs, Dunks)
Jackfruit
Java Apple (Wax Jambu)
Java Plum (Jambolan)
Jelly Palm
Key Lime (West Indian)
Loquat
Mayan Breadnut
Monstera
Pineapple Guava (Feijoa)
Pomegranate
Prickly Pear
Pummelo
Red Cattley/ Strawberry Guava
Red Plum (Purple Mombin)
Rose Apple
Rosemary
Sapodilla (Naseberry)
Tangerine/Mandarin
Yellow Plum

Fair
Apple
Atemoya
Barbados Cherry (Acerola Cherry)
Bay Rum
Bay Leaf
Bilimbi
Biriba (Rollinia)
Cacao (Chocolate)
Chella Mella (Jimbilin)
Cherimoya
Cherry of the Rio Grande
Citrus (rootstock dependent)
Coffee
Custard Apple
Curry Leaf
Grumichama
Illama
Imbe
Kei Apple
Kumquat
Kwai Muk
Mamey Sapote
Miracle Fruit
Mulberry
Persimmon
Pineapple
Pimento
Pitomba
Sorrel (Roselle)
Soursop
Sugarcane
Sweetsop (Sugar Apple)
Surinam Cherry (Pitanga)
Wampi
White Sapote

Poor
Avocado
Banana
Blueberry
Botler
Cashew
Jaboticaba
June Plum (Golden Apple, Pommecythere)
Longan
Lychee
Macadamia Nut
Mango
Muscadine Grape
Nectarine
Papaya
Passion Fruit
Peach
Pear
Plantain
Raspberry
Star Apple (Caimito)
Star Fruit (Carambola)
Strawberry Tree (Panama Berry)

Information adapted from Rare and Exotic Tropical Fruits: Trees and Plants, Carl W. Campbell, Seymour Goldweber, Caloosa Rare Fruit Exchange, 1985, Florida Fruit, Lewis S. Maxwell and Betty M. Maxwell, 1995 and Field Trials/Observations at Plantation House Eco Site, Grand Cayman, 1992-2010.

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