The Tropical Gardener

what kinds of veges or herbs can i grow in tropical countries?

I live in a sub-tropical climate. Think northern caribbean/south Florida. I want to grow produce of all kinds. Whats easiest, as I am not a skilled gardener.

Hi! Well it’s a Great idea that you want to grow a garden. You have many choices since you live in a sub-tropical climate. If i were you i would start simple, as i assume you are new to gardening.

Try Beats, Onions, Tomatoes, Radishes, or turnips. These are pretty easy to grow, Just make sure you water regularly and keep patient! Now Tomatoes where i am from are grown all over the place as an annual, as they will die in our frosts. We are actually the Tomato capitol of the world! (Yolo County) Anyways, Since you live in a tropical climate, your tomatoes may last longer than a year, but they quit producing their best within the first year, so i would probably recommend pulling them out after 7-8 months. As for the others that i mentioned, just harvest when they are a size you want and when you need them! The great thing about onions is they store for a long time. Harvest them when the tops start to die. once they start doing that, let them sit on top of the soil for a day or two to dry the outside. This makes them last longer in storage.

Later when you get the hand at gardening, you can try stuff a tiny bit more advanced, such as beans, corn, Squash, etc.

POINTERS:

Now plants like it when the soil is very loose so they can move their roots around to get more nutrients from the soil, So tilth is important. Before planting your garden, till your garden well. You can use a digging pickaxe, a shovel and hoe, or you can rent (or use one you own) a rototiller or cultivator.

Once your soil is well cultivated, i would recommend amending your soil with a fertilizer, ideally a composted manure. Steer and chicken manure is most common. just follow instructions on back of the packet! Now contrary to popular belief, Composted manure is usually odorless (well, it doesn’t stink, it smells like normal soil pretty much). this is because it has been aged and composted (composting is another you should consider, but ill wait to answer anything about that till you ask ). Neither does it attract flies, as they have no reason to eat dirt!

Once you have amended the soil, it is time to plant. Now you need to think about how you want to irrigate your garden. do you want to use a simple-lazy way of using a sprinkler? do you want to use simple, yet time consuming row flooding? or do you want to invest in a soaker hose, which is effective and almost no upkeep? Well i would recommend using the soaker hose, if you have the small amount of money to invest. to use it, just put directly next to all of your plants. Water every week, or when the soil is dry, and keep it on until it looks moist. these slowly water your crops.
The row-flooding method is also effective. What you do for that is just dig a trench (also referred to a drill or ditch) near the plants, and water the trenches. This makes it so you are watering the roots, not the top of the soil.

Hope my advice helped! and have a fun time with your new garden!

If you need any questions answered directly about gardening, you may contact me at SamuelMonteon@yahoo.com

I want to grow a little vegetable garden. I think it will be fulfilling and rewarding. Problem is – I am at home one week and on the road for three every month. Are there any veggies I can grow? Any special products I can buy to help the garden while I’m gone?
Many thanks

(P.S. I live in a tropical climate)

The best fruit/veg which are low maintenance are rhubarb, potatoes, and onions!! You can plant these and pretty much let them look after themselves, you will need to weed around them but etc but they can cope without you for a while a good website i know which may help you is http://www.love-your-home.co.uk I hope this helps!! Its great fun planting fruit/veg especially if you have kids!!!

The altitude is high enough that it is temperate rather than tropical all the time. But there is practically no seasonal variation.

The soil is good quality, good organic content, plenty of fertizlier available. No need to worry about depleting the soil very soon.

Can I take seeds as soon as they appear on their respective fruits and vegetables and replant them immediately, or do they have to wait a while first? The climate and soil seem suitable for year round growing.

Are there any fruits or veggies that will just not grow year round, even if the conditions are good?

Which ones would be most suitable to grow year round? I’d like to get as many crops as possible to get enough seed to make this self-sustaining. Thanks!

14 MAY 08 1757 hrs, GMT.

when the seed come take some in a piece of newspaper previous spray with water, put seed there and cover with the same newspaper.(only 100 seed for each time) whaiting for a few days and you see how many born. then you know if good percent or not. www.edgararaya.ws

http://groups.msn.com/grupoaguilasgdi/

I live in an apartment on the second floor. there are high rise buildings in front of our balconies. Very limited direct sunlight but plenty of shadeless brightness. the climate is hot summers and warm winters. pl suggest me tropical flowers, vegetables and fruits I can grow in my balconies- pots, growing bags and hanging baskets. thank you
I live in Delhi, India. what are the other fruits and veggies I can try?

Bright light and partial sun/shade are two different types of light. If you want flowering and fruiting plants you must have more sun. Tropical foliage plants will do well. But if you want color you will be disappointed. There are a few varieties of Fuchsia that flower in the shade/morning sun.
Maybe you can arrange to start a rooftop garden, or use a small plot of land on the sunniest side of the building.
good luck