imafan26
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Posts: 13961
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:32 am
Location: Hawaii, zone 12a 587 ft elev.

Gardening in the Tropics

Gardening between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn is very different from a temperate climate.
1. There is no snow unless you are in a high elevation

2. 365 growing year

3. 365 pest year. There is no winter kill

4. Things that are tender annuals and houseplants in colder regions are yard plants. Tender annuals can be perennial. Perennials that are not heat tolerant are annuals here. "Green glossy leaves", "heat resistant", "disease resistant" especially to mildews and bacterial diseases, "tender", "short day", day neutral" are key words to look for. I look for parthenocarpic varieties of cucurbits because they are less bitter and will set even if the temperatures exceed 80 degrees.

5. Non native temperate plants can grow here, some of them become invasive as they compete with natives. Tropical plants for the most part are not deciduous, but there are some exceptions. True tropicals for the most part, have shiny water repellent leaves.

6. We basically have 2 seasons, wet or dry.

7. Most of the vegetables grown for food and found in stores are temperate plants or if they come from Central America they are from the higher elevations. Corn,squashes, cucumber, carrots, cabbages,beans,tomato and many of the herbs.

8. We have short days. Day length does not vary much throughout the year. I have about a 2 hour difference between the longest and shortest day. Which means I can only grow short or day neutral crops.

9. The temperature here does not vary that much either. Temperatures in most inhabited places, except the higher elevations 48-92 (can get up to 100 in August if there is a lot of concrete around). Most days in winter 65-84. Most days in Summer 88-92. Humidity 67%-99%. Humidity makes it feel hotter than it actually is.

10. Biggest problems are pests, disease, and heat.

11. Temperate crops that grow here have to be disease and heat resistant. Tropical corn only needs 12 hours of sun, temperate corn needs about 14. Some varieties of temperate corn can be grown during the longer days of summer.

12. Things that require a winter chill, will not do well except in elevations above 2000 ft. Some low chill varieties will grow, but they are not that good. Bulbs like tulips, daffodils can be forced but will not survive long term. Amaryllis and glads will naturalize and don't require any special care. Dahlias will bloom from seed, but the rhizomes will never bloom again unless they are dug up and put in the refrigerator to chill. Soft neck garlic, and Texas granax onions will grow here. Northern bulbs that require longer days won't do that well.

13. Tropical vegetables are easier to grow than temperate ones. Gourds are easier to grow than squash. Long beans are easier to grow than string beans. Tropical spinach, taro, sweet potatoes, NZ spinach, gynuura are easier to grow than spinach and produce almost all year. Hot peppers, eggplant, Asian greens do very well. Tomatoes need to be disease resistant and need protection from fruit flies, birds, heat, and rain. We will never get a 2 lb tomato, even on a large variety because the days are too short. 8-10 oz is average. I can grow Azalea and Tropical Rhodies, but not northern Rhododendron. I grow warm house orchids that mostly originate from S.E. Asia, Burma, Pacific (Philippines), Central and South American orchids, and hybrids of the warm tolerant species.

14. North of the equator, cool season crops can be started end of July (for starting cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts) Sept- April . Warm season crops March-June. After June it is better to harvest and solarize the garden. It gets too hot; takes too much water for most things. Extra shade may be needed in summer.

15. What grows year round: Kale, Swiss Chard, papaya, fruit trees, taro, sweet potato, moringa, cassava, banana, ginger, turmeric, eggplant, hot peppers, most perennial herbs.

16. Temperate plants that do well. Asparagus,hollyhock, roses.

17. Plants that will not do well. Most plants with upper limit zone 8 or lower.



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