Gardening

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Literary Lives 12

gardening You can do it!

Ihave been lucky to be islandhopping the last few weeks and I have been reminded about the amount of growing talent that we have locally and how lucky we are to be in a location where we can grow year-round. I was reminded while in Spanish Wells, Russell Island and North Eleuthera, which are all loaded with fruit trees and can boast of successful gardening against the odds of poor soil and little rain, that we can grow what we need, and more.

Great Exuma, where again, there is little rain and difficult soil conditions, there are melons growing in rocky, sandy soil with very little water. I’ve seen a male papaya tree that turned to a hermaphrodite and has borne fruit on what would typically be a non-bearing male flower.

Do not let them say that we cannot. We can do it; you can do it! The resilience of fruit trees to grow in salty, rocky, sandy conditions continues to amaze me. I have been being amazed at nature since I can remember. Wherever the avocado, mango, soursop or coconut tree originally came from does not matter, but that we have so many and yet we continue to underuse them, to me, does matter.

Coconut coir is one of the most popular growing mediums in use in many parts of the agricultural and horticultural industries worldwide. Everything from hemp (why is it still illegal to grow?) to orchids are grown in coconut coir. We have lots of land that is unused, and coconuts grow with little to no attention. The processing of them is a different story, as coconuts are very hard on traditional equipment such as mulchers. It will take a decent investment into the correct equipment before a serious effort can be made to utilize the very same coconuts that go unused all around us.

Tomatoes growing through the summer season? Yes, it is possible. Grafted plants last through the summer heat when tended correctly. As with anything that we try to grow here in the summer, shade is necessary to help keep temperatures down slightly. Strawberry is another fruit crop that we can grow successfully. A cool growing environment with a bit of misting helps with success rates, and it will soon be time to plant strawberry, more towards the middle of November when it will be a bit cooler, when they will be able to move into the full sun for the winter.

Back to avocado and mango, I have mentioned many times that the best fruit comes from grafted trees, and this remains mostly true, but with one side note that all trees originally came from seed at some point. The chances of getting an amazing fruit from a seed grown tree are slim, but it is possible. If you want guaranteed results, buy a grafted tree, but if you are willing to take a gamble and you have lots of time, space, and patience, then by all means, grow from seed. If one does grow from seed, it is most likely and statistically true that the fruit will be inferior to the mother tree, but maybe you will be one of the lucky ones! Maybe.

There are no gardening rules that are set in stone. Microclimates play a large factor in success, as well as methods, plant culture and source. Guarantees are there to be had, and they are spectacular when they come to fruition, but it doesn’t mean that it’s the only way to do it. Just don’t be disappointed when the fruit from a seed grown tree is not very good or not as good as expected. The vegetable growing season is in full swing. Whatever it is that you wish to grow, get seeding or get growing. Every day and week that it is delayed now is a missed day or week of harvesting. I am still harvesting beets that were grown last season, they too made it through the summer. Don’t let online blogs dictate your growing style or patterns. Most of them are written by folks that are not in our region, and they are also often trying to sell something.

Underwatering is most often safer than overwatering, but be careful with tomato plants, for example. They require a certain amount of water to be successful, while too much water can create fungus issues and rot. Remember, blossom end rot will not be cured by Epsom salts. Use a complete fertilizer (containing macro and minor nutrients) when planting and reap the rewards.

As I sit indoors here in Exuma, the rain is coming down and the dust is being washed off the leaves, and those folks that have their veggie gardens planted already are grinning. Are you composting yet? As always, I wish you happy gardening!

WITH some investment and the right equipment, Bahamians can produce an extremely sought-after material: Coconut coir

• Adam Boorman is the nursery manager at the Fox Hill Nursery. You can contact him with any questions you may have, or topics you would like to see discussed, at gardening242@gmail.com. at gardening242@gmail.com.