When they have been in the fridg you will not have success. I am not saying that’s your case (just to avoid, you know).
- Thread starter johne
- Start date
Growing vegetables under the Dominican Sun.
I've been a vegetable grower my entire life. The key to a successful vegetable garden is a soil test and subsequent amendment to said soil. My guess is that your soil PH is off as that is usually the problem with growing tomatoes but without a soil test it's just a guess.
The seeds my brother?
You are saying don't put the seeds in the fridg...or use seeds from habaneros that have been in the fridg?
Test the soil in each bed?
Do you plant directly into the soil, or use raised rows or beds?
Just a few questions for an experienced grower.
Thanks in advance...
Well done. Best method around. Allows for easy successive plantings to lengthen out the harvest. And easy rotation of vegies or flowers to help with pest and disease control.Here are the pros and cons of the three gardening methods:
Pros and Cons: Row Gardening vs. Raised Beds vs. Containers
Pros and cons of planting rows in the ground, raised bed, and containers. Here are some ideas to get you started!www.almanac.com
I am a believer in the raised row/raised bed methods.
Many of the top market garden growers in the United States of America use raised row methods.
Many of the growers that I follow on YouTube for advice use raised bed methods.
And lastly...because I can. 🤑
Let's explore that last issue so you don't think I am getting smart with you.
I consider the raised beds part of my landscaping.
I really like the look.
And they allow me to basically operate on a small scale in the way I outlined in post #33
Having them built allow them to be customized to my specifications (there are vendor of raised bed kits)
And it helps out the local economy.
Especially my builder.
But my builder hires others to assist him during his projects.
They are going to last at least 30 years.
And they are easier on my back.
When I go into production I will create raised rows...a raised bed without a formal container...and plant directly into the ground.
Unless I find there is a ground problem with one of my crops (nematodes is one example) then I will use smaller portable containers for that particular crop.
Mr AE loves gardening, in both countries. In DR everything goes right in the ground. One basil plant lived for years on end. After we’d leave, it would go to seed and restart itself over and over. In DR he only plants plum tomatoes, in NJ about 10 varieties. The only root vegetables he grows in DR is yuca. Guandules are easy to grow in DR.
In NJ he has raised beds, our town has unlimited free compost for residents, something unavailable in DR as far as I know.
Vegas, do you buy special soil for your raised beds?
In NJ he has raised beds, our town has unlimited free compost for residents, something unavailable in DR as far as I know.
Vegas, do you buy special soil for your raised beds?
I do not buy special soil for my raised beds.
I fill my raised beds with top soil from my land.
I will assume that cement was used in the fabrication of the raised concrete beds.
This can and will raise the PH levels in your soil to a level that makes it difficult for some plants to thrive.
I agree with the suggestion that a soil test might be called for in order to make any necessary amendments.
homeguides.sfgate.com
This can and will raise the PH levels in your soil to a level that makes it difficult for some plants to thrive.
I agree with the suggestion that a soil test might be called for in order to make any necessary amendments.
Will Cement Kill My Plants?
While many plants are able to line cement walkways and driveways without any issue, others are more susceptible to damage when heavy rains dissolve the cement. This happens because concrete is alkaline and can affect the overall pH of the soil surrounding the plants.
homeguides.sfgate.com
If you’re worried about the heat, visit a traditional Dominican Conuco for inspiration. They take up a little more space but are a really interesting type of permaculture garden in the Caribbean. The idea originated with Taínos and other ancient indigenous groups.
Everything is layered for shade. Usually with banana trees providing the top layer, producing plants of various other heights, like maybe corn, and then beans etc. growing on the lower layer.
Here is an article about them in Venezuela, but the concept is the same throughout South America and the CaribbeaN.
Conucos
And a translated excerpt:
Conucos are known as productive and sustainable systems due to their efficiency in the use of resources, water, light, labor and nutrients.
Everything is layered for shade. Usually with banana trees providing the top layer, producing plants of various other heights, like maybe corn, and then beans etc. growing on the lower layer.
Here is an article about them in Venezuela, but the concept is the same throughout South America and the CaribbeaN.
Conucos
And a translated excerpt:
Conucos are known as productive and sustainable systems due to their efficiency in the use of resources, water, light, labor and nutrients.
Hi. I am talking about the peppers themselves. My little BIL does it for me and they are growing . From Jeanet al patio.
Now “el tiene buena mano” 😄
They have no floor.
It is just four block walls sitting on a foundation of cement.
The part where you see the dirt...continues down into Mother Earth.
Drainage is not my problem.
It takes a lot of rain before I see any surface water.
Intense heat at this time of year is my problem.
After I prepare a bed...I get about a week to plant it or the weeds will goto work up in it.
I took a picture of this flower when I was out on a hike in the hills behind Puerto Plata very recently.johne,
I think you mentioned you had two acres.
Have you considered planting something for the butterflies?
The monarch butterflies love/need the milkweed plant.
There is a native milkweed plant...Bloodflower.
Bloodflower Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)
Blood Flower Milkweed is a tender evergreen perennial flower that is native to South America but can be commonly found growing in moist areas and disturbed sites throughout the southern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 2-3' and features upright stems, 6” lance-shaped...www.projectpurityseeds.com
Said to attract the Jamaican monarch/ Caribbean Queen which is also native to the D.R.
Caribbean Queen or Jamaican Monarch Danaus cleophile (Godart, 1819) | Butterflies and Moths of North America
www.butterfliesandmoths.org
I have a small experiment on my 4th floor balcony with milkweed seeds.
Hoping they will survive the winter cold and sprout in the spring.
Fingers crossed.
Meanwhile keep on keeping us up to date.
A picture now and again wouldn't hurt.
🦋
Now I know the name.
Muchas gracias.
If you want the best chance of each vegetable to grow to its potential then yes. Or you can plant one crop and any that don't do well test the soil in that particular bed. I've grown large vegetable gardens of a half to three quarter acres directly in soil and I've done raised beds though that was 30 years ago. The only raised rows that I did was for strawberries.
The problem would be: Everyday you would wake up and remember frezzing cold days and icy winds that you had back home waitings 5 months for spring. Who needs that kind of stress when you can do the same thing with 16 oz. cups, Saran Wrap , and a shady spot for 7-10 days?Has anyone here experimented with seed starter trays with a growing light?
Yes,I have larger ones but basically the same. Just use a standard T-5 or T-8 flourecent and keep it very close so the plants don't get "leggy" and watch the temperature,not too hot and ventilate well or you will get mold. I would think that in the DR you could take the dome off once they have their first set of leaves.Has anyone here experimented with seed starter trays with a growing light?