If you are among the many people who recognize the importance of buying local produce, consider the possibility of growing your own. After all, it doesn’t get much more “local” than your own backyard!
It can be as simple as a fruit tree in the yard, or a pot of herbs on your lanai. However large or small your home garden is, there is something very satisfying about harvesting food that you’ve grown yourself. Plus, gardening is a perfect family activity. Young children get to witness the amazing transformation of a seed as it slowly becomes a head of lettuce, thus learning where their food comes from (it doesn’t magically appear in the supermarket) and being more excited about eating their veggies!
Following are a few of the vegetables that grow well year-round in Hawaii:
- Okinawan sweet potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Lettuce
- Zucchini
- Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and chard
- Eggplant
- Japanese cucumbers
- Taro
Don’t forget about fruit for your home-made smoothies: pineapple, guava and mango are perfect for tropical climates. Banana trees and papaya trees grow very quickly, don’t take up a lot space, and are in season all year long. For an ornamental vine with a delicious fruit, try planting lilikoi (passion fruit) and letting it climb a trellis or fence.
Keep your garden organic by using organic seeds, soil, compost and fertilizer. Avoid pesticides by researching natural pest control methods. Create your own fertile compost from leftover food scraps using a compost bin.
If you have no yard or are limited on space, don’t despair - container planting works great in Hawaii. Use potting soil and place containers in an area that gets a good amount of sunlight.
Inquire at your local plant nursery to find out which varieties of the above fruits and veggies are best-suited to your region. They will be able to direct you to the seeds or starts that you will have the best luck with. DTE also carries organic seeds to grow your own veggies.
Don’t be overwhelmed by the prospect of having your own garden - It’s not as though you need to start growing all of your own food- and don’t get discouraged if your first harvest isn’t as bountiful as you had hoped. Start small, have fun and feel good knowing that you are taking a step toward a more sustainable Hawaii.