As you read this week’s garden column, Voltaire Moise and I are in Brazil, 100 miles north of Rio de Janeiro, helping to set up a tropical fruit demonstration orchard. Moise will also be showing local farmers all the different tropical fruits they can grow in the region and how to use them. The demonstration orchard will include trees from Africa, Australia, Asia, and Central and North America. The region is tropical to subtropical and conditions are similar to our islands in many ways. The big difference is they have to deal with all kinds of wildlife that enjoy eating the bounty. As if toucans, macaws and monkeys weren’t enough, they also have to deal with poisonous snakes and insects while harvesting. “Lucky we live Hawaii,” even though we complain about the expense of buying our fruits.
As you read this week’s garden column, Voltaire Moise and I are in Brazil, 100 miles north of Rio de Janeiro, helping to set up a tropical fruit demonstration orchard. Moise will also be showing local farmers all the different tropical fruits they can grow in the region and how to use them. The demonstration orchard will include trees from Africa, Australia, Asia, and Central and North America. The region is tropical to subtropical and conditions are similar to our islands in many ways. The big difference is they have to deal with all kinds of wildlife that enjoy eating the bounty. As if toucans, macaws and monkeys weren’t enough, they also have to deal with poisonous snakes and insects while harvesting. “Lucky we live Hawaii,” even though we complain about the expense of buying our fruits.
With the cost of fruit adding to the stresses on our pocket books, now is a good time to have a productive garden. I recently visited a good friend in South Kona who really opened my eyes. Margarita Krimm’s farm is about as self-sustainable as it can get. She and her husband, Joe, were living green while in New Guinea before most had even heard of the concept. When they moved to Kona in the 1980s, they continued to work their land without pesticides. They took a rocky plot and turned it into a rich and productive piece of paradise through composting, mulching and other Earth-friendly practices. Many other local farmers are doing the same.
When it comes to our gardens, we can grow almost anything. The island offers many climates depending on elevation and location. Below 2,000 feet, we grow tropical plants, and we grow warm temperate and even cold season crops above that elevation. Tropical fruits are the favorite for most since they are varied and unusual.
Many of these fruits are high in vitamins and minerals. Instead of popping vitamin pills every day, consider fruit. Those pills on your shelf, besides being pretty expensive items, are not nearly as palatable and appealing as fresh fruit — especially fruit that’s grown in your own backyard. Purchase books on fruits of Hawaii from local garden centers and bookstores that give descriptions, nutritive value and uses. Craig Elevitch compiled and edited “Specialty Crops for the Pacific Islands.” Another must-have, “The World of Bananas,” was authored by Angela Keppler and Frank Rust. Both are available by contacting Elevitch at 324-4427.
Passionfruit, poha, avocados and Surinam cherry are South American fruits high in vitamin A. Guava, papaya, soursop, poha, cactus fruit and passionfruit are rich in vitamin C.
The acerola, or Barbados cherry, contains the highest known vitamin C content for fruit. As a comparison, oranges average 49 milligrams of vitamin per 100 grams — about 3 1/2 ounces — of edible fruit, while the Barbados, picked as it is turning green to red, averages more than 4,000 units for the same amount.
Don’t forget the pineapple. Even though we see them in stores, they are fun to grow. Varieties like red Spanish, smooth cayenne, queen and abakka are found in our gardens. Fruit grown at home tends to be much sweeter than fruit found at the supermarket.
In addition, there are dozens of lesser known fruits that also make outstanding ornamental shrubs and trees. The mountain apple, a native of India and Malaya; jaboticaba;, pitanga; and Brazilian plum are very attractive with delicious fruits. The common Surinam cherry, also in this family, has fruit that vary from tasty to terrible depending on seedlings.
Another favorite in its homeland is the sapodilla, chicle or chewing gum tree from Central America. It is an attractive shade tree that grows to about 30 feet. The dark brown fruit is about the size of an orange and tastes like brown sugar and butter. It tolerates wet or dry conditions and grows from sea level to 2,000 feet.
Remember, the adaptability of a fruit tree to moisture, temperature and wind conditions will be important factors determining plant selection. For example, West Indian avocado would have a chance of success in warmer, lower areas, but would be a definite gamble in high, wet inland locations. By the same token, Mexican strains are desirable in the higher, cooler areas. Neither will tolerate salty or windy conditions.
In addition to adaptability to temperature conditions, there are other factors to consider in selecting fruit trees.
Fruits for home use should be selected on the basis of eating quality, rather than for their market appearance or shipping endurance.
Pollination requirements must not be overlooked in selecting fruits. Solo papaya need no pollinators, but avocado varieties should be chosen with regard to assuring proper pollination.
Pest resistance as a factor in selecting fruit trees is more important to the homeowner than to the commercial grower because the commercial grower has equipment for pest control while the homeowner may not. The less pesticide required, the better.
Selection of fruits for the home grounds should assure a long season of available fruit by use of a series of varieties of early, mid-season and late production within the range for the species.
There are hundreds of fruits that can be grown in Hawaiian gardens. For help selecting fruit trees, contact your local nursery, agricultural extension agent or garden store.