Revisiting Tropical Edibles Nursery in South Kona, I found the same two-plant-knowledgeable women keeping local gardeners and farmers supplied with edible plants. Maggie and Momi continue to supply local growers with fruit trees, vegetable starts, herbs and flowering plants all that produce food.
“We have been promoting island self-reliance for over a decade here by encouraging people to grow edibles,” Maggie McDermott was quick to remark.
Maggie was one of the early employees at Tropical Edibles and is now the nursery manager. Her years of experience at the site means her propagation skills are top-notch and she can offer expert advice to those who want to grow some of their own food. She enjoys giving folks tours of the nursery and showing off some of her favorite plants like the miniature climbing rose, Cecile Brunner. The delicate pink petals are great for decorating cakes or to add color to a green salad. Maggie’s engaging smile goes a long way toward making the experience at Tropical Edibles a pleasant one.
She and Momi continue to encourage gardeners to grow food. They not only can supply growers with edibles but also can offer tips on the best way to grow the plants they sell. Their partnership with Emmerich Grosch of Captain Cook Trading Co. means they also offer 100% Kona coffee and locally sourced macadamia nuts in the nursery shop. Emmerich is also working on a line of teas for the shop. These include coffee cherry tea as well as tea from cacao and the leaves of loquat and mamaki. The shop also sells Momi’s healing salves and some of her unique clothing line. When you go to the nursery, be sure to check out the shop.
Momi Subiono is an important part of the experienced team at Tropical Edibles. In addition to helping to propagate new plants and maintaining their supply of edibles, she works on her days off teaching art through Society for Kona’s Education and Art (SKEA). She is also working with kids teaching ethnobotany at Milolii Educational Garden through the Honey Bee Educational Program. She has studied native Hawaiian plants and ethnobotany for years and is knowledgeable about medicinal and cultural uses of plants as well as growing them for food.
Both Momi and Maggie are interested in working with young growers. Maggie’s two boys, Cisco and Elvis, really enjoy picking vegetables for their dinner or just eating a few fresh beans off the vine. Momi hopes to pass on her knowledge to her daughter to carry the information she has learned forward into the next generation.
Sales at the nursery have picked up over the last few years. Momi remarked that she noticed an increase in clients during the recent lockdown.
“I was happy to see that being at home for so long inspired people to start growing some of their own food,” she said.
During the lockdown, people often called the nursery to request plants and would do a quick drive-by to pickup orders. Now that people are getting out as COVID-19 restrictions wane, they want to continue growing edibles and often stop by the nursery to see what’s available and get some growing advice.
Momi and Maggie spend about half their workday propagating new plants and ordering fruit trees from suppliers like Plant It Hawaii. They are both experienced in propagation whether from seeds, cuttings or by air layering. They also spend part of each day maintaining the nursery stock, potting, weeding, fertilizing and treating the occasional pest issue.
One of my favorite parts of a visit to Tropical Edibles is a tour through their “U-pick” garden. Salad greens, herbs and veggies are growing and many are ready to harvest. I usually come away with ingredients for a salad and often find an unusual herb to add an interesting flavor to my next meal.
Of course, you can also find lots of citrus trees, several avocado varieties and other exotic tropical fruit trees displayed on rock terraces for sale. They soon will have some new tropical varieties of apples and pears as well as peaches, plums and nectarines. These have been bred to grow well in our climate but will likely do best at upper elevations where nighttime temperatures are lower.
Standard vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant are available as well as squash and bean plants. Taro and ‘awa plants are among those that offer an opportunity to grow native Hawaiian edibles and medicinals. Herbs like parsley, cilantro, basil, comfrey and oregano can be found on the nursery tables alongside strawberries and edible flowers like sweet violas, dianthus, begonia, marigolds, and calendula. You’ll even find some more unusual herbs like spilanthes (the tooth ache plant) and gotu kola. Maggie and Momi are happy to offer information on how to use plants like these and others that they sell.
Occasional education tours and classes as well as on site consultations are part of Tropical Edibles dedication to community service. To further serve local growers Tropical Edibles offers scheduled use as well as sales of their equipment including coffee pulpers and roasters. Their parent company, Captain Cook Trading Company, also supplies farmers with processing equipment for local cops including coffee, macnuts and cacao. The Trading Company also ships Kona coffee and local macnuts to all 50 states.
Many former visitors to Tropical Edibles Nursery will be happy to note that the driveway has been repaved. It is now easy to drive right up to the nursery tables to make you selections. Once at the top of the drive, you can also enjoy an expansive view of the South Kona coastline.
Get started growing edibles or add to your edible garden by visiting Tropical Edibles Nursery. They accept phone orders and can also deliver for a fee. They are currently open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call them at (808) 328-040 or e mail them at tropicaledibles@gmail.com with any of your plant inquiries. You can also follow them on Facebook at Tropical Edibles Nursery in Captain Cook and on Instagram @tropical_edibles_nursery. Go meet Maggie and Momi and start expanding your edible garden. You’ll be happy you did.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living part time in Kailua-Kona.
Gardening Events
Every Saturday: “Work Day at Amy Greenwell Garden” from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Visitor Center, across from the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Come with a mask and be prepared to practice social distancing. Volunteers can help with garden maintenance and are invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Water and snacks provided. Info: amygreenwell.garden/get-involved/volunteer-1/ and sign up for the weekly email for more information on work days.
Wednesday: “Virtual Invasive Pest Mini-Conference” at 9:30 a.m. Covering parasitic wasps, avocado lace bug, coffee leaf rust, and more. Contact Roshan at roshann@hawaii.edu for more information. Register for the Zoom link at bit.ly/3H0NhWI. View the earlier mini-conference at vimeo.com/670939003/64c3463fea.
Save the date: April 2: 15th annual Avocado Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hale Halawai in Kailua-Kona. Info: Randyl Rupar at (808) 936-5233
Pesticide Subsidy Program Outreach to Coffee Farmers: To take advantage of the HDOA coffee berry borer and coffee leaf rust Pesticide Subsidy Program contact Melanie Bondera at (808) 323-7578 or email hdoa.cbb@hawaii.gov.
Farmer Direct Markets (check websites for the latest hours and online markets)
Wednesday: “Ho’oulu Farmers Market” at Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay
Saturday: “Keauhou Farmers Market” 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center
Information on their online market: keauhoufarmersmarket.com/onlinemarket
“Kamuela Farmer’s Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables
“Waimea Town Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Parker School in central Waimea
“Waimea Homestead Farmers Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Waimea middle and elementary school playground
Sunday: “Pure Kona Green Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook
“Hamakua Harvest” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hwy 19 and Mamane Street in Honoka’a
Plant Advice Lines
Anytime: konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu at (808) 322-4893. Walk-in from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays at the UH-CES at Komohana in Hilo or call (808) 981-5199 or email himga@hawaii.edu
