Outside of October Cayman has great weather to plant vegetables in your own backyard. With food prices where they are it is an attractive alternative to buying from the supermarket.
The process is not simple though and requires a lot of preparation and knowledge of the crops intended for growth. Luckily a number of common crops can be planted this month that can be harvested quickly.
President of the Agricultural Society Errol Watler is one of Cayman’s greatest minds on local agriculture. Over his years of farming Watler states there are a number of crops that can succeed now.
“The usual things that can grow now are pumpkin, peppers (especially the sweet and seasoned kind), sorrel, string beans and beans in general and coconuts. Beans and coconuts in particular can grow all year around. With the exception of coconuts (which are long-term crops that bear in a few years) all of those plants are what we call quick or cash crops. They take 90 days from planting to reaping. In other words, in three months you’ll bear something and in six weeks you’ll see some sprouts. Tomatoes are another popular crop and they’re better suited now. For vegetables like callaloo, bok choy and cabbage it’s a good time now because it’s not too hot.”
One of the fastest ways to have a reduced harvest is to not take into account preparation of the growing area. If seedlings are not set aside in a specific spot they are highly susceptible to being damaged by the forces of nature. The general advice given from the Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture is to ensure seedlings are in a shaded and protected area where sunlight and soil levels can be monitored.
A local farmer who is well versed with the process is Kirkland Nixon.
“I get the most vegetables in November,” Nixon said. “This is the best season to grow them, if you time it right you can get a good crop. With gardening, just like anything else, you have to pay attention. Seedlings are ready in four to six weeks and you have to be ready for them. It’s important in the early stages, before you even plant the seeds, to do the necessary things like getting the ground ready. I like to use a mixture of cow manure and humus to prep the soil.
“I’ve been doing this for many years and I find it’s best to check out your crops every evening. It’s relaxing and therapeutic and you can enjoy the cool breeze. I have my own greenhouse and I find you need one to keep things in check. On the whole farming and planting in general is nice hobby and I enjoy it.”
Another area to pay attention to is pests. Each crop has a specific living organism or disease that can be a pain towards harvest time. Two of the most common examples given by the Department of Agriculture are the Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus and the Root Knot Nematode. The virus affects tomatoes and is transmitted by whiteflies. The leaves turn yellow and the plant becomes stunted and bears less tomatoes. The nematode is a worm-like organism that lives in the soil and burrow into the roots, resulting in wilted plants, rotting roots and growths on the peppers.
Treatment options for the pests vary. In the examples given controlling the virus involves keeping weeds in and around the area used for tomato planting to a minimum and spraying insecticides such as Padan rotated with M-pede. Limiting the nematode involves injecting the soil with a nematicide like Furadan before planting and sterilising tools used for planting with a two percent bleach solution.
Ultimately backyard gardening is an activity that is manageable. With benefits that can resonate with taste-buds and bank accounts, now is a good time to go out and plant.
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