GARDENING

December 2000 Table of Contents

GARDENING
Jack Hardy

It's that magical time of year again when goodwill usually wins out and the Christmas spirit pervades all aspects of our lives. For those who are winter vegetable growers, I do hope you will have something from your garden on your Christmas dinner plate.

Many winter residents will begin their sojourn on Abaco during December or early January and may think they are too late to start a vegetable garden. Not so. Go to Pine Woods Nursery in Marsh Harbour and buy pepper and tomato seedlings at $1 for six plants. They also carry other vegetable sets at a slightly higher price. You will have an instant garden that will give you as much satisfaction as one grown completely from seed.

For those who have established a garden already, don't forget to keep your vegetables coming by sowing successive crops. A month to six weeks between sowings will ensure that your veggies keep coming.

While you are in the planting mode you may consider putting in bulbs and rhizomes. There's a wide selection of bulbs to choose from - gladiolus, hippocanthus, calla, canna, lilies - and although they are quite expensive initially they will give years of pleasure. A favourite in The Bahamas is zephyranthes (rain lily) which blooms freely between August and October. If you want to brighten up a shady area, plant calladiums. Their interesting and colourful leaves last all summer long.

I love gingers and have many varieties in my yard. My favourite is shell ginger but they are all beautiful, including edible ginger. Next time you go to the food store and buy a hand of ginger for a recipe which only needs a small amount, try planting the rest. Let the ginger dry out a little and develop 'eyes'. Plant the hand about four inches deep in well-prepared soil in an area which receives some shade. Shoots will soon appear and you will have an attractive four foot tall foliage specimen. In time your ginger will head and put out delicate white flowers. Once the flowers have died off you can dig up your very own fresh hands of ginger. Don't forget to re-plant for next year!

Now is a good time to prune soursop, sugar apple and other Annonas while they are dormant. Fruit is produced on new growth and pruning will encourage lots of new growth and an abundant harvest in the future.

Here's wishing that the holiday season will be all that you hope for.

This Issue Table of Contents - - Previous Issues

Other Abaco Bahamas Links
Home Page (oii.net) - Message Board (AbacoBoard.com) - Latest Happenings (AbacoToday.com)