GARDENING

November 2001 Table of Contents

GARDENING
by Jack Hardy

November is one of the magnificent months in Bahamian gardening. The grass is growing slower so there's less mower pushing and the outdoor temperatures are below bread-baking levels. We have reached the stage when we can plant just about anything and be confident of success.

The special vegetables that are best started in November are leaf spinach, garden peas and lettuce. Spinach is a fast grower so you'll have it ready for Christmas. Garden peas are also fast producers but remember to do successive sowings so that you can keep the crops coming until close to Easter. There are lots of looseleaf lettuces to choose from, the old favourite being Simpson Black-Seeded. There's now Simpson Elite, an improved version. Ruby gives you very tasty red leaves to make a colourful salad. If you don't want to grow two different lettuces to get bi-colour, grow Merveille de Quatre Saisons which gives you all the colour in one plant.

Keep the crops you already have going by planting anew every month. This helps you avoid the glut and drought syndrome. We are now in the dry season so keep an eye on your garden's water needs.

Your citrus and fruit trees should get their autumn feeding if you haven't done it yet. Feed them with all-purpose fertilizer or a citrus special and spray with minor elements. At least once a year you should apply chelated iron to help our limestone soil absorb the nutrients that are applied.

If you have a ragged poinsettia shrub, leave it alone. Any pruning at this time of year will deprive the plant of flower and bract clusters. Poinsettias tend to flower in January in The Bahamas. Those that are ready for Christmas - and grown on Abaco - are forced by phytosynthesis management.

November 2001 Table of Contents