Rob is well known in Cairns as a politician but he also has a passionate interest in Gardening in the Tropics.
The basics of gardening are the same wherever you live. You need soil, water, fertiliser and time to care for your garden (e.g. weeding etc). However, people from other climates move to the tropics and battle against the conditions. They want to grow all the food they are familiar with. It is better to grow fruit and vegetables that thrive naturally in the tropics. There are a variety of tropical fruits and vegetables to choose from.
Seasons in the Tropics
What are the seasons in the tropics?
Most gardeners think of the four seasons of winter, spring, summer and autumn. However, in the tropics gardeners tend to operate on the basis of just two seasons, the wet season and the dry season.
Tropical Fruit
You can grow many fruits in the tropics. These tropical fruits include paw paw, custard apple, passion fruit, dragon fruit, guava, black sapote, kumquat, rambutan watermelon and Jaboticaba. Consequently, you will come to love the many fruits that thrive in our warm and humid conditions.
Tropical Vegetables
Tropical vegetables are not always well known to European gardeners. However, if you live in the tropics you need to grow food that thrives. As a result, tropical vegetables fit the bill.
It is easy to grow tropical vegetables, including sweet potato and cucumber. Tropical gardening allows for Asian Greens like pak choi and tatsoi. Pumpkin and watermelons are also easily grown. However, many vegetables can only be grown in the tropical winter. This is due to the intense nature of summer in the tropics.
Some tropical vegetables we have grown easily here are:
- Chard
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Kangkong
- Pak Choi
- Snake Beans
- Sweet Potatoes
- Tatsoi
When to plant tropical vegetables
When to grow in the tropics depends on the vegetable. Many vegetables grow during the cooler dry season, but your options are more limited during the hot, humid, wet season. However, there are some tropical vegetables like the sweet potato that grow like a weed at any time of year.
How to know when to grow tropical vegetables.
Save seeds.
If you have seeds, you are always ready to plant. You just have to work out which seeds to plant and when.
Plant the right seeds at the right time.
Below we nominate when to plant the tropical vegetables listed.
- Chard (dry season)
- Cucumber (March to November)
- Kangkong (all year)
- Pak Choi/Bok Choy (dry season)
- Snake Beans (all year)
- Sweet Potato (all year)
- Tatsoi (dry season)
Above is only a guide, as climate change is really messing things up. As a result, traditional weather conditions can not be relied on.
Traditional European Vegetables
In addition to tropical vegetables, many traditional vegetables can also be grown easily. We love Pumpkin Growing as well as celery, eggplant and zucchini.
When to grow European vegetables in the tropics.
Many European vegetables struggle in the tropics. We suggest planting at the following times gives you the best chance of success:
- capsicum (dry season)
- celery (dry season)
- pumpkin (dry season)
- (dry season)
- zucchini (dry season)
Tropical Herbs
We have also looked at herbs that can make it through a hot steamy tropical summer.
Tropical Herbs that Handle the Heat
Many herbs struggle to make it through a hot steamy tropical summer. Below we have listed some of the wonderful herbs that will not just survive, but thrive in the tropics.
- Garlic Chives
- Basil
- Cilantro
- Stevia (a natural sweetner)
- Thai Chili (birds eye chili)
- Vietnamese Mint (laksa leaf)
Other Tropical Spices and Herbs
The above herbs are our favourites to grow. However, there are many other herbs that also thrive in the tropics. Indeed, these include comfrey, lemongrass, mint, ginger and nutmeg.
Some of these are cloaked in history and have been used for medicinal purposes. For example, ginger is believed to have been used by Indians and Chinese people as a tonic root for over 5000 years to treat various ailments. However, like most folks, we use it as a flavouring agent in our cooking.
Growing Herbs in the Tropics
Care for your herbs will vary a little from the wet season to the dry season. In the dry season you need to water once a day and we use mulch so as much of that water as possible is retained and does not evaporate.
During the wet season you should ensure herbs that do not tolerate constant soggy soil have a chance to drain.
Herb Growing FAQs
In the tropics should I grow herbs in containers?
As a rule yes. The tropical downpours of the wet season are not agreeable with many herbs. Use good soil with organic matter to retain the moisture, but grow in a container or raised bed that will drain well.
Can I grow herbs indoors?
Yes. You can grow herbs inside using natural light, by placing your pot near a window.