Britton and I were talking the other day about seasons and how here in Puerto Rico most people just refer to the seasons as the dry season (or high season for tourists) which is the winter and the wet season (or low season) which is summer. But there does seem to be some sort of spring going on right now. I watch the weed seeds emerging and many of the trees are in bloom and setting out new growth.
Mango babies!
I would say we planted our test gardens at the right time as they have really taken off. The light spectrum/photoperiod seems to be different here and things seem to flower earlier than they did in the long days of Colorado summers. Still, I think our gardens will produce a good amount of food.
Everything is growing well: cucumbers, melon, giant pumpkins, lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, chard, arugula, peppers, carrots
And we have made a lot of progress in the clearing of the acreage below. It’s hard work clearing out overgrown land that has been taken over by trees and vines for the last 20 years. We finally have some room to move around a bit more. We will soon be planting more fruit trees just in time for the rainy weather to keep them hydrated so that we won’t have to water them by hand anymore.
wait till those mangos ripen! they are lovely and they are EVERYWHERE!! Just poke a hole in the ripe ones and suck the juice out for a wonderful snack
Mangoes!!!!!!! Yum…I know who to visit when in Rincon…lol Question…can grapes (the ones used for wines or anytype for that matter) grow in PR? My husband likes to make his own wine and hopefully if we can grow these grapes in PR this could be another incentive to get him to move there….lol
Hi Leslie,
I really don’t know, but I think there are low-chill varieties of all sorts of plants including grapes (we recently planted a low chill peach tree). Usually they say that the cooler nights of the Mediterrean (south France, Italy) or similar areas of California/Australia are what gives those wines the good finish from the flush of sugar. But for just a hobby vineyard, I would think he could easily try some low-chill varieties. He might look into those that can stand the higher humidity and temperatures of the tropics. Try searching for white Malaga, black or black opal grapes. Most varieties in the US that would work here would probably come out of Florida.
We may even try strawberries as we have seen venders at fairs here selling strawberry plants. My guess is that they would act as an annual here instead of a perennial, but I really can’t say with any first hand knowledge. Part of the fun is trying it out and seeing what works!
We have some type of wild berrys growing up above our finca in the mountains.They tast like a cross between a strawberry and a raspberry but not with that gritty seed that some raspberry’s have.Not sure what the locals call them? I have had them on cereal there pretty good.
There is a winery…they grow their own grapes in Guanica.
There is a winery in Guanica…
Thanks Cassie. I will keep that in mind. Good luck with the strawberries. We’ve tried growing them here in NJ but the squirrels get to them before we do. I believe there are no squirrels in PR so you may have some success. Have fun!! Let me know how it turns out (strawberries and peaches).
@ Rosa and Katrina….yes, I read about the winery while I was in PR last summer. They have tours too, so I plan to visit next time I’m in PR. Hey if they can make wine in that part of PR I have some hope for Rincon.