Farm Update Oct. 09

Having, at last, completed the clearing of the old nursery where it is now ready to build the new shade houses for the growing of our vegetables in the cooler months, and for our new trees for the orchard, I have commenced on their erection. This is achieved in a similar way to our trelliss' on which we grow our passion fruit, only they are much lower. In this instance the star pickets are much shorter, with the width spanned by the poly-piping being almost half as wide again. After the main structure is erected and covered with wire mesh, this is then covered by shade cloth. For whereas in the cooler climates structures of this nature are used to maximise the benefits of sunlight, and often referred to as hot-houses, in the tropics the opposite effects is required, that is, to lessen the effects of the sunlight by the use of shade-cloth, and could well be called cool-houses, as this is the effect that is desired.

Speaking of trellis' here is to be seen some of the passion fruit vines that have survived the depredations of the roaming cattle, and lo and behold they have set passion fruit. I must admit that I had given up all hope of this occurring, for the damage to the vines was massive with at least 60% being eaten completely out. And those that had survived were a sore sight to see.



The new papaya patch has now been completed and fully planted. Between each papaya tree I am growing tomatoes and beans. All being well the new papayas will be ready as the older planting is commencing to produce less fruit. And the new tomatoes will also be ripening as the old bushes come to the end of their lives. I have never tried to grow beans before at this time of the year. The nurserymen say it is possible to do so. I will keep you posted.




And speaking of tomatoes, Here is today's harvest. Well most of it to be precise, for I also picked a bowl full separately. As can be seen we have an abundant supply at the moment.





The persimmon tree was so badly effected that I was very surprised when it commenced to shoot from the old roots. And now we are being blessed with the first crop, with the new fruit just setting.





Last, but not least, the Brazillian Cherries have just about completed their season. They are a small fruit born on a shrubby bush which grows to an average height of five to six feet. The fruit is quite tart, being almost sweet when fully ripe. They are very thirst quenching.



This is a brief addendum on the building of the shade houses for the vegetables. The previous garden edgings/borders, to the beds had in some instances been burnt out and required replacing before erecting the superstructure. Fortunately off-cuts from a nearby saw-mill were available just for the collecting so it was only a matter of driving over in the van and rummaging through the heap to find suitable lengths.




The longest, and the hardest part of the whole operation is/was the placement of them in the required position. This necessitated digging out the required trench into which they were then fitted and the soil then back-filled.