growing food

[1FinickyOne]

We have some land - - we are not looking to make a farm but what do you enjoy growing and grows easily here in Northern Thailand... yes, we have bananas.. 

[fredwiggy]

4 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

We have some land - - we are not looking to make a farm but what do you enjoy growing and grows easily here in Northern Thailand... yes, we have bananas.. 

I won't be here too much longer but i did plant Jackfruit, Rose Apple, Mango, Chilis, Eggplant (small), Long Beans, Bananas, Passionfruit and others planted which didn't survive. I'm in Isaan, Sisaket province. The Mangoes have come out 2 times, last year none, this year pretty good. First year having Jackfruit, 4 trees bearing fruit. Rose Apples out for the third year, usually stolen by local kids. Chilis are for ex wives mom, as I rarely use them. The Eggplants came out but just a few. I always like having food grown by myself and will continue this when we move back to Texas, especially the fruit trees. You have a good chance to grow strawberries if you're far up north, along with all the others and more, and a possibility of Apples, which need colder weather.

[ColeBOzbourne]

12 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

yes, we have bananas.. 

Did you mean, "Yes, we have NO bananas"?

 

[bwanajohn]

I live at 1000 m above sea level in Chiang mai province. We grow bananas ,mulberry guava,mango,limes,kafir limes lemon,papaya,passionfruit,  pomelo occassional pineapple, This is either from trees that were on the property or from what we planted starting 8years ago. ,That list is what has actually produced fruit.

In the list of things we are waiting to fruit are Macademia,avocado,oranges,jack fruit, coconut palm,

We planted several breadfruit a year ago ,but all but one died due to an extremely cold January all but three night were in the single digits this year.The survivor lost all its leaves but has sprouted new ones .

   Vegetables ;several types of beans for eating green and drying ,lettuce (several varieties ,no iceberg) pak choy swiss chard ,kale , pak canna ,tomatoes,several varieties of tomatiloes  or husk tomatoes,sweet poatoes. Various types of chili peppers,herbs (italian basil struggles to survive the rainy season as do other mediteranean herbs probably do better under some rain protection,Thai basil ,lemon grass.rose mary  parsley cilantro, cardoman, Its much more challenging to grow in the tropics than first imagined,more pests, long dry season,poor soil quality,and high heat and humidity.hope this helps

 

[JonnyF]

Our farm has Bananas, Mango, Coconuts, Rose Apple, Jack Fruit, Lemons, Lime, Guava, Tamarind, Longan, Dragon Fruit and lots of fish.

 

Most of it for personal consumption but we end up with too much so give a lot away to the villagers who don't annoy us or people who do work for us. 

 

I want to get chickens next year and maybe some ducks but the GF isn't so keen due to noise/smell/mess. 

[1FinickyOne]

13 minutes ago, bwanajohn said:

I live at 1000 m above sea level in Chiang mai province. We grow bananas ,mulberry guava,mango,limes,kafir limes lemon,papaya,passionfruit,  pomelo occassional pineapple, This is either from trees that were on the property or from what we planted starting 8years ago. ,That list is what has actually produced fruit.

In the list of things we are waiting to fruit are Macademia,avocado,oranges,jack fruit, coconut palm,

We planted several breadfruit a year ago ,but all but one died due to an extremely cold January all but three night were in the single digits this year.The survivor lost all its leaves but has sprouted new ones .

   Vegetables ;several types of beans for eating green and drying ,lettuce (several varieties ,no iceberg) pak choy swiss chard ,kale , pak canna ,tomatoes,several varieties of tomatiloes  or husk tomatoes,sweet poatoes. Various types of chili peppers,herbs (italian basil struggles to survive the rainy season as do other mediteranean herbs probably do better under some rain protection,Thai basil ,lemon grass.rose mary  parsley cilantro, cardoman, Its much more challenging to grow in the tropics than first imagined,more pests, long dry season,poor soil quality,and high heat and humidity.hope this helps

 

Yes, thank you. Very helpful. 

[KhunLA]

We're 1.5 hrs / 100 kms below Hua Hin, so no real cool season.  15-20C is cold for us, and rare.

 

We have good luck with figs, but need a greenhouse, as birds & squirrels will eat before you get a chance.  Same with Mulberries, which are easy to grow.

 

Cherry tomatoes are finally producing.   Asparagus was producing 2 servings a day, for a while, though seem to be seasonal.

 

Lettuces & Kate grow easy enough, actually too easy.   Spinach grow wild here, along with Winter Melon, and more than we can eat.

 

Lemons are producing more than we can use now, along with spring onions.

 

R/G peppers don't do well, very small.  Root veggies also have been a fail, potatoes, onions & carrots.

 

Papaya grows & produces easily.  Watermelon also.  Passion fruit also does OK, but also seasonal.

[rickudon]

I grow in Isaan (Udon Thani). Our farm soil is abysmal (ex rice paddy) and garden mainly clay. In the hot season most vegetables struggle and die, only a few are ok. Cold season is the main veg growing time.

 

Fruit - Bananas on the farm, but very sickly. If we get more than 10 in a bunch were lucky! Mangoes on the farm do quite well, although first year loose about 50% of trees; get 5-30 fruit per tree when big enough (about 2-3 metres tall). Only ever had one Papaya grow well there, most die. Currently trying Oranges and Date palms, but no fruit yet and some dieback, A few coconuts but no fruit yet (some died) All other fruit trees planted have quickly died (Custard apple, longan, mangosteen and others).  In the garden, have custard apple, limes, mangoes and just started to flower this year, a Longan. Did have a Jackfruit tree which gave a few fruit, but it died,

 

Veg - on the farm, everything other than Lemongrass has failed. Even rice was very poor yield, not worth the effort and cost. In the garden, have grown many veg, but sometimes, especially when hot, can fail. have managed to grow Lettuce, other salad leaves, Swiss chard, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, beetroot, beans, Okra, Tomatoes and Aubergines. One year even grew real Spinach (usually to hot). Bell peppers do not do well, lucky to get any bigger than 2 cms. (Its too hot for them). By April, most veg are dying, only ones to grow well in hot season are Okra and Swiss chard.

 

Soil dries out rapidly, have to water twice a day when hot. Lack of Organic matter in soil is a problem, I make compost but never enough. Biggest pest is mother-in-law, who has dementia but still physically strong. Any tired looking veg are exterminated, trees butchered and she sweeps incessantly, we have lost about 10 cms of top soil in the last 10 years (also why little organic matter; leaves, mulch compost all swept away). Growing in the tropics is more challenging than I expected, and hard work because of the heat. But sometimes it works.