Q. What grows well?   

A. It depends on the time of year and how much you’d like to take care of it.  Many people have grown green beans, lettuce, radishes, dry land taro.  By walking around the garden, you’ll see what people have grown. One good rule of thumb, in the cooler, wetter season, these crops are easier to grow: Leafy greens – kale, lettuce, cabbage, etc. Root crops – beets, turnips, potatoes (yes, potatoes can be grown here)Mustards, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower Peas, Legumes, Beans  In the hotter, dryer season, these crops grow well:Edible seeds, flowers, fruits (melons, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, etc)  (Information taken from the Maui Master Gardeners, a free gardening program run by county extension office: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/maui/Horticulture.aspx ) If you grow tomatoes, there are fruit flies in the garden and they love tomatoes.  Please get fruit fly pheromone traps or bait – available from Kula Ace Hardware.   

Q. My friends tell me this land is owned by Maui Land and Pine.  Is that true?  Was it originally pineapple fields or farmed conventionally? 

A. Yes, the owner is Maui Land & Pineapple Company. The Kapalua Farms and Community Development divisions have provided support and oversight in the past, but currently the garden is run by the volunteer Steering Committee . This section of land has never been farmed.  Prior to becoming a community garden, it was a eucalyptus grove. 

Q.  What are fruit flies? 

A. You’ll find out if you grow tomatoes!  They are flies that hide in the heat of the day, and like to come out in early morning and sting your tomatoes, eggplant, and other fruits and veggies.  They lay eggs that become wriggling little white maggots.  Lots of fun!  We do have some organic spray for fruit flies in the tool shed, but fruit fly bait traps are really helpful.  You can ask at Kula Ace Hardware, or if you’re really determined to grow tomatoes, maybe you can lead a fruit fly prevention task force. 

Q. Can I grow zucchini? 

A. Yes, but some people have had problems with powdery mildew, especially in the winter.   

Q. Can I grow melons and squash? 

A. Yes, but they take up a LOT of room.  They may sprawl all over your plot.  If you try growing them in the winter, when it’s cooler and wetter, you may have problems with powdery mildew. 

Q. Can I grow corn? 

A. Yes, but if you get a mainland variety of corn, it may grow only up to a foot high and then become extremely stunted or diseased.  You will want to get seeds for corn developed by UH or specifically for Hawaii.  There are special diseases like mosaic virus that affect corn here in Hawaii.  In addition, you need to consider placement so that you do not shade your neighbor. 

Q.  Why does my lettuce taste bitter? 

A. Sometimes, the soil may not be “sweet” enough and may need some micro-nutrients.  But the soil here is pretty good, based on how well things grow.  You need to keep lettuce well-watered or else it gets bitter-tasting.  Also, when lettuce is about to flower, it starts to get bitter and then sends up a stalk with flowers. 

Q. Can I get a soil test? 

A. Yes, there was one but it’s pretty complex to read.  

Q. Can I use a chemical to suppress weeds? 

A. No, this is an ORGANIC garden.  Do not use any chemicals that you might use in most other landscaping areas.  Use only sprays, powders, and soil supplements that are certified ORGANIC and say so right on the label.   If you are not sure, bring the item to orientation.  Most acceptable products will be labeled “organic: or OMRI Approved. 

Q.  Can I use Miracle-Gro? 

A.  No, this is an ORGANIC garden.  There may be a new kind of Miracle-Gro that is certified ORGANIC, but it must be indicated on the package. 

Q. Does the garden provide irrigation and hoses? 

A. No, you will need to get your own garden hose, garden nozzle, and any irrigation devices.  You may also want to get a Y-valve at a home supply store.  It looks just like the letter “Y” and is a way to split the water into two different outputs.  This is very helpful to split the water if you want to set up irrigation but also want the option to hand water. This way you won’t have to disconnect the irrigation from the spigot if you want to hand water. 

Q. How much will this cost to get irrigation supplies? 

A. Probably $50.  A timer is $25- $35 at home supply stores, or at Kula Hardware.  The irrigation hoses will cost another $25 or so.   

Q.  Do I have to get an system irrigation set up? 

A. No, but it makes life easier if you cannot be there every day to hand water! You can also get a good quality sprinkler, but it uses more water.  

Q. Is there compost?  Where? 

A. At orientation, you will be shown where the compost piles are located.  Please do not put any big branches or rocks in the compost. 

Q. How big is my plot? 

A. The standard size is 20 x 10 feet, but some plots may be a little bigger or smaller based on how they were originally laid out. 

Q.  Can I grow papayas? 

A. Yes, but only in the orchard or perimeter areas.  Please check with the steering committee to see which spots are still available. 

Q.  Can I grow bananas? 

A. As with papayas, not in your own plot -only in the community orchard area.  They will be community property, which means you do not own the trees or their fruit. 

Q. What is the community orchard?  Where is it?

A.  We’ll walk through this area at orientation. 

Q. What is the community herb garden?

A. At the front of the garden.  Herbs are for community use, but if you pick or cut some herbs, please spend a few minutes weeding to help out. 

Q. Can I bring a tree to plant?

A. Possibly, depending on what kind of tree it is.  There may be space in the orchard – just let us know ahead of time, so we can decide as a group whether it’s a tree that is good for the garden and where to plant it. 

Q. Can I plant anywhere I want to?

A. No, you must ask permission from the steering committee to plant outside of your plot that you are given.