My husband and I are moving to the Big Island this coming August. We own a home on the "wet side" of Waimea town and have a pretty big lot that I want to grow veggies on. Can anyone give me some ideas as to what grows best over there? I'm thinking tomatoes, lettuce, onions, herbs, squash?? - and I already have a couple of citrus trees and an avocado. I'd like to plant some more tropicals too, like mango, ginger and cherimoya as well as some flowering bushes/shrubs etc. But I'm not sure those things grow well there since it's a colder area. Anyway, any advice would be deeply appreciated!!

Mahalo!

Tracey

Waimea tomatoes are some of the best!! Gingers grow really good on the wet side.

Check your elevation and take a soil sample. and do as bboy says. There is a great plant sale at Mana road several times a year that is great for info. Also, if you go to the Farmer's market at Mana road on Saturday mornings you can talk to a lot of local farmers and find out what they are growing, and how. In Honoka'a there is a (or was! not sure, I've been gone a few years) great nursery on the side of Tex's. A man named Michael G. was instrumental in getting it started. He is a wealth of information!!!

Volunteer at farms, there are several, to learn the climate and plants.

You should have no trouble. The wet side of Waimea is a great place to grow just about anything!

Try a "grocery store" garden in one spot. Basically, plant what you can find at the grocery store! You'll be surprised at what grows.