HAWAI'I GARDENS
Cooler days in Islands are perfect for planting greens

By Heidi Bornhorst

The coolness of this time of year makes it ideal for planting vegetables such as lettuce, including the Manoa variety shown here. Advertiser library photo

Fresh greens are one of the delights of the Hawaiian garden — and we can grow them anytime. Cooler winter temperatures and slightly shorter days encourage us to plant some of these green edible delights that favor a cooler time of year.

Whether you have a giant victory garden that supplies the entire neighborhood or an apartment lanai, you can grow ono greens.

Soil preparation is vital, for a potted mess o' greens or garden full of them. For potted veggies, use large, clean pots with fresh potting mix, or clean soil and compost. In the garden, you can dig out weeds first and add compost to nourish the soil. Feeding the soil is one of the best ways to sustain your plants.

You can buy seedlings and young vegetable plants from your garden center, for a jump-start on the garden, or plant seeds according to package instructions. Water gently and daily and watch for the green sprouts to emerge.

Protect them from slugs! Slugs are among the worst menaces to young, tender greens. This is one of the great advantages of gardening on the 15th floor: That's a long way for a slug to climb!

Plant some tomatoes, too. These are great to munch, straight out of the garden. Cherry tomatoes are easier and more pest-resistant in Hawai'i than many larger-fruited varieties. Daylilies also are a good plant to install now for summer color and ono edible treats.

Landscape award nominees sought

Do you know of a fabulous landscape, well-maintained and beautiful, that should be recognized? The nonprofit group Scenic Hawai'i has a new landscape awards program. Nominations are being sought and awards will be given in two categories:

• Professional landscapers and businesses who have significantly contributed to a project that protects or improves Hawai'i's beauty. Nominations should be for a one-time or continuing landscape design that is seen or used by the public regularly.
• Private gardeners who have created a place of extraordinary beauty in their own yards or neighborhoods. Backyard gardeners really are champions are keeping Hawai'i green and beautiful, and we need your help to find and recognize the finest.

You can send in a nomination, with supporting information or pictures, to the Landscape and Gardening Awards Committee, Scenic Hawai'i, P.O. Box 10501, Honolulu, HI 96816.

The deadline for nominations is Feb. 28. Keep your eyes open and help us recognize some of our champion landscapes, as well as great sustainable landscape maintenance and design in private and public gardens.

Please let us know about and help recognize some of those great sustainable landscapes out there.

Spring herbs

Parsley, basil and green onions also do well in pots or in the ground. These are very handy to have around and useful and healthful in lots of recipes. You can easily start green onions from ones you buy as food: Eat the green part, plant the bottom part.

Mint is fun and smells great, but be careful about planting it in the ground. It can grow too well in some Hawai'i gardens! This is one herb that loves water and does better in a bit of shade. If you're going to be daring and plant it in the ground, try it next to a walkway or even amidst the paving bricks. The smell is fab when you walk over your lush mint patch.

Squash that slug

Q. How do I control slugs? I saw your mother at the garden shop buying slug bait. I thought you said smash 'em with a slippah! What can we use besides toxic chemicals?

A. Smashing slugs with a slipper is one good way but kind of disgusting for our more gentle gardeners. An alternative: Stand out of range and have someone else smash them with a slipper. Boots are good, too. You know you got that one — but slugs are prolific. Here are other methods, and I'd love to hear of any reader solutions:

• Make a copper barrier around choice plants. You can buy it or make it yourself. You also can use a ring of pennies, which being bronze, contain copper. The copper is said to shock the underbelly of the slug, thus discouraging it from crossing.
• Set out dishes of beer. The slugs will suck 'em up and drown in the process.
• Set out a dish of water with a papaya rind. The slugs will climb in and drown, just like with beer. (We are still testing this one and would love reader feedback.)
• Put cinder, eggshells or other rough materials around your good plants.
• Mix old coffee grounds with water and pour over the leaves to reduce their appeal.