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WEST HAWAII TODAY | SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2015
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Today is the first day of summer
Though many think
we have eternal summer
here, most of us and
our plants know better.
Today’s summer solstice
marks the longest day of
the year in the Northern
Hemisphere. The sun
rose at 5:46 a.m. and
will set at 7:06 p.m.
Today, we will soak up
more than 13 hours
of sunlight. That’s a
lot of tropical sun for
us and our plants.
The word solstice
derived from the Latin
word
solstitium
, which
literally translates
as the stopping of
the sun. On summer
solstice, the Earth’s
rotation causes the sun
to reach the farthest
north point from the
equator and it appears
to stop before reversing
its course southward
until the winter
solstice in December.
Though summer
solstice marks the
beginning of summer
in many places, it is
actually mid-summer
for plants. Day length
has been increasing for
months and will now
begin decreasing. These
sun-filled days before
and after the solstice
cause our warmer
summer days. From a
plant’s point of view, the
longer days allow for
more sunlight exposure
on their leaves and more
hours of photosynthesis.
This process combines
the energy from sunlight
with the water absorbed
through the roots
plus carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere
to produce glucose
for the plants and
oxygen that is released
into the atmosphere.
Summer solstice is a
feast day for plants.
If our plants are
enjoying this long day,
imagine the picnic
plants are having in
Fairbanks, Alaska, where
the sun rose at 2:58
a.m. today and will not
set until 47 minutes
after midnight Monday.
The “midnight sun” is a
phenomenon that occurs
from approximately the
end of May through
mid-July in northern
areas near the Arctic
Circle. Those in the far
north find this season
worth celebrating since
they will experience
only about three and a
half hours of sunlight
on the winter solstice
in December.
Even in Hawaii, a
plant’s food budget is
reduced during the
months with shorter
days and most plants
will produce less leafy
new growth during our
winter. Though plants do
not usually go into total
dormancy in the tropics,
growth definitely slows
when days are shorter.
Throughout the
centuries, people have
noticed that planetary
movements as well as
the sun’s position affect
plant growth. The
movement of the sun
and moon through the
signs of the zodiac has
long held importance in
choosing days to plant,
days to harvest and days
to merely tend your
garden. The signs of the
zodiac correspond with
the elements of water,
earth, fire and air. The
moon moves into a new
sign every few days.
Plants seem to exhibit
preferences for different
signs. For example, the
best time to start seeds
of annual plants is
during the fertile water
signs of Cancer, Scorpio
and Pisces. Root crops
seem to do better if
planted when the moon
is in earth signs and
flowers especially like
the air sign of Libra.
Today, the moon
enters the sign of Virgo,
which is not a very
productive time for
planting. By Friday, the
moon will have moved
through Leo and into the
sign of Scorpio, a water
sign, which encourages
plant growth. Friday,
Saturday and Sunday
will be excellent planting
days. In addition to its
favorable position in the
zodiac, the moon’s light
is also increasing on
these days. The waxing
moon, the time between
the new moon and the
full moon, is an excellent
time for planting,
transplanting and
grafting above ground
crops. The waning moon
period from full moon
to new moon is best for
planting root crops. It
has been scientifically
proven that the phases
of the moon control
the amount of moisture
in the soil just as they
control oceanic tides.
Moisture levels peak at
the new and full moons,
which translate to good
planting times. A short
video on planting by
the moon is available at
.
com/video/gardening-
moon. Check it out
as a possible way to
improve production.
Ancient Hawaiians
also realized the effect
of lunar movements on
plants. For instance,
today’s kukolu phase
of the moon relates to
“standing in threes.”
Plantings done today
will likely produce three
shoots. This hinaiaeleele
season also marks a time
when heavens, leaves
and fruit darken, gourds
ripen and taro patches
should be mulched.
Based on the lunar
positions today, you
could choose to plant
or harvest or just
join your plants in
enjoying the day and
meet with family and
friends to celebrate
summer solstice as
well as Father’s Day.
Tropical
gardening helpline
Doug asks:
I have
noticed that my
banana plants are less
productive now than
they were a year or
more ago. What could
be the problem?
Answer:
If you have
cut down your trees after
they produce and let
the keiki come up from
the corms what began
as one or two trees in
the original mat might
be six or eight trees by
now. If that is the case,
it could be the reason for
less production. Smaller
fruit or smaller bunches
usually are a result of
reduced nutrition. The
more trees in a mat, the
stronger the competition
for a limited amount
of soil and nutrients.
For better production
you may want to limit
your mat to four or
five trees at different
stages of development.
Also, be cautioned that
reducing the number
of green leaves on a
banana plant will reduce
its photosynthetic
ability. Be careful not
to remove leaves the
trees need to produce
food in order to improve
their appearance.
Ideal conditions for
bananas are in full
sun and out of strong
wind with an average
BY DIANA DUFF
SPECIAL TOWEST HAWAII TODAY
T
ROPICAL
G
ARDENER
temperature around
80 degrees. Bananas
grow best where there
is at least 100 inches a
year of rainfall or good
irrigation when rainfall
is scarce. The soil should
drain well but be able
to retain some moisture
with a slightly acid pH
between 5.5 and 6.5.
Banana trees love
mulch. You can mulch
them by cutting
up felled trees and
leaving them in
place or adding any
other organic matter.
Bananas are heavy
feeders and need lots
of potassium. The cut
up trees will add some
but a fertilizer that has
a rating around 10-5-
20 applied at about
2 pounds every four
months should help
boost production.
Email plant
questions to konamg@
ctahr.hawaii.edu for
answers by certified
master gardeners.
Some questions will be
chosen for inclusion
in this column.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser,
educator and consultant living on
an organic farm in Captain Cook.
Gardening
events
Monday:
Business Plan
Class registration
is held from 1:30
to 4:30 p.m. at
the Cooperative
Extension Service in
Kainaliu. Call Amy at
937-9281 for more
information or to
register by phone.
Farmers
markets
Wednesday:
Hooulu Farmers
Market, 9 a.m. to 2
p.m. at the Sheraton
Kona Resort & Spa
at Keauhou Bay
Wednesday:
Sunset Farmers
Market, 2 p.m. to
sunset at the north
makai corner of the
Kmart parking lot
Saturday:
Keauhou Farmers
Market, 8 a.m. to
noon at Keauhou
Shopping Center
Sunday:
South
Kona Green Market,
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at
Amy B. H. Greenwell
Ethnobotanical
Garden in
Captain Cook
Monday to
Saturday:
U-Pick
greens and
produce, 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Tropical
Edibles Nursery
in Captain Cook
Plant
advice lines
Anytime:
konamg@ctahr.
hawaii.edu
Thursday:
9
a.m. to noon at
UH Cooperative
Extension Service in
Kainaliu, 322-4892.
Monday, Tuesday
and Friday:
9 a.m.
to noon at UH CES
at Komohana in
Hilo, 981-5199 or
.
As banana trees mature, they put up keiki from their corms. Limiting a mat
to four or five trees will likely mean better production.
BANANAS.ORG
