Pineapple is an ideal food to grow in Hawaii.
The islands of Hawaii, with their rich, volcanic soil and year-round warm climate, are ideal locations for growing certain types of foods. While pineapple may be the first item that comes to mind when people think of foods from the islands, there are a number of other plants you can grow. Whether you're a home gardener who lives in the state or someone looking to start a small farm, there are several choices to consider. Does this Spark an idea?
Rice
Rice production in Hawaii began in the early 1960s in the area of Waikiki now occupied by skyscrapers. To cultivate rice, small seedlings are hand-planted into paddies which get filled with water. The rice plants form and develop in the water and produce a harvest once per year. Rice is ready to harvest when the color of the plant resembles parched straw. Before the harvest, the paddies must be drained.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are grown in orchards and found in yards throughout Hawaii. A typical tree reaches its peak production of nuts after 12 to 15 years. As long as a tree receives proper care, this production can continue for 40 to 60 years. Anywhere from between 60 to 120 inches of rain per year is needed for a macadamia nut tree to prosper. If you have only a few trees, you can harvest the nuts directly from the tree or ground around it. Mechanical shakers are commonly used in large-scale commercial orchards.
Pineapples
Pineapples thrive in Hawaii and are one of the state's most exported food products. The plants require a great deal of care to produce fruit, but it's also possible to produce it using only the crown of a fruit purchased at the store. New pineapple plants should start in a small red clay pot and should then be transferred to a larger pot when necessary. In Hawaii, the climate is mild enough so that you can keep the plants outside and eventually plant them in the ground. From the time the fruit begins to form on the pineapple plant, it takes more than six months before it is mature enough to harvest.
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