Adriana’s Colombian Adventure

[AdrianaG]

Hello from Colombia! Although it is the country of my birth, from 16-67 I lived in the US. I have gardened everywhere I have lived - Atlanta, Northern Virginia, Florida, Alabama and back to Atlanta and then North Georgia. In Alabama I did a an 8-year stint as a hydroponic grower, providing specialty greens and herbs to white table-cloth restaurants. In the North Georgia mountains I developed an interest in foraging for wild mushrooms. Four years ago (2021) my husband and I moved to Colombia, intially settling in Medellin, but after a year and a half of apartment living with a 3’ wide balcony, my green thumbs were itching!

We bought 1/2 an acre in what was once an avocado farm at 7,000 foot elevation about 1 hour away from Medellin. During construction we added to the assortment of citrus, avocado and guava trees, planting papayas, Meyer lemon, figs, blueberries, raspberries, thornless blackberries, loquat and chirimoya. At the end of 2024 we built 8 50cm (20”) high raised wicking beds, greatly appreciated by my 70+ year old back. We have the gamut of herbs, salad greens, onions, strawberries, zucchinis, peppers, artichokes and dwarf tomatoes. I just added cucumbers, aparagus beans and sugar snap peas. I am still learning what works and the sequence for harvesting and replanting in our area. Also on the learning curve is how much to plant for two of us!

One upcoming challenge will be growing shallots, which are non-existent here. My research told me that the conventional French versions need long summer day-length to thrive. (Our June to December day length varies by a whopping 30 minutes, nowhere near enough). Researching “tropical shallots” led me to some Asian varieties appropriate dor tropical conditions, which makes a lot of sense given how common shallots are in Vietnamese and Thai cooking. On a recent trip to the US a seed packet somehow made it’s way into my suitcase. Stay tuned.

Fortunately I have great neighbors with whom to share surpluses, knowledge and enthusiasm. I have given several of them Cherokee Purple plants (the “gateway heirloom”), alomg the way teaching them about Tomates Reliquias (Heirloom Tomatoes). As soon as my dwarfs are producing I will further infect them!

[MissS]

I think that I'm going to enjoy keeping up with this glog. You sure have a wealth of experience and a garden with abundant varieties growing. There will be lots to learn in your new environment. Mistakes will be made and some great success stories too.

[Whwoz]

Yes, definitely one to keep an eye on

[AdrianaG]

Today I replanted arugula, lettuces, broccoli and cauliflower. I am very fortunate to have a superb nursery which sells an extensive assortment of “plantulas”, 3/4” plugs/starter plants for under $US.05 apiece. Except for my stash of unusual varieties it makes no sense to start from seeds. My planting tool on the right is a piece of 3/4” pvc pipe.

[JenLovesTomato]

Very exciting! I'm looking forward to reading about your gardening adventures in Colombia. This sounds like a dream location. I'm especially interested in how the fruit trees grow. I've wondered do you get a big crop of avocados all at once, or do they ripen year round?

[AdrianaG]

I've wondered do you get a big crop of avocados all at once, or do they ripen year round?

The avocado trees have about 3 different generations of fruit on them at once. Right now on one tree we have a batch close to full size ripening, others a few months behind and clusters of flowers. What surprised me is avocadoes growing in clusters almost like grapes. Iguess they are multiflora. I’ll try to add a photo in the morning.

[Homegrwoninillinois]

Sounds like you have a wonderful gardening future ahead of you.

~Sam

[zeuspaul]

@AdrianaG What kind of avocados? Do they need a lot of supplemental water or do you get a lot of rain? My water bill is more than the value of my harvest. Not a lot of avocado growers on this forum.

I grow Hass, Pinkerton, Reed and Fuerte. Haas is my favorite, it's a reliable producer of good tasting avocados and the trees are good size. Pinkerton also produces well, the tree is smaller but flavor is good and the avocados come earlier than the Hass. Reed tree is too small but it usually produces large round avocados that I find too big. The Fuerte is the largest tree but has never produced any fruit. It blooms but nothing sets. Likely because the flowers don't get pollinated.

Sometimes I'll have two generations of avocados if I haven't fully harvested last year's crop. The avocados only ripen after they have been picked and there are usually several remaining high up towards the top of the tree. I have never had three generations as they fall off the tree before three generations.

Welcome to the Junction.

[JenLovesTomato]

I've wondered do you get a big crop of avocados all at once, or do they ripen year round?

The avocado trees have about 3 different generations of fruit on them at once. Right now on one tree we have a batch close to full size ripening, others a few months behind and clusters of flowers. What surprised me is avocadoes frowing in clusters almost like grapes. Iguess they are multiflora. I’ll try to add a photo in the morning.

That sounds so cool. Please take some pics and post. I'd love to see your trees. This is like a dream of mine. Wow. To grow your own tomatoes and avocados!

[DriftlessRoots]

Hi, Adriana! Your gardening challenges/adventure sound like a fun time. I wish you loads of success! I had the privilege of visiting Colombia twice last year. What an amazing country! Didn't get near Medellin but essentially did Riohacha/Baranquilla area and the Santa Martas then Zipiquirá/Bogotá/PNN Chingaza and down to Villavicencio. Birding trips. So much more I would love to see!

[Shule]

@AdrianaG
Welcome to TomatoJunction! That's some high elevation. What's your rainfall, humidity, and wind like? It looks like you address the temperatures here:

viewtopic.php?t=6126

How fast do your plants grow? I'm curious because I've noticed that different people give different ideal temperatures for tomato growth. It would be nice to know more about what is modulating that ideal temperature.

[AdrianaG]

@AdrianaG What kind of avocados? Do they need a lot of supplemental water or do you get a lot of rain? My water bill is more than the value of my harvest. Not a lot of avocado growers on this forum.

I have no idea what varieties they are since they came with my land. I’ll post pix when I get a chance. Our 9-lot rural subdivision was built on a former avocado farm. There appeared to have been at least 4 or more types, many quite old. Sadly, the lot with the most trees cut down at least 20 trees to build their house.

Fortunately, rain is plentiful here, no way could we supplement.

[AdrianaG]

@AdrianaG
Welcome to TomatoJunction! That's some high elevation. What's your rainfall, humidity, and wind like? It looks like you address the temperatures here:

viewtopic.php?t=6126

How fast do your plants grow? I'm curious because I've noticed that different people give different ideal temperatures for tomato growth. It would be nice to know more about what is modulating that ideal temperature.

I haven’t researched the rainfall and humidity. This past week we got about 2” of rain, mostly at night. Humidity is neither high nor low. We do get wind.

As to how fast they grow, this is my first planting, and my Cherokee Purples seem to be growing a bit faster than they did when planted in the southeastern US in the spring. Our temps are probably 5°F cooler than “ideal” for tomatoes, but my garden has sun all day long, the best exposure I’ve ever had.

[AdrianaG]

What an amazing country! Didn't get near Medellin but essentially did Riohacha/Baranquilla area and the Santa Martas then Zipiquirá/Bogotá/PNN Chingaza and down to Villavicencio. Birding trips. So much more I would love to see!

Colombia is birding paradise. My favorite visitor is the Barranquero / Andean Mot Mot.

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[AdrianaG]

Very exciting! I'm looking forward to reading about your gardening adventures in Colombia. This sounds like a dream location. I'm especially interested in how the fruit trees grow. I've wondered do you get a big crop of avocados all at once, or do they ripen year round?

We’ve only been here 2 years. There seem to be 2 really heavy periods, and lighter harvests in between. Since the full-size fruit holds on the trees for a really long time we have avocadoes almost year-round.

Citrus grows well here. But it is too cool for some tropicals I would love to grow like mangoes, papayas and bananas. As I meet other area gardeners I’m searching out more adapted varieties.

Did I mention my 2 blueberry bushes? I think I need to transplant them to a better location where I can give them more loving.

And my 2’ tall pomegranate? It is destined for an espalier project (my first) just outside my kitchen window.

And a small 1 year old fig tree that turned out to be a dud. Fruit is absolutely bland, trying to research if this will improve over time or if he is heading to the compost pile.

[JayneR13]

You're growing a few things that I love but simply cannot grow here, such as artichokes and pomegranates. I tried artichokes one year, at least the single variety that can be grown here, and was unsuccessful. But gardening is this way: we garden and we learn what works, and what doesn't. Are you able to preserve any of what you grow? If so, how? Or is the growing season long enough that you don't have to?

[AdrianaG]

What a difference a day makes!

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[JenLovesTomato]

Very exciting! I'm looking forward to reading about your gardening adventures in Colombia. This sounds like a dream location. I'm especially interested in how the fruit trees grow. I've wondered do you get a big crop of avocados all at once, or do they ripen year round?

We’ve only been here 2 years. There seem to be 2 really heavy periods, and lighter harvests in between. Since the full-size fruit holds on the trees for a really long time we have avocadoes almost year-round.

Citrus grows well here. But it is too cool for some tropicals I would love to grow like mangoes, papayas and bananas. As I meet other area gardeners I’m searching out more adapted varieties.

Did I mention my 2 blueberry bushes? I think I need to transplant them to a better location where I can give them more loving.

And my 2’ tall pomegranate? It is destined for an espalier project (my first) just outside my kitchen window.

And a small 1 year old fig tree that turned out to be a dud. Fruit is absolutely bland, trying to research if this will improve over time or if he is heading to the compost pile.

That sounds ideal to have avocados year round because I like to eat them year round!

I grow blueberries too. We have good years and not so good harvest some years. I think it comes down to our weather when they are flowering and setting fruit. I'm no expert, I do know they like acidic soil. So if your soil isn't acidic enough, that could be something to look at. I have to add some sulfur each spring.

Pomegranate! Cool. I've seen those growing in Northern California.

I'm definitely going to be living vicariously through your garden.

[leftylogan]

I think I and many others would be happy to find a way to get you some extra seeds. I have some dwarf's going too that I can plan to grab extra seed from. I have tons of sun exposure as well so if anything sticks out as doing well in these conditions I'll be sure to let you know. I have aspirations so I'd even be willing to figure out the phytosanitary certificate stuff.

It's all so lush ugh.

Here's a great avocado variety list from UC Riverside - https://avocado.ucr.edu/variety-list. I grew up in a big avocado farming area but all I learned about growing them was that they were tough make productive unless you're in the specific microclimates where they thrive.

[AdrianaG]

Several people have asked about my avocados - I only have 2 young trees on my lot. We just harvested the first 2 avocados this month, and have a number of clusters in the works, plus the tree just

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exploded in blossoms. Variety? Who knows. They came with my lot. This cluster has 13 avocadoes on it!

These 3 trees are in the lot next door, but one of them extends over my fence line:

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