Garden Plants for North & East Sri Lanka

By Dr. Paul Benjamin

PLANTING TIME
The Northeastern Monsoon signals the time for planting in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. This season extends from September to December. That is when plants grow the best. Of course, the exact time will vary from plant to plant, like rice is sown early in the season and vegetables planted late. Hence an accurate sense of “when to plant what” is basic to successful growing and harvesting.

A wide variety of plants can be grown in the North and East. Take into account the following factors in growing them. There is ample, year round sunlight. Keep in mind that any kind of soil can be improved with liberal use of organic manure. These areas being in the dry zone, a careful use of water will be essential. These simple tips will help in growing all the vegetables and fruits that you will need!

Let us identify some of the plants that can be grown in the North and East.
Vegetables ­ green pepper, capsicum, Asparagus beans (பய த கா ), string beans, okra,, brinjal, onion, carrots, beets, pumpkin
Yams ­ manioc, sweet potato
Trees ­ moringa, ahaththi), coconut (dwarf)
Fruits ­ plantain, mango, jack, guava, pomegranate, orange, lime, lemon, papaya, watermelon

PLANTING TIPS
Promote the use of cow manure, goat manure, chicken manure, compost and mulch. Allow these manures to decompose for about four months before use. Compost can be made by throwing away garden refuse and garbage in a shallow pit and mixing cow manure. Watering routine will vary according to the season. Rain water is the best. Irrigate when there is a dry spell. When water is scarce, recycle kitchen wash water. Use paddy husk or sawdust as mulch to prevent quick evaporation during hot months.

Plantains grow well in any soil. Sandy soil will need more manure, mulching and water. Plant in 3x3x2 pit. As plant after plant in the same plot bears remember to dig around and apply manure mixed with straw about three times a year. Keep the ground wet and mulched.

All vegetable plants need ample manure. Cow manure is generally good for all of them. Be lavish in using manures and compost. Peppers and brinjals have a special preference to chicken manure. Okra needs ample water. It is said that okra and and Buffaloes are happiest with a lot of water! However, no plant is safe if it is water­logged.

Yams ­ வ தாைள, மரவ ளி can be planted just before the NE monsoon sets in. Use ample cow manure and compost to make the soil loose. Plant the cuttings on raised rows to avoid soil
becoming hard. Once they are planted do not dig around the plants anymore. Just water them and allow the roots to grow. The yams will be ready in about three months.

Moringa is recognized as a super vegetable. It is native to dry zone, where the produce will be abundant. It thrives with least care. But what plant will not use some manure? So use a little cow manure. The cutting to be planted has to be about 3’ long, and 3” in diameter at the bottom. When the tree is left to grow too big with long branches, it will tend to break. In order to keep the trunk thick and strong, trim the branches from time to time. Since most people don’t care for this super veggie, they have to be instructed to maximize the use of the leaves and green fruit ( ைக கா ). It is the same with ahaththi, except that its fruit is useless. It, however, requires more water.

Pomegranate (மா ைள) and guava (ெகா யா) are hardy plants. Their fruits are regarded as super fruits. With occasional watering and seasonal rain they thrive and produce well. It is the same with jack fruit (பலா).

The plants of the citrus family are orange, lime and lemon. As for all plants, cow manure is good for them. But organic fertilizer rich in calcium is indispensable for their productivity. Villagers have traditionally found pouring the kitchen water used for washing fish (மீ க வின த ணீ ) giving amazing results. The plants are found to produce in abundance! It is also common to bury dead animals close to these trees. Lime plant is called எ மி ைச, which is derived from எ பி ைச. It stresses the need for fertilizer rich in calcium for citrus plants to produce well.

Papaya is quick to bear fruit. With occasional watering and some cow manure it will bear fruits in less than two years. Avoid planting it in low ground where waterlogging may occur. High ground is ideal.

Coconut Palms ­ The dwarf variety is ideal for home garden. They are good for drinking and cooking. Plant them in well composted pits. Start them early in the monsoon season to be watered by rain.

Bearing Time First Fruit Producing period
Vegetables 2 months 5 months
Tapioca, sweet potato, pumpkin 3-4 months
Plantain, papaw 1 yr 5 yrs
Moringa, ahaththi 2 yrs 20-50 yrs
Citrus, Guava, Pomegranate 3 yrs 50+ yrs
Coconut, Jack 4 yrs 60+ yrs

A PLAN FOR DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS/STEM CUTTINGS

SEPTEMBER: plantain, mango, pomegranate, jack, guava, orange, lime, lemon, ahaththi, coconut
Stem Cuttings of Tapioca (manioc), sweet potato, moringa Seed ­ carrot, beet, pumpkin, papaw

LATE DECEMBER/EARLY JANUARY: Plants ­ peppers, eggplant, tomato Seeds ­ okra, beans, seed onion