Growing Herbs and Vegetables on a Cat ?

[Missou]

I was wandering if it is possible to grow herbs, cherry tomatoes, strawberries and other good food in hanging baskets on a catamaran in the Caribbeans.

Will that be a problem when entering an island?

Is it something that is practiced by any of you?

Fresh herbs complimente a meal so well!! Will I have to buy my herbs in a store or will I be able to keep on growing them when I'll make the big move?

Thanks for all the info you can give me. By the way, when I say herbs, of course I mean things like parsley, rosemary and thym

[skipmac]

Growing fresh herbs should work as long as they can tolerate the salt air environment.

Much more than that becomes impractical due to space limitations. Where can you put the pots where they won't fall and break or be covered with salt spray which very few plants tolerate. Unless you have a really bit boat or devote every spare area to gardening there just isn't enough room to produce a usable quantity of most crops.

Also wonder if the tomatoes would stay on the vines when the boat starts bouncing around.

I have to say that fresh fruits and vegetables were not easy to find in the Bahamas. In a few of the larger towns there are regular US style grocery stores with fresh produce delivered regularly from the US but once you get into the out islands options are very limited.

[Vasco]

We grow herbs aboard in the Bahamas but when it blows or when we're sailing they're put down below. It doesn't take a lot of salt to kill them, one splash will do it.

[Mata'irea]

In the eastern Caribbean you shouldn't have any trouble with officials if you are growing plants on board. Customs is pretty relaxed and Quarantine is practically non-existent. As the other posters stated, as long as you keep them out of the salt spray they should be fine. The other problem I've had with seedlings is wind. Be kind as you harden them off.

Good luck!
Danika

[capt_douglas]

I grew them for a number of years on my monohull while cruising the Caribbean. I had 3 3" square pots that I'd swing for a few hours a day while sailing if the weather was good, then put them below. It's important to keep the salt off the sprouts and leaves so an occasional misting can help.

[NYCSavage]

The company I work for has ideal solutions for growing herbs when you dont have a garden!

PM me for details if you are interested (dont know if I can post a link on here)

[chuckg5]

You can easily take a litre bottle of pepsi , empty and clear. Wash it out, cut off the top, add sprout seeds, bean, herb, ect. Let them soak a day then tape a screen over the open top and pour out all the water. lightly mist them to keep them slightly wet and in 5 or six days you'll have green sprouts to add to everything. Use a couple of bottles to rotate your crops and you'll have 'green' the whole voyage.

[NYCSavage]

I will post this in case anyone is interested, if its against the forum rules, please can a mod delete it? I promise I'm not on commission lol I designed (and run) the website for them.

BEEcycle Online Store: Created by LWS

(ps there is also a soil version BEEcycle Online Store: Created by LWS)

[SaucySailoress]

We helped a mate of ours set up a hydroponic garden on his catamaran, but then he sailed away and never kept in touch, so not sure how it went.

Using these hydroponic clay balls weighs a lots less than using soil - and somehow all the right nutrients are there... You'll often see them in posh public places that take advantage of landscape gardeners, such as malls and banks etc...

My mother-in-law used them, and I intend to on the boat. In fact, now you mention it, I think I'll start now!!

This link is one I just googled (gardening with clay balls) and are exactly what I mean - although I get them cheaper (free!) from Iran, via my husband's building supplies.

Hydroton, Clay Balls, 8mm – 16mm, 10ltr from hydroponics supplies gardening equipment - Buy Online

[Missou]

Thanks everyone for the information. I will keep it handy but I am not ready yet to move on a catamaran. We still have to wait a few years before we are ready financially to take the big plunge.