Filipinos are among the most successful, talented vegetable gardeners in Hawai'i. Their effort and hours spent growing plants reflect their natural ability. Filipino vegetable trellises are works of art.

Produce grown in the Filipino garden include tomato, sweet potato, yard-long bean, squash, onion, eggplant, okra, pigeon pea, cassava and taro. Less-familiar edibles are lablab bean, jicama, wild bittermelon, chayote and saluyot. Larger residential gardens often contain trees such as katurai, alucon, chico and tamarind.

If you want to try your hand at growing vegetables, find an area with at least 8 to 10 hours of sunlight. Till the soil at least 6 to 8 inches deep. Add a layer of decomposed organic matter or compost 2 to 3 inches thick. Evenly spread a fertilizer such as bone meal or 10-30-10 at the rate of 2 to 3 pounds per 100 square feet, and chicken manure at the rate of 10 pounds per 100 square feet. Mix these into the soil 6 to 8 inches deep at least a month before planting vegetables.

For maintenance, apply a fertilizer such as 10-5-20 or an organic fertilizer 8-8-8 at least once a month. Individual vegetables may require additional fertilizer or a more specific fertilizer and care.

To maximize garden space, chayote, bittermelon, beans, squashes and some tomatoes can be grown on trellises. Create trellises out of bamboo, haole koa or strawberry guava poles. Concrete-reinforcing wire mesh also could be used. Commercial tomato cages and other trellises are at garden shops.

In celebration of 100 years of the Filipino immigration to Hawai'i, the University of Hawai'i's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources will host an open house at the Pearl City Urban Garden Center where visitors can explore the veggie-filled Filipino garden. The garden was developed by volunteers including Beatrice Sailer, Nory Balantac and Albert Supnet. Filipino vegetable starter plants, grafted fruit trees, ornamentals and produce will be on sale. A cooking demonstration using Filipino vegetables will begin at 11 a.m. on July 15.

The Filipino vegetables will be on display for two weeks, and don't forget the self-guided tours of the children's garden, ground covers, turf plots and hedge maze. Mabuhay!

H. Dale Sato is the recently retired farm manager and educational specialist for the Pearl City Urban Garden Center. Jari Sugano is an extension agent with the University of Hawai'i-Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Reach her at suganoj@ctahr.hawaii.edu.