Need fast growing, drought resistant dynamic accumulators in the tropics

I live in a deserted, dry (when it's not rainy season) windy, deforested part of Haiti, trying to get a food forest going. I need suggestions on fast growing dynamic accumulators for chop and drop. If I can't get them locally, I'll need a source of seeds. Looking for Mexican Sunflower, but having a problem finding seed.

We have Japanese Knotweed along the river banks. It tolerates some shade and is a forage for goats. I have had less trouble with it so far than with Jerusalem Artichokes volunteering in the potato patch and I treat it the same, dig up the root and knock it back with the weedeater. I have used the stalks for mulch between raised beds.

Burl Smith wrote:We have Japanese Knotweed along the river banks. It tolerates some shade and is a forage for goats. I have had less trouble with it so far than with Jerusalem Artichokes volunteering in the potato patch and I treat it the same, dig up the root and knock it back with the weedeater. I have used the stalks for mulch between raised beds.

I haven't heard of that one. Does it grow easily from seed? And is it drought resistant? We get pretty hot and dry and windy here in the dry seasons. I might be able to plant it into my swales to hold the banks. I'm going to be getting a bunch of vetiver for that too.

In most circles the mere mention of knotweed is enough to raise the hackles of even the lenient cultivator, but it might be serviceable in your situation.

Burl Smith wrote:In most circles the mere mention of knotweed is enough to raise the hackles of even the lenient cultivator, but it might be serviceable in your situation.

I'll do some investigating. Thanks!

I am growing Moringa for the first time this year and I am thrilled.  My trees planted as seed this spring are over 8 feet tall and have already been cut back once.  This is called a miracle tree and I believe it.  Needs water when a young tree but is drought tolerant when mature.

This is a great resource for all kinds of amazing tropical seeds, including Moringa:  http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/

They have the annual form of Mexican Sunflower but not the perennial.

Tyler Ludens wrote:I am growing Moringa for the first time this year and I am thrilled.  My trees planted as seed this spring are over 8 feet tall and have already been cut back once.  This is called a miracle tree and I believe it.  Needs water when a young tree but is drought tolerant when mature.

This is a great resource for all kinds of amazing tropical seeds, including Moringa:  http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/

They have the annual form of Mexican Sunflower but not the perennial.

Did you direct sow the seeds? We have lots of moringa around that I can access. I put some cuttings into the ground to see if they take root. I'll need to plant a ton of them to give them a chance to outrun the goats! Not sure if it's best to plant them direct so they get right into the ground and start rooting, or start them in sacks in a sheltered area. I'm concerned that transplant shock will negate any benefit. I've got a good slingshot on it's way so I can shoot the goats away, but I can't be watching every minute. Ha

I should have unlimited seeds pretty much.

We have deer here the way you have goats there, and we can't grow much of anything unless it is inside a fence or protected by a large brush pile.  The goats will definitely want to eat the Moringa, so you may have to put little fences around them.

Some of mine were direct seeded, some transplanted.  Some of the transplants died, but the ones which lived, I can't tell them from the direct-seeded ones.  I'm also trying a cutting.  Too early to see if it will take.

Tyler Ludens wrote:We have deer here the way you have goats there, and we can't grow much of anything unless it is inside a fence or protected by a large brush pile.  The goats will definitely want to eat the Moringa, so you may have to put little fences around them.

Some of mine were direct seeded, some transplanted.  Some of the transplants died, but the ones which lived, I can't tell them from the direct-seeded ones.  I'm also trying a cutting.  Too early to see if it will take.

Yeah. Not sure how doable fencing them will be. I'm looking at planting about a foot apart in large swaths. The goats can't eat everything! Then I'll cut them out to thin as they grow. But mostly I'll just chop, drop, and let grow again.

We are looking into getting a wall around campus, but that will take some time.