Growing Food Close to the Equator

Hi,
My family and I are looking at moving to Latin America, most likely Ecuador but still open to Costa Rica, Nicaragua or other countries. We are plant based (mostly fruit based) and aspire to be close to 100% self sufficient.  I would love to hear from anyone here who has lived and gardened in Ecuador or anywhere close to the equator really, what has been your experience growing food there? Is it more or less challenging than temperate or subtropical climates?  I would be fine with just growing mostly bananas, papayas, jackfruit, and things that grow really well in the tropics, but ideally it would be nice to be able to have more of a varied diet with things like watermelons, tomatoes, cucumbers, salad greens, different fruit trees, etc.

Dareios and family, there is no pat answer to your query. Before uprooting yourselves and moving to a new country, it's important to spend time there and see if it suits you in all manners of ways: the community, prices, access to needed services (schools, hospitals, health care, transportation, agricultural help, etc.), the growing climate, the pest challenges. For example, in a tiny country like Costa Rica there are dozens of microclimates from hot / wet to cool / dry and everything in between. Pineapple plants may grow well and quickly in one area but just a few kilometers away might take years to produce a few fruits. You may have garden invaders such as monkeys, iguanas, coatimundis, and various others who like fruits, vegetables, legumes, edible roots, and fungi as much as people do. It's critically important to spend time in a place and get to know people who are knowledgeable about the area's offerings before taking such a big leap. Of course, speaking and understanding the language is step one. Good luck.

Sounds like a great adventure! What you can grow in the tropics will depend on your elevation. That can make a big difference.

One thing I've noticed with people in the tropics trying to live completely off what they grow. The overwhelming sediment is that fat is the limiting factor so that's something to consider.

Coconuts are great for this but can take years to a decade or more to produce if you're at elevation. There are many great tropical nuts too. Canarium indicumis one of my favorites.

Hi Dareios, I think you will find what you are looking for in Ecuador. I've been here for over 10 years, built a homestead/agroforestry farm/ecolodge during that time. Everything you want to grow will grow here, it's just a matter of choosing the right elevation for the species you want to cultivate. Especially being vegan/fruit based, it would be absolutely a paradise after a few short years of working the land. I'm not vegan personally but I have grown several hectares of diverse agroforestry with lots of cacao, cafe, caimito, araza, sapote, black sapote, 10 varieties of banana/plantain, and much more. There's a gentleman here who has over 500 fruit species he's collected from around the world growing on his property from over 30 years of collecting. We're starting up a homestead community in the southeast part of the country, in the Amazon region. Have a look if you're interested: http://ecuadorhomesteadpreserve.carrd.com

I would be too concerned about not getting any grains or legumes with just eating food from plants. I would be growing those things too.

good point about grains and legumes, a fruit-heavy diet sounds amazing but you would burn through your energy stores fast doing physical farm work without some calorie-dense staples. pigeon peas and cassava are both dead easy near the equator and fill that gap nicely.

Hello Dareios,

We have lived in Ecuador for 15 years. We've built two homesteads in this country and have learned a lot about what grows here. Choosing the right elevation is key. We are 45 minutes south of Vilcabamba, which has hundreds of expats from all over the world. Most everyone is into natural health and organic food. There is an organic market in Vilcabamba weekly. We are at elevation 1680 meters which is about 75 degrees year round during the day, and 50s to 60s at night. We grow all types of tropical fruit trees, as well as macadamia trees, almond trees, etc. Tomatoes, cucumbers, salad greens, peppers, etc grow well here too.

We are looking for a couple or family to live here long term to enjoy the farm and help out with food growing, and our horse and donkeys. We on a pure river with lots of peace and quiet.

Quinoa grows in places of the Andes region, perhaps it will grow there in Ecuador, if so that will be great news, as it provides all essential aminos that would make it of great value to a way of eating that is entirely from plants, such as it is with my own way.