Vanilla is derived from the seeds of a tropical orchid, and spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, allspice, ginger and cloves originated in the tropics. Fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts such as rice, taro, coconut, yam, avocado, pineapple, guava, mango, papaya, breadfruit and jackfruit also hail from tropical regions.

The tropics between the latitude lines of the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The tropics include the Equator and parts of North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The tropics account for 36 percent of the Earth’s landmass and are home to about a third of the world’s people.

Tropical savanna climates are most commonly found in Africa, Asia, and South America.

In the Western Hemisphere, tropical countries include Mexico, all of Central America, all of the Caribbean islands from just south of Nassau in the Bahamas, and the top half of South America, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, as well as the northern …

Tropical countries are nations that are found in the tropics, a region that is located along the Earth’s Equator. More specifically, the countries located between the Tropic of Cancer (Northern Hemisphere) and the Tropic of Capricorn (Southern Hemisphere).

Small animals, including monkeys, birds, snakes, rodents, frogs, and lizards are common in the tropical rainforest. Many of these animals and a multitude of insects never set foot on the ground. The animals use the tall trees and understory for shelter, hiding places from their predators, and a source of food.

Because temperate and tropical climate zones blend into one another, many of the plants from one part of the world are cultivated in the other, so this is just a rough guide to which plants are found where. Plants listed as temperate crops can be grown in the tropics better than the other way around.

With tropical gardening, however, you don’t have to worry about overwintering your plants since these climates remain warm year round….You’ll find other tender plants within these gardens too, such as the following:

• Orchids.
• Banana plants.
• Bamboo.
• Fuchsia.
• Hibiscus.
• Trumpet vine.
• Passionflower.

However cucumbers can be grown year-round over much of the country and in the high altitude tropical areas such as the Atherton Tablelands. They are great to grow on balconies and in small plots of land. Plant seeds directly into soil that has been mounded to assist with drainage.

Beetroot grows best between 18 – 25C. It is susceptible to hot temperatures, with 27C potentially causing bolting, poor colour and root shape. In particular, high temperatures can cause light and dark rings to form in the root (zoning) which is undesirable for processing.

Spinach is a cool weather plant so the best time to start sowing the seeds in a tropical zone like the Philippines is around November. Spinach thrives well even with partial sunlight, i.e. around 3 – 4 hours of morning sun is sufficient. Fertilize once at the start of the growing stage with compost or organic matter.

Vegetables Cultivated in the Tropics

• Bamboo shoots.
• Chaya.
• Chayote.
• Climbing wattle.
• Cowpea.
• Cucumber.
• Eggplant.
• Vegetable fern.