Malabar Chestnut (Pachira aquatica; Bombacaceae) - Common names: Malabar Chestnut, Guiana, Guiana Chestnut, Guyana Chestnut, Provision tree, Saba Nut, Money Tree Origin: Native of area between southern Mexico to Guyana and northern Brazil Plant: Requires a frost-free location with some protection from hot, drying winds. Enjoys full-partial sun. Soils Read More
Rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa) - Rosella (Roselle, Florida Cranberry, Red Sorrel, Indian Sorrel, Mesta Hibiscus sabdariffa) Origin: Hawaii and West Indies Plant: September - December Harvest: February - April Propagation: Seeds A hardy, annual bush originating from Hawaii and the West Indies grows to 1-2m high. Allow 1 Read More
Yam Bean - Yam Bean (Jicama, Mexican Water Chestnut or Chop Suey Bean) Pachyrrhizus erosus Origin: hot, humid tropical Central America Plant: Sept – Oct Harvest: July – Aug. It takes 4-7 months to maturity depending on day-length hours. At the time of Read More
Yam - Yam (red and white, five-fingered yam, greater yam, lesser yam, aerial yam) Dioscorea family Origin: hot, humid tropical Pacific Islands Plant: mid-Sept to mid-Oct Harvest: When all foliage has died down. Dig gently around the yam taking care not to Read More
Yacon - Yacon (aka yakon, sweet root or Peruvian Ground Apple) Polymnia sonchifolia Origin: wet, cool highlands of the Incas Plant: Sept – Oct Harvest: July – August Small yellow sunflower-like flowers will appear at maturity. Harvest tubers when all the tops Read More
Winged Bean - Winged Bean (aka four-angled bean) Psophocarpus tetragonolobus syn. Goa Bean Origin: hot, humid tropical Madagascar and Asia Plant: Sept – Oct - into pots initially Harvest: April - May. Young 4-angled pods with wavy margins can be picked for eating Read More
Turmeric - Turmeric (aka Indian Saffron, Yellow Ginger) Curcuma longa l. Origin: hot, humid tropics of SE Asia and India Plant: Oct – Dec when the rhizomes begin to sprout. Harvest: June – Oct. Dig rhizomes up when the entire tops have Read More
Taro - Taro (aka talo, dalo and dago) Colocasia esculenta Origin: hot, humid tropics of the Indo-Malayan region Plant: Sept - Oct only Harvest: July – August when the leaves begin to look tatty and about 3 leaves left. The corm is Read More
Tahitian Spinach - Tahitian Spinach Xanthosoma brasillience Origin: hot, humid tropics Plant: Sept – Feb Harvest: Nov – May The Tahitian spinach leaf is better than taro and cocoyam as a “tropical green” as it has the least amount of irritating crystals and Read More
Sweet Potato - Sweet Potato Ipomoea batatas Origin: wet, cool highlands of South America Plant: Sept – March Harvest: approx. 5 months after planting. Use a digging stick when harvesting. The wood won't damage the tubers. Leave on the ground for a week Read More
Pit Pit - Pit Pit (aka New Guinea asparagus) Setaria palmaefolia (short) and Saccharus edule (tall) Origin: hot, humid tropics of New Guinea Plant: Sept – Nov only, in a shady, boggy site Harvest: Dec – March. Propagate: from cuttings Short Pit Pit Read More
Pigeon Pea - Pigeon Pea (Toor Dhal, Congo Pea) Cajanus cajun Origin: India Plant: Spring and Summer Harvest: From 3 and up to 8 months from planting Propagate: Propagation is by seed Pigeon pea is a legume shrub that improves soil fertility by Read More
Pepino - Pepino (aka melon pear, melon shrub, pear melon) Solanum muricatum ait. Origin: wet and cool highlands of Colombia, Peru and Chile Plant: Sept – March Harvest: Oct – March Propagate: by stem cuttings. The Pepino is a small bush closely Read More
Paw Paw - Paw Paw (aka papaya) Carica papaya Origin: Highlands - wet, cool Plant: Sept – March Harvest: Anytime except for Jan – April. Paw paw take approx. 18 months from planting the seed to fruit production, so a nutrient rich soil Read More
New Guinea Bean - New Guinea Bean (aka bottle gourd, succubi or Cucuzza) Lagenaria siceraria Origin: Dry Tropics Plant: Sept – Dec Harvest: Dec – May A good substitute for zucchini. Pick fruit when no larger than 30cm-45cm, peel, then slice diagonally (remove seeds). Read More
Madagascar Bean - Madagascar Bean (aka seven year bean) Phaseolus lunatus syn. P.limensis Origin: Tropical and sub-Tropical regions Plant: in Spring Harvest: When pods have dried on vine This bean is a vigorous climbing tropical lima bean, which will give many years of Read More
Malu Khia - Malu Khia (aka mulukhiyya, Egyptian spinach or salad mallow) Corchorus olitorius Origin: Dry, tropical India Plant: Nov - Dec only Harvest: Feb – May Propagate: will self-seed. Tropical green. Annual bush. Leaves are nutrient rich in potassium and protein but Read More
Lemongrass - Lemongrass (aka Melissa Grass, Sweet Rush) Cymbopogon citratus Origin: India and Sri Lanka Plant: Spring, summer and autumn Harvest: The more it is cut for use, the thicker it will grow. Propagation: is by the division of the bulbous base Read More
Lebanese Cress - Lebanese Cress Aethionema cordifolum Origin: Wet, cool highlands Plant: Sept – Jan Harvest: Oct – March Tropical green. Add to salads. Perennial cress grows in a damp, shady position.
Kang Kong - Kang Kong (aka water spinach or swamp cabbage) Ipomoea aquatica Origin: hot, humid tropics SE Asia Plant: Sept – Jan Harvest: Oct – May Kang Kong is one of the tropical greens. Cut leaves off the trailing vines and use Read More
Jerusalem Artichoke - Jerusalem Artichoke (aka sunchokes) Helianthus tuberose Origin: dry tropics of North America Plant: Sept – Dec Harvest: May, when the plants have totally died down. Can be left in the ground or harvested and stored in moist sawdust in styrene Read More
Jackfruit - Jackfruit Artocarpus integrifolia Origin: Hot, humid tropics Plant: Sept – Mar Harvest: Mar – Nov Immature fruit is used for its seed and can be made into a delicious curry. The ripe fruit is eaten raw and tastes like banana Read More
Horseradish Tree - Horseradish Tree (aka Drumstick Tree) Moringa oleifera Origin: India Plant: Spring Harvest: Anytime except for winter. Propagate: Drumstick tree is propagated by 50cm long cuttings planted in spring. The leaves are the most nutritious part of the tree, being high Read More
Galangal - Galangal (aka petit galanga, colic root, catarrh root and lesser galangal) Alpinia officinarum Origin: China and South East Asia Plant: Nov – Feb Harvest: Anytime after 2 years (or 1 year if grown in optimum conditions). With a spade, dig Read More
Crotolaria - Crotolaria (Rattlepod) Crotolaria grahamiana Origin: India Plant: Sow seeds in Spring Harvest: Non-edible. Propagation: by seed. As crotolaria is a legume, i.e. it fixes nitrogen in the soil, use as a 'chop n drop' and place prunings around base of Read More
Comfrey - Comfrey (aka Knitbone, Woundwort) Symphytum officinale Origin: Asia and Europe Plant: Anytime Harvest: When leaves are of reasonable length – the more you harvest, the more the leaves grow. Comfrey can be used as a fertiliser or mineral supplement, cut Read More
Cocoyam - Cocoyam Xanthosoma saggitifolium Origin: Hot, humid tropics Plant: Anytime except for winter Harvest: After 18 months to 2 years of growing. Harvest when the young plants (pups) have no more than 3 leaves – they should still be opaque, not Read More
Chop Suey Greens - Chop Suey Greens (aka edible chrysanthemum; chrysanthemum greens) Chrysanthemum coramarium Origin: China and Asian countries Plant: Sow seeds in Spring, Summer and Autumn Harvest: after 30 days A hardy annual that grows to 1m and prefers mild to slightly colder Read More
Chilacayote - Chilacayote (aka Alacyote, Zambo, Malabar gourd, Fig-leaved gourd) Cucurbita ficifolia Origin: Highlands – wet, cool South America Plant: March – Sept Harvest: July – Dec Pick young squash before the seeds form, slice or grate into stir-fries or salads. Mature Read More
Chinese Water Chestnut - Chinese Water Chestnut Eleocharis dulcis Origin: hot, humid tropics of China and Australasia Plant: Sept – Nov Harvest: July – Aug Wait till sedge tops die down completely as the corms need to have the time to change to their Read More
Ceylon Spinach - Ceylon Salad Spinach (aka Malabar Spinach) Basella Rubra, Basella alba Origin: Highland climate – wet, cool Plant: Sept – Jan Harvest: Nov – May Succulent greens can be picked and used sparingly in salads (rich in mucilage) or cooked quickly Read More
Cassava - Cassava (aka manioc, manihot, tapioca and yucca) Origin: Believed to have been domesticated in west-central Brazil, Beach climate – dryish with intermittent rains Plant: Sept – March. During wet season – Spring, Summer, early Autumn in pots or directly into the ground (on Read More
Brazilian Spinach - Brazilian Spinach (aka South American crinkle salad, poor man's spinach) Althernanthera triandra sp. Origin: Highlands, wet, cool South America Plant: Sept – March Harvest: any time through the growing season Suggested Recipes: Brazilian Spinach with Macadamia Nut Pesto, Spinach, Fetta Read More
Bitter Melon - Bitter Melon (aka balsam pear or bitter gourd) Momordica charantia Origin: Hot, humid China and India Plant: Sept – Dec Harvest: Jan – April Young fruit are harvested 8 – 10 days after the flowers open. Each fruit will be Read More
Arrowroot - Arrowroot Canna edulis Origin: Hot, humid Queensland Plant: Any time Harvest: 12-18 months for edible rhizomes. Suggested Recipes: Root Vegetable Curry, Vegetable Pikelets Use as a 'chop n drop' mulch, or leave to form a weed barrier with pigeon pea, Read More
Arrowhead - Arrowhead Sagittaria sagittifolia syn. Sagittaria sinensis Origin: South, Central and North America Plant: Early Spring Harvest: When leaves turn yellow and die back. Arrowhead is a water plant, tubers are planted approx. 4-5 cm deep and spaced about 10 cm Read More
Amaranth - Amaranth (aka duck potato, swan potato, katniss) Amaranthus species Origin: central Latin America and the Himalayas Plant: Sept – Jan Harvest: as required Amaranth is a seed - not a grain - that self-seeds readily. It is an upright, moderately Read More
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