Growing Organic Vegetables & Herbs

Sometimes, it's definitely good to know how to grow specific vegetables. Trial and error could take years, but a little bit of advice goes a long way. Browse through our tips on growing organic vegetables and herbs here in Perth, Western Australia.

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Beetroot

Beta vulgaris

Beetroots come in all shapes and sizes today but the most common is the round deep red coloured beets. They also come in different colours – yellow, white and candy striped. If you have not grown beetroot before, start with a variety that is easy to grow such as Detroit. You can progress to some of the more exotic varieties later such as Chioggia and Cylindria.

Read about growing: Beetroot

Sweet Potatoes

Ipomoea batatas

Sweet potatoes originate from tropical central and South America, but they grow very well year round in Perth (unless you happen to live in frost prone areas. In colder regions, they can still be grown throughout the warmer months.)

Read about growing: Sweet Potatoes

Edible Water Plants

Nasturtium officinale (water cress)

Things like water cress, Lebanese cress, kang kong (water spinach), water chestnuts, edible taro, water parsley, water mint can be a great addition to your garden, and extend the range of greens you have available over summer. At a pinch, these are also worth growing in self watering pots, if you don’t have room for a pond.

Read about growing: Edible Water Plants

Silverbeet

Beta vulgaris

One of the most rewarding plants a new gardener can try is Silverbeet! Reasonably quick to produce and easy to grow, you'll be able to regularly harvest your own healthy greens for months! Learn here a little more about growing this versatile vegie!

Read about growing: Silverbeet

Potatoes - How to Grow

Potatoes are a member of the Solanaceae family, and as such are related to tomatoes, capsicum and eggplants – something to take into account if you are following crop rotation principles.

Read about growing: Potatoes - How to Grow

Tomatoes

Lycopersicon esculentum

The latin name Lycopersicon esculentum translates to 'edible wolf peach'. Strange but true. They originated from South America and grow very well in many parts of the world

Read about growing: Tomatoes

Turnips

Brassica rapa

Have you tried growing Turnips? Just bringing them up in conversation usually results in someone adopting a bad English peasant accent, and making jokes...

Read about growing: Turnips

Salad Burnet

Sanguisorba minor

This quiet and unassuming herb is a pretty little one, and deserves a bit more attention. Easy to grow, it is actually a member of the Rosaceae family - so it's related to roses!

Read about growing: Salad Burnet

Rhubarb

If you have never grown rhubarb, think about giving it a go. We have found it to be reasonably easy to grow!

Read about growing: Rhubarb

Peas

Are you growing peas this year? Peas are perfect to grow through Autumn/Winter and early Spring - they don't like our hot summers. A great plant to grow for kids - they'll LOVE picking and eating the peas fresh from the vine.

Read about growing: Peas

Onions

If you have never tried growing onions before, why not give them a go this year? They are a very versatile, easy to grow vegetable that can be grown from seed most of the year.

Read about growing: Onions

Microgreens

Microgreens are simply greens, lettuces, and herbs that are harvested when they are quite young -- generally when they are approximately 5 - 10cms tall.

Read about growing: Microgreens

Kale - the superfood

Paul grew up in the UK and his parents grew Kale in their garden. He has not-so-fond memories of being fed kale (with sideserving of caterpillar) breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout his childhood.

Read about growing: Kale - the superfood

Jerusalem Artichoke

Helianthus tuberosus

I personally like their nutty flavour, and creamy consistency. In my opinion, they are worth a try! They will be available in fruit & veg shops early winter, and grow very easily from the tubers you buy.

Read about growing: Jerusalem Artichoke

Garlic

Garlic likes a humus rich soil which must be well drained. Plant the individual cloves (pointy side up!) at approx. the same depth as the bulb anytime from autumn to spring.

Read about growing: Garlic

Basil

Ocimium basilicum

Basil is a native of India, South Asia and the Middle East, and is found growing well in tropical and sub tropical regions.

Read about growing: Basil

Globe Artichokes

Cynara scolymus

One of the most lovely vegies you can grow in your garden is a Globe Artichoke. These are tough survivors; needing minimal water, and although plants die off in late summer after flowering, they come back every spring...

Read about growing: Globe Artichokes

Passionfruit

Who can resist the gorgeous fragrant taste of passionfruit? These plants are surprisingly easy to grow in WA - if you follow a few simple rules and provide their ideal growing environment. They can be planted almost year round - but spring is ideal. Definitely worth a try! Enjoy...

Read about growing: Passionfruit

Growing for Chickens

As part of a permaculture system, having chooks is a fantastic way to go. They supply you with eggs, help get rid of food scraps which may otherwise simply go in the bin, and produce manure which (when allowed to age) is fantastic to use on your garden to feed your plants!
It's worthwhile growing some greens and special herbs for your chooks to keep them happy and healthy.

Read about growing: Growing for Chickens

Broad Beans (Fava Beans)

Vicia faba major

It always amazes me how many people claim they don’t like Broad Beans – I always think this is a shame; they must have been introduced to those massive, tough things you find in the shops, not tasty, tender home grown beans.

Read about growing: Broad Beans (Fava Beans)

Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis

Being a perennial plant, asparagus is a very rewarding addition to your vegetable garden. Asparagus plants are dormant over winter, which is when the mature crowns can be divided and replanted. Asparagus can also be grown from seed (sown in spring) and is available as seedlings most of the year. The advantage of planting crowns is that you have a more mature plant...

Read about growing: Asparagus

Citrus Fruit

citrus

Citrus plants are always a popular choice in home gardens. Most home gardens have room for one or two citrus trees. Dwarf cultivars are available that can even be grown in large pots.

Read about growing: Citrus Fruit