Climatic Zones and Considerations.

With cities dotted around the world, it’s not surprising that we grow a huge variety of plants in a range of climates. Farmers and home gardeners around the globe grow a mixture of native and exotic plants for many purposes – food, medicine, materials and pure gardening pleasure. They are highly attuned to the weather and, more broadly, the climate in which they grow their crops.

Most of the fruits, vegies and herbs grown in Australia originated from other parts of the world with similar climatic regions. Although native plants sustained Indigenous Australians long before European settlement, we generally prefer to grow exotic food plants. I’ve always been interested in growing a native substitute for an exotic where possible. This practice helps me connect to the land, giving me a better understanding and appreciation of the food and people that the land nourished before my time. For example, our native river mint (Mentha australis) has a distinct fragrance and refreshing taste, and it grows in the same conditions as exotic mint species.

KNOW YOUR GROWING CONDITIONS

Your climate will determine what you can grow and at which time of the year to plant. Cities along the coast are sometimes prone to more climatic variables, with growing conditions often changing dramatically from one side of the city to the other. For instance, being closer to the mild air of the beach prevents frost, but frost remains a concern for those with gardens further inland. This difference in average temperatures and environmental conditions will certainly affect what can be grown and how ripe these fruits and vegies can become in a given season. For this reason, it’s vital to observe which plants are doing the best in your local area when you’re out and about.

When travelling, I like to visit the local botanic or community gardens to check out the edibles in season, comparing these to what I’m growing at home. If we look even closer, down to our neighbouring suburbs, we may find that different soil types, vegetation, water bodies and structures all create unique microclimates within our urban areas. You can take advantage of these microclimates to grow plants that would otherwise struggle in your area by enhancing ideal growing conditions. For example, a tropical microclimate often features full sun, protection from cold winds, radiated heat from solid structures (such as brick walls), watering of foliage and a rich soil. If you create a tropical microclimate in your garden, you might be able to grow and harvest some sweet bananas in a suburb with a subtropical climate.

WHEN DO I PLANT?

When planting seeds, we often ask: ‘Is this the right time?’. However, if you’re a seed that is about to be sown, you are actually more interested in the soil temperature than whether the autumn leaves are starting to fall. Air temperature can fluctuate daily, but the average soil temperature will be steadily rising or falling throughout the year. For gardeners trawling through the nursery or online seed catalogues, we can generally make a judgement based on our calendar. However, you can use a soil thermometer to show you when the temperature is just right.

One planting strategy that fails almost every time is relying on retail nurseries to only stock the current month’s seedlings. I see people buying warm-season annuals, such as basil, tomato and eggplant (aubergine), in autumn – unfortunately, those seedlings will soon end up as compost. My advice is that, if you’re heading to the nursery, you should take a list of the type and quantity of seedlings you want to grow for the current season, and not be tempted by what’s on the shelves.

Depending on your local climate region, seeds and seedlings might have an ideal day, week or month to be planted. For example, if you miss the boat for a spring planting because you only managed to build your raised beds in the summer holidays, you can still prep the soil and plant other quick-turnover crops that will be ready to harvest before winter. Plus, your winter crops will be ready to plant soon.

The 40 plants I’ve chosen for this book are those I think you’ll enjoy growing and using in your cooking. I’ve included basic planting times for each featured plant. However, I recommend that you also do your own research. Talk to an expert at a quality nursery or someone in the neighbourhood with a green thumb to discover priceless local knowledge.