Yesterday I made a visit to Green Harvest, the organic seed producers, by accident.
I was visiting Maleny on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, driving along the Maleny/ Kenilworth road and just came across it. What a lovely surprise.
If you live in South East Queensland, and you want to purchase organic seeds – Green Harvest is the place. For one thing, because it’s local you know that if they can grow it, so can you. (In theory!)
At Beelarong Community Farm where I have my allotment we practice our own seed-saving. However, if you want to try something new – and they have a wonderful selection of seeds – you get them from (you guessed it) G.H.
I have very little growing in my allotment over these hot summer months – the reason my blogging has tapered off. I have one cucumber plant that is trying to take over Brisbane (I swear you can hear it growing); a few snake bean plants which enjoy sub-tropical conditions; and various herbs carrying on heroically.
That doesn’t leave much for the dinner plate.
However, after chatting to the staff at G.H. I found a couple of interesting plants that will (should!) keep me in green leaves throughout the summer.
This Surinam Spinach Talinum triangulare, (and I quote) a leafy green; self-sowing annual; use raw or cooked.
Surinam Spinach
And this – Mushroom plant Rungia klossii – perennial low-growing leaf vegetable, use raw or cooked.
Mushroom plant
So, dear readers, I shall not starve this summer!
Happy gardening.
Dec 04, 2014 @ 08:35:24
A very informative post, Jean! I like the idea of the greens that are suited to our climate. As you can imagine, as soon as the weather heated up, my lettuces went to seed! Your cucumber sounds like Jack’s Beanstalk…may you enjoy lots of freshly picked cucumbers 🙂
Dec 04, 2014 @ 17:51:51
Thank you for your comment Maria. Always lovely to hear from you.
Dec 05, 2014 @ 02:54:20
You lucky duck Jean! I adore Green Harvests seeds and have lusted after their site for years now. Note to self “ask for catalogue again”. What awesome vegetables, especially that mushroom plant. I dare say the leaves taste mushroomy? Greens and mushroom in one…Yummo!
Dec 05, 2014 @ 06:24:45
Spot on Narf. The leaves taste like mushroom. How clever is that!
Feb 10, 2015 @ 15:53:58
Lucky you with a surprise visit to Green Harvest, they are terrific! I was also wondering what a mushroom plant looked like as a girl in my permaculture course needed to source it for an activity. I’m glad I just found your blog Jean, it’s nice to meet a fellow Queensland gardener. I’ll be following 🙂
Feb 11, 2015 @ 07:32:55
Jem, thank you for visiting. I’m delighted to find a local gardening blogger and look forward to following all your gardening adventures. I now have two allotments over at Beelarong Community Farm in Morningside and I’m looking forward to planting for my main growing season through our cooler months and getting back to blogging again when there is a bit more happening over at the plot.
Mar 26, 2015 @ 20:41:38
The weather is taking ages to cool down Jean, I was wondering whether you have started your planting yet.
Mar 28, 2015 @ 06:20:53
Hi Maria. Weather is certainly taking ages to cool down. Just starting to plant this week. I’ve put in a few tomato plants with sweet basil as companion plants. Kale, silver beet and Italian parsley, just to get me started. You have jogged me to start blogging again now that (at last) something is moving at the ‘lottie’.
Jul 24, 2015 @ 00:02:14
Here in Florida, it is hard for many crops to survive the oppressive heat and humidity. Okra, eggplant, snake beans, and pink-eyed purple hulled peas are about all that are making it. Oh, and Lima beans and jalapeños. 🙂 I guess I have more going on than I thought, with it all listed out like that. The garden is a jungle though, quite a sight!
Jul 24, 2015 @ 06:40:20
Sarah, sounds like you are still getting food for your dinner plate, despite the heat. Well done.