One of the easiest fruit trees you can grow in a subtropical or tropical garden is also one of the tastiest. The Panama Berry (Muntingia calabura) is a fast-growing, low-maintenance tree that produces little red berries that taste like a mix of ripe fruit and brown sugar. Birds love them. Chickens go nuts for them….
Cheeky honeyeaters enjoying a feast on our homegrown bananas! These birds love the sweet fruit just as much as we do. A great reminder to plant more and share the bounty with wildlife! Bananas are included (of course!) in my latest article: ‘9 Super Fast Growing Fruit Trees (From Personal Experience in QLD)‘—read it on…
Passionfruit thriving over the chook pen! This vigorous vine not only provides shade for the chooks but also produces a steady supply of delicious fruit—while getting a continuous boost from their manure. A perfect example of a low-maintenance, high-reward garden setup! Passionfruit is included in my latest article: ‘9 Super Fast Growing Fruit Trees (From…
Galangal Ginger (Alpinia galanga) thriving in the rain! This aromatic perennial, known for its spicy, citrusy roots, is a powerhouse in cooking and herbal medicine. With striking flowers and lush foliage, it’s a beautiful and useful addition to any tropical garden. The beautiful Galangal ginger is included in my latest post: ‘9 Super Fast Growing…
The Sandpaper Fig (Ficus opposita) is a hardy native fig with rough, sandpaper-like leaves and sweet, edible fruit. Found in Australia’s tropical and subtropical regions, it’s a favourite for bush tucker and attracts birds and wildlife. A resilient, fast-growing tree with unique texture and tasty rewards! It’s included in my latest article: “9 Super Fast…
The Acerola Cherry (Malpighia emarginata) is a tropical fruit tree known for its vibrant red cherries packed with vitamin C. Fast-growing and highly productive, it thrives in warm climates and produces juicy, tart-sweet fruit loved by both people and wildlife. A must-have for any food garden! I just wrote a blog post on my favourite…
Acerola Cherry isn’t the sweetest fruit in our garden, but it earns its place for sheer productivity and nutrition. The fruit can be incredibly sour – especially compared to a homegrown banana! But when you catch one fully ripe, it’s much milder with a hint of sweetness. The challenge is beating the ants to them!…
I’m finally planting my vanilla vine! It’s been sitting in a pot for a while, waiting for the right spot—and I think I’ve found it. Vanilla is a tropical plant, so it needs warmth, humidity, and just the right amount of shade. Too much sun, and it’ll struggle. Too little, and it won’t flower. It’s…
Welcome back to the garden! Today, I’m talking about one of my favourite kinds of plants—perennials. These are the veggies that keep coming back year after year, making gardening easier and more rewarding. No need to replant every season, they’re tough enough to handle Queensland’s wild weather, and they do wonders for the soil. Plus,…
Just checking in on the asparagus patch! They’re not quite ready to harvest yet, but we’re getting close. Growing asparagus takes patience – it’s definitely a long game – but once it’s established, it’ll keep producing for up to 20 years. Plant it once, and you’ll be picking fresh spears for years to come. I’ve…
Here’s my super simple way to grow lettuce seeds in raised veggie beds! No fancy methods – just good soil and a bit of common sense. My beds are packed with whatever I can get – compost, horse manure, weeds, cardboard – anything that breaks down and feeds the soil. If you want a steady…
Today, I’m talking about one of the most underrated plants in the garden – Jerusalem artichokes, or sunchokes. Despite the name, they’re not from Jerusalem, and they’re definitely not artichokes! They actually come from North America, and the name is just a language mix-up – ‘girasole’ (Italian for sunflower) somehow turned into ‘Jerusalem’ along the…
Six of my favourite, fast-growing fruit trees that thrive in my tropical Queensland garden – plus a special guest! Athena the horse makes an appearance, and she’s a big fan of the Panama Berry. We’ll also check out some of my other top picks: passionfruit, chocolate pudding fruit, bananas, and my very own seed-grown avocado…
Today, I’m taking you through some of my favourite veggies that just keep on giving – year after year. No constant replanting, just good food straight from the garden. First up, Jerusalem artichokes. These are tough, easy to grow, and packed with nutrients. Once you plant them, you’ll always have them. I’ll show you how…
Today, I’m making the most of what’s already lying around – grass clippings, leaves, weeds, and horse manure! First up is the compost pile. My favourite way to collect leaves and grass is to pop a catcher on the mower! It scoops up the perfect mix of dry leaves and fresh grass, ideal for fast,…
I love this Moringa tree! The flowers are gorgeous and quite delicate for such a fast-growing tree. This has been one of the best things I’ve planted in the food forest, and I can’t believe how fast it has grown. I grew this Moringa tree from seed, and it has taken about 4 years to…
Today, I’m sharing a little story about the Kei apple (Dovyalis caffra) in my food forest. I have about 10 of these, but most are still in their pots. Mainly because they are so incredibly spiky – you have to find the right place for them! Definitely not near walking paths or anywhere the kids…
Hey everyone! This is the Pinto Peanut, and it’s about to change your garden! In this short video, I’ll dive into how this little legume is a big deal for your soil. ? Pinto Peanuts are soil fixers, pumping good stuff (like nitrogen) back into the ground. This means you can skip the chemical fertilizers…
This is one of the most underestimated plants you can grow in your garden! It’s Mock Orange or Murraya paniculata. It is incredible when it’s covered with these white flowers, and they smell amazing. It’s originally from Southeast Europe and the Himalayas, so you would think it is best suited to cold climates, but here…
Hey everyone! ?? Grab a cuppa and settle in for a little slice of life from our Queensland farm. In this YouTube Short, I’m taking you along for a laid-back day among our flowers, gardens, and friendly farm animals.
