ENGLISH spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a fussy little plant who likes a climate rather cooler than ours.

Yes, with attentiveness and gardening experience you can get it to grow here.

It’s not the sort of green to look after itself and simply be available for mealtimes.

It’s European popularity seems to be based on being one of the earliest plants available in spring when there’s not much else to eat.

In this climate we are privileged with a delicious cornucopia of over forty leafy greens who can replace English spinach in our meals and there is something available at any time of year.

These might not be as well known – yet – however any of these will be easier to grow at home and can be used in similar ways to English spinach depending on your tastebuds.

We have leafy green perennials and annuals, edible leaves of vegetables you may already be growing, and edible weeds which appear with no effort to the gardener.

Imagine, with a variety of edible greens all looking after themselves in your garden, go for a wander and pluck an assortment of new growth that happens to be ready as you pass by.

It becomes effortless to collect a huge amount quickly to eat right away.

A mixed serving could look like okinawa spinach, malabar spinach, amaranth, pumpkin tips, sweet potato leaves, silverbeet and mushroom plant.

So much more nutrition for you. And free.

Interested?

We have perennial greens such as Warrigal greens, Longevity spinach, Okinawa spinach, Buckwheat, Aibika/Queensland greens, Perpetual spinach, Rainbow chard and Silverbeet, Mushroom plant/Rungia, Katuk/Sweetleaf, Brazilian spinach, Surinam spinach, Chaya spinach tree, Tahitian spinach and Moringa.

Some annual greens are Amaranth, Malabar spinach/Ceylon spinach, Kang kong/Water spinach, and Egyptian spinach.

You might already be growing these and not realise their leaves are edible…

Sweet potato, Beetroot, Cucumber, Radish, Broad bean, Snow Peas and Peas, Beans, Capsicum, Pumpkin, Brassicas – cauliflower, broccoli, kale, cabbage, collards, kohlrabi, Turnip, Swede, Rosella, Okra, Caigua, Loofah, Salsify and Cassava.

There’s more detail on what can be eaten raw and what needs to be cooked and what flavours you can expect.

Go to www.wherefishsing.com and look under Bello Food Gardening.

Supported by Bellingen Shire Council via the Bellingen Shire Disaster Recovery and Resilience Grant Program Funding.

 

By Fiona MORGAN