Homegrown the live show

Homegrown the live show

I am so excited to announce the launch of my brand new live show and podcast – Homegrown with Sustainable Holly. Homegrown the live show is a live podcast for those who want to grow food at home and live a more sustainable lifestyle.

Welcome to the edible gardening Podcast x Livestream where you can listen, ask questions, or watch live and be a part of an interactive gardening show. Together we will sow seeds, discuss what’s happening in the garden, make plans, and track goals to grow more food at home naturally and sustainably.

Homegrown is hosted by Holly an Edible Gardener, YouTuber, and Photographer creating a more sustainable life in the suburbs of Perth, Australia. Join us Wednesdays at 5pm AWST – live on YouTube and grow your own nourishing homegrown food!

homegrown the live show

Homegrown the live show

WATCH the live videos

LISTEN on Spotify

LISTEN on Apple Podcasts

Be sure to subscribe to get updates on when new episodes go live! And if you found some inspiration from the show I would love it if you could give me a rating and review. This helps me grow the show and be able to get lots more exciting guests.

Why is it a live show?

Live streaming allows us to have real, raw and unedited conversations about growing food at home and also behind the scenes of growing a business from the garden it’s going to be an evolving show but we are starting right here in my kitchen. I’m so excited to have you along for the journey and to see where we can go next with this live cast. I already have some incredible inspirational guests that are crazy enough to put their hands up to join us here in future episodes.

And just a forewarning whether you are watching is live on YouTube or listening to the podcast after the fact i just want to put it out there that this is a live show so there may at times real life background noise like my dog Tama barking at someone driving down “his” street or people turning up, neighbors on power tool. I mean who knows what is going to happen but its all part of the adventure right?

How can I get involved?

Join for the livestream over on YouTube on Wednesays and get involved! Join in the live chat, ask questions and make suggestions for future episodes. To keep the flow of the show for those that are listening to it after recording, i will answer questions at the end. So pop any questions you have in the livechat and write a Q at the start so i can see them clearly from the comments and stick around to the end and i will feature some of your questions!

Want to be a Guest on the show? Send me a quick message with a little info about your garden and we will take it from there!

Coconut and Lemon Verbena Loaf with Passionfruit

Coconut and Lemon Verbena Loaf with Passionfruit

This coconut and lemon verbena loaf is so easy to make. Whip up a loaf or two for a Sunday Afternoon tea and sit back and enjoy your garden. Crunchy and chewy on the outside and soft in the middle. Lemon Verbena has a fragrant lemony flavour and pairs deliciously well with coconut and passionfruit.

coconut and lemon verbena loaf

Coconut and Lemon Verbena Loaf with Passionfruit

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Additional Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

This is the perfect loaf to spend Sunday afternoon in the garden.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup desicated coconut
  • 1.5 cups self raising flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup raw Sugar
  • 2 TBSP Honey
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 2 TBSP chopped fresh Lemon Verbena leaves

Icing

  • 1 cup icing sugar
  • 2 TBSP Passionfruit pulp
  • 1 tsp lemon juice

Instructions

  • Preheat oven. to 180 degrees Celsius.
  • Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix until just combined (as little as possible).
  • Add mix to a greased loaf tin.
  • Bake for 25 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool.
  • Mix icing ingredients and drizzle over. Or serve by itself with butter.
  • For a low-sugar option, skip the icing and serve with fresh passionfruit and greek yogurt.

Passionfruit

Passionfruit

passionfruit edible climbing vines

Plant of The Month

Passionfruit are a prolific edible climber that produces delicious tasting fruit. Semi-deciduous and have a thick layer of lush green leaves over the warmer months. Passionfruit have a sweet and sometimes tart tropical flavour depending on their ripeness.

Like many edible plants, they come in a huge range of varieties! They are hardy and easy to grow in even hot dry climates. There are a few important things to know before choosing a variety that will be best for your garden. Read more below.

passionfruit

What parts of Passionfruit are edible?

PLANT

Sow seeds in spring and summer.

SOIL

Free-draining compost.

LOCATION

Full-part sun. Protect from harsh midday sun in summer.

CARE

Regular water and feeding. Training new shoots.

FERTILISE

Heavy feeders. Compost teas or added compost.

PESTS

Snails, slaters, rats, mice.

HARVEST

Harvest regularly. Fruit will drop from the plant when ripe.

REPRODUCE

Allow to go overripe and save seeds.

passionfruit

Why Grow Passionfruit?

Here are some of the many reasons to grow Passionfruit

  • Easy to grow
  • One plant provides an abundance
  • Lush evergreen leaves
  • Cover or screening
  • Shade protection
  • Immune booster
  • High Vitamin A and C
  • High antioxidants
  • Attracts Butterflies to flowers

Important Information

Many Passionfruit are sold grafted which means they are two types of passionfruit merged together. The rootstock often used in Australia is extremely invasive and can cause issues for many years to come. I recommend avoiding grafted passionfruit at all costs. Check carefully before purchasing. Not all passionfruit flowers and leaves are edible – the blue passionfruit flowers from the rootstock are not edible. Check you do not have a rootstock variety that has taken over!

WATCH below for more info on grafted passionfruit.

Popular Passionfruit Varieties

Passionfruit come in many different types a few key types are:

  • Passiflora edulis – common purple varieties
  • Passiflora flavicarpa – tropical Panama varieties
  • Passiflora quadrangularis – Grandilla varieties
  • Passiflora tarminiana / mollissima – Banana passionfruit

Note: some types of Banana Passionfruit are classified as an invasive weed in some countries including New Zealand.

Sunshine Special – Passiflora edulis – Popular purple passionfruit for Perth Gardens. Heavy fruiter and no invasive suckers.

Panama Gold – Passiflora flavicarpa – Popular tropical passionfruit with yellow skins. Allow to fully ripen and drop before harvesting. Fast-growing and more frost/cold tolerant than many.

Black Nugget – Passiflora edulis – Popular purple-black fruit. Harvest late summer to winter.

Panama – Passiflora edulis – Large red/burgundy fruit with sweet gold flesh.

Banana Passionfruit – Passiflora mollissima – Long yellow fruit with sweet pulp. frost hardy. Light pink flowers. Can be invasive.

When to Plant

It is best to plant new Passionfruit plants in Spring so they have time to get established before winter.

How to Grow

  • Choose a sunny spot with 6-8 hours of sunlight
  • Prepare the soil with free-draining compost
  • Keep well watered, especially during summer
  • Fertilise in Spring and benefits from high Potassium
  • Prune in Autumn after fruit – Passionfruit fruit more on new growth.
  • Fertilize with compost or all round fertilizer after pruning

Care/ Maintenance

Keep plants well watered. Train and direct new shoots regularly to keep under control. If you are growing a grafted variety, check and remove any suckers or side shoots from below the graft – weekly.

Passionfruit do not like soggy or wet ground – if you receive a lot of rain it is best to grow passionfruit on mounds to allow water to run off and prevent root rot.

Pests / Disease

Check for slugs, slatters and snails when the plants are young. Barriers may need to be put around the main stem. Ripe fruit are popular with Rats and Possums. Harvest regularly and you may need to net some fruit to ensure you get a harvest.

How/ When to Harvest

  • Passionfruit will usually start fruiting by the start of their 1st year – may be longer in cold climates.
  • Passionfruit drop from the vine when they are fully ripe. They can be picked earlier if you like fruit with a little more tart flavour. Choose deep-coloured fruit.
  • Passionfruit varieties will fruit at different times of the year but many are ripe during late Summer – Winter.

Reproducing

Passionfruit can be grown from both cuttings and seeds.

  • Save seeds from mature well ripe fruit. Rinse off the flesh and soak in a jar of water for 24 hours. Plant seeds in quality compost nd potting mix and keep warm and well watered until they sprout. Transplant to a larget pot once they have 4-5 leaves.
  • Take 20cm cuttings from semi-hardwood. Remove the bottom half of the leaves and place in a jar of water or moist soil to root.

Cooking and Using

Passionfruit can be used fresh or frozen.

Passionfruit pairs well with: Citrus, Chocolate, Strawberry, Lime, Watermelon, Papaya, Peach, Pineapple, Mango, Melon, Coconut, Kiwifruit, Pear, Nuts, Rosemary, Mint, Ginger, Caramel, Cream, Fish

Passionfruit ideas:

  • Curd
  • Smoothies
  • Cakes
  • Cocktail/ mocktail
  • Icecream
  • Sauce
  • Cheesecake
  • Tea

Preserving the Harvest

Passionfruit is super easy to preserve!

  • Freeze in ice cubes
  • Passionfruit Curd
  • Passionfruit Syrup
  • Jam

Passionfruit Posts

Previous Feature Plants

10 Perennial Edible Climbing Vines for productive gardens

10 Perennial Edible Climbing Vines for productive gardens

Edible Climbing Vines help maximise growing space and double the amount of food in each garden bed or container. One thing that I think is so underrated is the ability to grow food up 👆 This list of edible climbers to grow in your garden will help you utilise vertical space and create shade and protection. These 10 edible climbing vines are perennials, which means they will produce more and more food each year without us having to replant them! There are so many incredible reasons you should be growing food vertically. Not only to maximise space but also to increase airflow to reduce rot or disease, strategic shade, or like me, to reduce some of the heat in my garden by covering my ugly fences!

Annuals vs Perennials 🌿

Annuals will allow you to still change up your garden beds each season and have the flexibility of space. Whereas perennials (which grow for longer than 2 years) will allow you to get a crop established and provide long-term protection, and produce more and more food each year.

Click to watch for bonus Planting Tips 👇

10 Perennial Edible Climbing Vines

1. Passionfruit

Passionfruit is one of my favourite fruits to eat, and the main reason I am growing this edible climber in my garden. They are also evergreen, so it has leaves all year round to create shade and protection. Passionfruit have thick, lush leaves, so they work perfectly to cover fences or create screens to block out unsightly structures or areas. Watch the video above to see how to plant passionfruit from a store-bought fruit!

BONUS TIP: Purchase a passionfruit plant that is NOT grafted. Grafted passionfruit needs to be carefully maintained or the rootstock can quickly take over and become invasive with no fruit.

2. Choko /Chayote

Choko is a quick-growing, vining edible plant that can make great summer shade to protect your summer garden. They will often die back over winter but will pop up and regrow each spring. Any fruits left on the ground will also easily regrow. Choko are similar to a large zucchini or marrow and can be used as a substitute for potatoes or even apples to bulk up pie recipes.

3. Sweet Potato

Growing Sweet Potatoes / Kūmara (Ipomoea batatas) in your home garden is a great step toward self-sufficiency. They are my favourite permaculture plants and are an easy crop to grow for beginner gardeners. It is important to grow plants that support and encourage other plants and beneficial insects in your garden. Creating a cohesive ecosystem that promotes the growth and success of your garden’s health and supports abundant harvests. Sweet potatoes send out runners and can easily be trained up a vertical trellis. Plus, many people do not know that the leaves of the sweet potato plant are also edible.

4. Grapes

The great thing about growing grapes as edible climbers is that they are deciduous. This means they lose their leaves in winter, so you can plant grapes strategically to provide shade in summer and let light through in winter!

5. Malabar Spinach

Malabar spinach is a fantastic edible climber for warm or tropical climates. It thrives in summer during warm weather when most other spinach and leafy greens die off. This can help fill the gaps in your seasonal harvests. Malabar spinach can be grown in pots or containers. It has succulent-like leaves, so it can handle hot weather, but it can be frost sensitive.

6. Butterfly Pea

If you love colour, then this edible climber will be perfect for you! With bright blue-purple flowers, the butterfly pea is a striking addition to an edible garden. The flowers can be used as a natural food colouring or infused in teas or cocktails. Plus, if you add acidity such as lemon juic,e the colour will transform to hot pink! Such a fun plant to grow.

7. Kiwifruit

Kiwifruit can be grown over structures to create great canopy shade. They are prolific producers and the fruit can be eaten fresh, frozen for smoothies, made into jams and even dehydrated for naturally sweet treats. You will need to have both a male and a female plant for pollination.

8. Kiwiberry

Kiwi berries have a similar taste to the kiwifruit, but are much smaller, around the same size as a grape. Kiwi berry vines grow really well in containers or urban gardens.

9. Nasturtium

Nasturtium is often known for its wild rambling nature but it can be trained vertically as an edible climber. The whole plant is edible, including the leaves, flowers and seed pods. Nasturtium has a strong peppery taste and can be used in salads, flavoured salts, pickles and many other recipes. Here in Perth, my Nasturtium dies down in summer but will pop up and regrow by itself in Autumn/winter.

10. Scarlett Runner Bean

Scarlet runner beans are also known as the 7-year bean because they pop up and regrow each year (for about 6-7 years). Beans are a great addition to an edible garden and can easily be cooked or frozen to preserve.

Annual Climbing Vines 🌿

Annual climbers are also great because they don’t need dedicated space, so you can grow, harvest and remove them to grow something different each season! Having a mix of annuals and perennials will help you grow more food all year round. Annual climbers can be plants such as Cucumber, Squash, Tomatoes, Pumpkin, and Melons.

Fruits that Grow on Vines

Want to grow more fruit without taking up extra ground space? Climbing fruits are a great way to grow more varieties without taking up more garden space! Check out these 17 fruits that grow on vines to get more fruiting plants in your garden.

Want to learn more about my favourite Perennials? Download the Free Ebook Here

edible perennials

Happy Gardening,

Holly 🌱

Simple Homemade Green Curry Paste with Fresh Garden Herbs

Simple Homemade Green Curry Paste with Fresh Garden Herbs

Making your own homemade green curry paste is so easy! You will never want to buy it again after you get the perfect blend. It will need adjusting to your heat tolerance, but mine is quite low, so you can always build on it from there. Using fresh herbs and ingredients from your garden takes this vibrant green curry paste to the next level! Extra curry paste can be frozen for a future quick and easy garden-to-plate meal.

See the bottom of the page for how to turn this green curry paste into a delicious meal.

Garden-to-Plate is flavour-packed!

If you grow your own herbs and chillies, this recipe is a fantastic way to use up extra harvests. Here’s a look at a few of the key ingredients and how they contribute to your garden and kitchen:

  • Green chillies: Long cayenne or similar varieties are perfect for this. They’re productive, easy to grow in pots, and can be frozen or dried for later use.
  • Lemon balm or lemongrass: Lemon balm is a wonderful lemony herb that grows like a weed. It’s a great lemongrass substitute and adds a bright citrus note.
  • Basil: Thai basil is traditional, but any sweet basil works. It’s easy to grow and makes this paste extra aromatic.
  • Spring onion: Grows well in containers or in-ground. The green tops add a mellow onion flavour.
  • Ginger and garlic: While not always garden-grown, both are staples in many food gardens and can be preserved or grown in pots in warm climates.

This paste also works beautifully as a marinade for grilled veggies or protein or as a punchy flavour boost in soups and noodle dishes.

Swaps & Substitutions

  • Lemon balm vs. lemongrass: Lemon balm is great if lemongrass isn’t available, but either works well.
  • Chillies: Use what you have! Bird’s eye chillies for more heat, jalapeños or milder green varieties if you prefer it gentle.
  • Herbs: Try coriander or mint for a different twist.
homemade green curry paste

Green Curry Paste

Yield: 1-2

Fresh and vibrant green curry paste to make a delicious garden-to-plate meal from scratch!

Ingredients

  • 6 Green Chillies (long cayenne) - see notes
  • 1 Spring onion
  • 3 Garlic cloves
  • 10 cm piece of fresh ginger
  • 1 lime
  • 1/2 cup lemon balm (or 1 stalk lemon grass)
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil
  • 1 tsp Raw sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Sea Salt

Instructions

  1. Cut the ends of the green chillies and remove the seeds (this is optional. Keep to the side if you want to add extra heat) and slice and add to a blender or mortar and pestle.
  2. Peel the ginger using the back of a spoon and slice it into small pieces.
  3. Zest the lime and add the zest and juice to the mix.
  4. Dice and chop all other ingredients and add everything to the mix.
  5. Blitz or pound until a paste-like consistency. You may need to add a splash of water if it is not mixing.
  6. Use immediately or freeze for future use.

Notes

  • Green Cayenne are on the mild side. If you are using hotter chillies use less or more to your heat preference. I also remove the seeds because I like it mild. Keep the seeds to the side and add extra during the cook if you want to increase the heat.
  • Other herbs and greens can be added such as parsley or corriander

Tips for Storing and Preserving Green Curry Paste

  • Fridge: Store in a sealed jar for 5–7 days.
  • Freezer: Freeze in tablespoon-sized portions in ice cube trays, then transfer to a container or zip-lock bag for up to 3 months.

Pro tip: Label your frozen curry cubes so you know what’s what when digging through the freezer later!

How to make a Green Curry with the Homemade Paste

To turn your green curry paste into a delicious garden-to-plate meal follow these steps.

  1. In a deep pan or Wok, brown onions in 1TSBP Olive Oil.
  2. Add your protein of choice and brown off.
  3. Add the green curry paste and stir to combine for 1 minute
  4. Add 400ml of Coconut cream.
  5. Stir and taste. Add extra sugar or salt if needed. Salt helps bring out more flavor. Sugar can ease some of the spice.
  6. Add chopped greens and veggies such as Zucchini, Capsicum, Carrot, Snow Peas, Beans, and Chard.
  7. Cook until protein is cooked through and veggies are softened but still have a bit of crunch.

Roasted Sweet Potato rounds are also delicious on top of a green curry!

Homemade green curry paste is a game-changer—flavourful, fresh, and full of your garden’s best. Whether you grow a few herbs on your balcony or have a thriving backyard veggie patch, this recipe is a wonderful way to make the most of your harvests.

Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potato Leaves Recipe

Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potato Leaves Recipe

If you’re looking for a delicious, nutrient-packed way to use sweet potato leaves, this sweet and spicy greens recipe is the perfect choice. They are not only edible but also highly nutritious, making them a fantastic addition to your homegrown meals.

During the warmer months, when sweet potato vines are growing abundantly, their tender leaves make an excellent spinach substitute. Pairing them with chillies, which also thrive in the heat, creates a flavorful and seasonal dish straight from your garden.

In this recipe, we’ll sauté fresh sweet potato leaves with a blend of sweet and spicy ingredients, making it a perfect side dish or a hearty topping for rice, noodles, or even grilled meats.

Why Eat Sweet Potato Leaves?

Many people don’t realize that sweet potato leaves are 100% edible and packed with vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron, calcium, and fiber. Unlike regular potato leaves (which are toxic), sweet potato leaves are safe to eat and have a mild, slightly sweet taste with a soft, spinach-like texture when cooked.

Some benefits include:


Nutrient-dense – High in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
Easy to grow – Thrives in hot weather, requiring minimal care
Great for permaculture gardens – Offers dual-purpose harvests (leaves and tubers)
Versatile – Can be stir-fried, steamed, added to soups, or blended into smoothies

Instructions

1. Prepare the leaves

  • Pick and wash the leaves thoroughly (see notes for tips).
  • Pat dry and remove any tough stems.

2. Chop the aromatics

  • Finely slice the onion, garlic, and chilli.
  • If you prefer a milder spice level, remove the chilli seeds before slicing.

3. Mix the sauce

  • In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, honey, and other sauce ingredients.
  • Stir well to ensure all flavors are blended.

4. Stir-fry the greens

  • Heat a large wok or frying pan over medium-high heat.
  • Add the greens and ¾ of the sauce mixture.
  • Stir-fry until the greens have wilted but remain vibrant.

5. Serve and garnish

  • Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with the remaining sauce.
  • Sprinkle with sunflower seeds and garnish with edible flowers if desired.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!
Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potato Leaves

Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potato Leaves

Yield: 2-4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes

Chilli and sweet potato greens are both thriving in the warmer months. This sweet and spicy side dish is a great way to combine the two.

Ingredients

Greens

  • 4-6 cups Sweet Potato Greens
  • 1 TSBP Sunflower Seeds

Sweet and Spicy Sauce

  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1-2 red cayenne chillies (or your favourite)
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  • 1 tsp Olive oil
  • 1 TSP Red wine vinegar
  • 1 TSP Maple syrup (or honey)
  • 1 TSP Tamari (or soy sauce)
  • 1 /4 cup finely chopped red onion

Instructions

  1. Pick and wash your sweet potato greens well (see notes)
  2. Finely slice Onion, Garlic and Chilli. Remove the chilli seeds if you don't want it too spicy (I prefer no seeds).
  3. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients together and mix well.
  4. Heat a large wok or frying pan on medium-high heat.
  5. Add sweet potato greens and 3/4 of the sauce mix and stir-fry until the greens have wilted.
  6. Place on a side dish and top with the remaining sauce along with Sunflower seeds and flowers to serve. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Sweet Potato Greens excrete a white milky substance when picked. This can cause allergies to sensitive skin. Rinse well.
  • Sweet potato leaves will wilt to less than 1/4 the original size just like spinach does.
  • Choose young sweet potato leaves and shoots - the newest 4-5 leaves.
  • Add and swap for other greens such as spinach or chard.
  • Make it as mild or as spicy as you like by adding in or removing the seeds.

Recipe Variations & Substitutions

🌿 No sweet potato leaves? Substitute with spinach, kale, chard, or amaranth leaves.
🌿 Prefer it milder? Reduce the chillies or swap for sweet bell peppers.
🌿 Add protein by tossing in tofu, shrimp, or shredded chicken.
🌿 Make it heartier by serving over rice or mixing with noodles.

Tips & Substitutions

Handling the Leaves – When picked, sweet potato greens release a white, milky sap, which may cause irritation for sensitive skin. If you have skin allergies, wear gloves when handling or wash your hands immediately after.

Wilt Factor – Like spinach, sweet potato leaves shrink significantly when cooked, reducing to less than 1/4 of their original size. Keep this in mind and adjust your portion size accordingly.

Best Leaves to Use – For the most tender and flavorful greens, choose the youngest 4-5 leaves at the tip of each vine. Mature leaves can be tougher and slightly bitter.

Swap & Customize – Feel free to mix in or replace the leaves with spinach, chard, or other leafy greens from your garden.

Control the Spice – Make this dish as mild or fiery as you like by adjusting the amount of chillies or removing the seeds for a milder flavor.

Sweet Potato Leaves

They are an underrated garden gem, offering incredible health benefits and a delicious, versatile flavor. If you grow sweet potatoes, don’t let the lush green vines go to waste—try this sweet and spicy stir-fry for a quick, nutritious meal! I also add them to any soups, curries, and stirfries for extra greens.

Have you ever cooked with them? Let me know in the comments 👇

Chilli

Chilli

Plant of The Month

Chillies (Capsicum annuum or variations of species) are a popular staple for a kitchen garden because they produce an abundance of fruit on a single plant.

There are over 400 different species of chilli that vary in heat/spice 🌶 Chillies are part of the Solanaceae family along with Tomatoes, Capsicum, Eggplant and Potato.

Chillies thrive in warm weather and are mainly grown over summer. The great thing about Chillies is that you can grow more than enough in a pot or container. Great for renters or those with limited space.

Chillies are measured in heat using the chilli Scoville rating. The hottest part of the Chilli is often in the seeds. Removing the seeds can reduce some of the heat. Chilli also often get hotter and sweeter as they mature and ripen.

chilli

What parts of Chilli are edible?

PLANT

Sow seeds indoors at the end of winter or early spring. Or plant seedlings after last frost.

SOIL

Will grow in most soil types but benefits from added compost.

LOCATION

Full-part sun. Protect from harsh midday sun in summer.

CARE

Regular water.

FERTILISE

Easy to grow and doesn’t need much help. Compost teas or added compost.

PESTS

Snails, slaters, spider mites and aphids.

HARVEST

Harvest regularly to encourage more production.

REPRODUCE

Allow to go over-ripe and save seeds.

chilli

Why Grow Chilli?

There are many reasons to grow Chillies and they are so easy to preserve!

Here are some of the many reasons to grow Chillies

  • Easy to grow
  • One plant provides an abundance
  • Grows well in containers
  • Low maintenance
  • Flavour enhancing
  • Easy to preserve
  • Immune booster
  • High Vitamin A and C

Popular Chilli Varieties

Long Cayenne – Capsicum annuum – Long chilli that turns from green to vibrant red. Mild heat and seeds can be removed to be even milder. Popular all round Chilli. Produces around 1kg per plant.

Jalapeno – Capsicum annuum – Popular Mexican chilli that is best suited to pickling and cooking (stuffed jalapenos!). Prolific producer. Pick green or red.

Padron – Capsicum annuum ‘Pimientos de Padron’ – Popular Spanish chilli. Great for stir-fries. Mostly mild but some will randomly be HOT! Heat increases as they get Redder.

Hungarian Hot Wax – Capsicum annuum – Yellow – orange colour and a popular mild chilli. Can get hot the more mature they get. Great fresh, as garnishes, pickled or stir-fried.

Birds Eye Thai – Capsicum annuum – Small hot chilli popular in Thailand. Prolific producing and although small you don’t need much! Upright standing chilli. Colder tolerant than other varieties.

Carolina Reaper – Capsicum chinense – Named the hottest chilli in the world 😳 Be very careful handling these (gloves and eyewear). Needs a heat mat to promote seeds to germinate.

When to Plant

Chillies thrive in warm temperatures and don’t like the cold. Plant your Chillies from seed in late winter – early spring inside or in a greenhouse. Plant seedlings out in Spring after your last frost. In tropical Australian locations plant in Autumn.

How to Grow

  • Choose a sunny spot with dappled or part shade in the heat of summer.
  • Prepare the soil with free-draining compost
  • Plant one seedling per pot or in the garden bed at least 50cm apart
  • 1 plant is plenty or try different varieties
  • Can benefit from protection during the heat of summer.
  • Plants will tend to die off in winter and are often grown as an annual. You can overwinter your plants to get a few extra years out of them – Click here

Care/ Maintenance

Chilli plants are pretty low maintenance. Ensure they don’t dry out during hot weather. Plants can be pruned and “over-wintered” to get a second season out of them.

Pests / Disease

Chilli are pretty hardy and will thrive with minimal effort. Birds and rats will still eat your bright colourful chillies and are not put off by their heat! If this happens you might need to construct a cage or net around them. Care for young seedlings using natural pest management.

How/ When to Harvest

  • Once the plant is well-established it will start producing flowers and that turn to chilli. Some plants produce upright chillies and others hang down.
  • Most chilli will start off green and ripen to other colours. You can harvest chilli in all colours. The more mature reds and purples will be sweeter and have different flavour profiles.
  • Harvest the chilli often to promote new fruit.
  • Harvest in the morning or evening when the plants are hydrated and fresh.
  • Harvest before heavy rains. Chillies can split open with excess water and spoil.

Reproducing

Chillies can be grown from cuttings but it is easiest to save seeds and re-grow each year. Allow a few chillies to go over-ripe and start to shrivel on the plant before harvesting. Be careful handling chillies and wash hands thoroughly after or use gloves. Scrape out the seeds and allow them to fully dry on a plate for a week before storing them.

Cooking and Using

Chillies can be used fresh, dried or frozen. They defrost quickly and can be used just as you would fresh ones.

Chilli pairs well with: Garlic, Citrus, Chocolate, Avocado, Spinach, Ginger, Tumeric, Cucumber, Eggplant, Mint, Basil, Parsley, Loquat, Pumpkin, Radish, Zucchini, Broccoli, Mango, Papaya, Pineapple, Guava

Chilli ideas:

  • Salads
  • Salad dressing
  • Stirfry
  • Soup
  • Chilli flakes
  • Sauce
  • Relish
  • Flavoured Salt

Preserving the Harvest

Chilli is super easy to preserve!

  • Flavoured oil
  • Infused vinegar
  • Dried flakes
  • Flavoured Salt
  • Frozen whole
  • Dried whole
  • Sauces
  • Jam/chutney/relish
  • Pickles

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Zucchini Wrapped Haloumi on Rosemary Skewers

Zucchini Wrapped Haloumi on Rosemary Skewers

These Zucchini wrapped haloumi skewers are so delicious and easy to make! Marinated in my favourite green sauce plus the Rosemary flavour also infuses during cooking. I made this during one of my YouTube live streams and had to share the recipe! Serve on a fresh salad or with a charcuterie board. These would also be great for summer BBQs.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a fragrant perennial herb. Rosemary is a hardy, drought-tolerant shrub and can also be used as an ornamental due to its evergreen foliage and purple or white edible flowers. Rosemary is a great herb to plant on your journey to sustainability, as it has a large list of beneficial uses for the garden, home, kitchen, plus many medicinal qualities. When Rosemary flowers it will attract an abundance of beneficial pollinators to increase your garden’s production.

Zucchini wrapped Haloumi on Rosemary Skewers

Zucchini wrapped Haloumi on Rosemary Skewers

Yield: 9
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 8 minutes

Easy and delicious these Rosemary Skewers make a quick lunch or entertaining dish.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium Zuchinni
  • 1 packet Haloumi
  • Olive oil
  • 9 Rosemary sprigs
  • Green Dressing (available below for logged in members or see notes)

Instructions

  1. Soak the Haloumi in a bowl of water for 5-10 mins while prepping the rest of the dish (optional but reduces the salt and makes the halloumi softer).
  2. Cut the Zucchini into thin ribbons using a wide vegetable peeler.
  3. Prepare the green sauce or marinade (available below for logged-in members or see notes)
  4. Pour half the marinade over the zucchini Ribbons.
  5. Remove the haloumi from the water, cut it into squares roughly 1-2cm, and place in the bowl with the remainder of the marinade.
  6. Place the ribbons and halloumi in the fridge to marinate further for 10-20min.
  7. Heat a pan with olive oil on medium heat.
  8. Lay a zucchini strip out flat and place a haloumi cube at the beginning then roll to wrap the square.
  9. Strip 3/4 of the leaves from the rosemary skewers (see notes if you are using the leaves for the marinade you will need to do this at the beginning).
  10. Place 3 wrapped cubes on a skewer and place in the pan. Cook until golden on each side - roughly 3 minutes each side.
  11. Serve on a fresh salad with lemon or lime wedges and extra green sauce or a creamy yogurt dressing.

Notes

  • Non-member's alternative to the green dressing - Strip 3/4 of the leaves from the Rosemary sprigs. Roughly chop and add 1/4 cup of Olive Oil and use that as the marinade.
  • Swap Haloumi for Feta or Vegan Cheese
  • P.S - I make the members green dressing in the YouTube live.

Green Sauce Chimichurri

This vibrant green dressing is packed full of flavour and is a delicious way to add a fresh zing to your meals.

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10 ACTIONABLE STEPS to help you achieve your sustainable homestead GOALS

10 ACTIONABLE STEPS to help you achieve your sustainable homestead GOALS

Do you have big dreams and sustainable homestead goals to grow food and create your dream self-sufficient lifestyle but it feels so far off? You may be renting or in an apartment. Today, I’m going to share 10 actionable steps to help you achieve your sustainable homestead goals no matter how far away they feel. This is the path I have been on and I think this may help or inspire you too.

Are you ready? because your dream life starts now!

Click to watch the video 👇

I was listening to a podcast the other day and they were talking about you are where you are for a reason and that is because you still have more to learn. If I got /my big break and had 100s or 1000s of people flocking to join my garden-to-plate membership would I cope? the answer is probably not! My systems have been built on a small scale and I still have lots more work to do before reaching that level (goals!). Hopefully one day I will be able to help 100s and 1000s of people grow food so I’m continuously working on improving my systems.

The same with getting your dream homestead, if you suddenly found yourself dropped in the middle of an off-grid property would you know exactly what to do? Would you know how to improve your soil, plant trees, care for animals, or afford a house, infrastructure, and the bills that come along with it? or would it be an overwhelming chaotic mess?

There are so many small steps you can start taking today and these are the 10 stages I have been working through to bring my dreams to life. so hopefully they help and inspire you too!

10 ACTIONABLE STEPS to start your Sustainable Homestead Goals now

1. What are your goals?

Write them down. Where do you want to live? What lifestyle do you want to achieve? How do you want your days to look?

The great thing about having clear goals is that decisions along the way become easier (great for people like me that struggle with decision-making!) Does this align with my goals or not? Start at the end and work backward. Will this change along the way? Probably but at least it will give you a direction to start working towards and not be stuck doing nothing.

2. Make a vision board

I like to do this every year and I use Canva and put together a collage type of document. I then have mine as my screen savers on my phone and computer for constant reminders but you could just print out some images and put them on the fridge or the wall. I am a real visual person so this works for me.

3. Pay off debts

Ditch after pay and all that. Don’t buy things you don’t need with money you don’t have. That has always been part of my mentality so I have never financed furniture or anything like that…Hence why my house looks a little bare 😅 I prioritize money in other ways.

One of the hardest things I did was prioritize paying off my student loan. It took me a few years and I set up automatic payments to come out after each pay. If I was still buying coffees and let’s be honest probably plants…then I would increase my repayments a bit because I obviously still had disposable income. ..and repeat. As a student, I knew how to live off the minimum. Lifestyle creep is inevitable but if your dreams are big and solid you can do it!

Hard now and easy later!

Something I found so useful was the debtfree charts. You can choose a relevant one and divide the amount into sections. Each time you pay one down you can highlight it. For a visual person like me, this worked a treat. I just wanted to pay one more line . These also work great for savings too.

4. Start savings

Once you have your debts out of the way start saving. You know what you are capable of paying after paying off your debts so switch to a savings mode. Don’t get into the continuous reward stage. Remind yourself of the goals you are working towards.

5. Start growing food

This can be started from day one. You don’t need all the gear or all the nice raised garden beds, that will come. Start with what you have. Keep an eye on marketplace there are so many free pots and random things that you will be able to turn into gardens. Both my compost bins were free and I even got a free fruit tree recently.

If you dream of creating these thriving edible gardens that produce a whole lot of food then the only way there is through it. There’s no quick fix. you have so much to learn and you will learn faster by doing.

So get seeds in the soil and start growing.

6. Learn learn learn

We are so lucky to have incredible resources at our fingertips. Watch YouTube, listen to podcasts, invest in the skills you want to have, and visit community gardens. Learn to love the process because continuous learning is so important!

7. Take action

Take what you have learned and put it into practice. Grow cuttings, and plant fruit trees in pots, if you plan to have a homestead in the same state then you can be growing your future plants and trees in containers to eventually take with you. Or even sell at a higher price to add to your savings.

8. Surround yourself with Like-minded People and Communities.

This is a great way to stay motivated and learn so much. Not just about how to grow food or raise chickens but just about their outlook on life and values. People are so generous with their time and resources. Offer to help someone in their garden, this is a great way to learn and you may even receive cuttings or seeds from special plants.

9. Start working on Financing the Dream.

We all need to make money its just part of the world we live in. Does your current job and career align with the sustainable homestead goals or lifestyle you are working towards? It may do, you may already love your job but it also more than likely does not. Start a side business or grow your hobby with the direct intention of it becoming your career. Keep coming back to that lifestyle you set out in stage 1. If you want to have time to go on adventures or spend days in the garden then make sure what your working towards actually allows for that.

Do you dream of starting a flower farm? What can you do now? Start social media and grow a following. It’s free and it’s a real actionable step toward that goal. If you need some ideas check out this video on 100 ways to make an income from your property. I guarantee if one of those things excites you, there is an actionable step you can take today to make progress.

10. Re-evaluate and check in with yourself.

This is really the stage I am at now. I have been working on the last 9 steps for the last 10 years and it’s important to make sure my sustainable homestead goals and visions are still aligned. Don’t be afraid to pivot. Maybe after growing food or doing cut flowers your are unsure if that really fits anymore. For me, annuals just aren’t really it ( I LOVE PERENNIALS) and I’m actually unsure about all the 100s of animals I initially wanted. Animals are a lot of work and commitment I kind of want the freedom to come and go more often.

My dream is still real and I would love to have land to rewild and have my dream homestead but lots of things have changed. I also want to be able to travel and explore more. So I’m creating new visions that I can’t wait to share with you along the way.

Sometimes it will be really tough. But find joy in the journey, IN THE INBETWEEN, the learning!. and absolutely celebrate the small wins! because they are aligned to stage 1 so they will all add up to be something incredible.

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my website so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!

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22 heat-tolerant edible plants to grow in HOT full-sun locations

22 heat-tolerant edible plants to grow in HOT full-sun locations

Do you have areas that get very hot full sun and nothing seems to survive? These 22 heat-tolerant edible plants to grow in HOT full-sun locations will help you grow productive edible gardens. I’ve been growing food here in Perth, Australia for the last 10 years, and let me tell you, it was a big change and learning curve coming from the lush green of new Zealand.

Today, I’m sharing some plant ideas to plant in those super hot locations but keep reading to the end because it’s not just about what you plant but also when and how! Bonus tips on that, so you can turn your hot barren wasteland into productive edible gardens.

Click to WATCH 22 heat-tolerant edible plants

22 Heat-tolerant Edible Plants

1. Rosemary

Attracts bees 🐝 Has healing properties and is great for skin and hair care. Flavour enhancing culinary herb🌿 When I first moved here I wondered why so many houses had Rosemary hedges out the front – and it’s because it thrives on neglect and our poor sandy soils. Rosemary is a great heat-tolerant addition to your edible garden. Try making your own Rosemary Salt.

2. Strawberry Guava

Strawberry/cherry and lemon cherry guavas are really hardy, low-maintenance fruit trees, that produce bucketloads of fruit!

3. Mulberry

Another powerhouse perennial that survives on neglect – they grow super fast so you can use these as a nanny plant or a pioneer plant. If you have a barren hot area you could plant a Mulberry to get quick shade established and later on remove it or heavily prune if it gets too big. Mulberry also loses leaves in winter to let light in.

4. Lavender

Lavender is drought tolerant – a great pollinator plant with many medicinal (calming and sleep) and culinary uses. In my garden (which will be different with climates and varieties) Lavender flowers at the same time as my Feijoas so I have it planted in between them to attract pollinators and increase my Feijoa harvests.

5. Feijoa / Pineapple Guava

If you have been following me on Instagram or subscribed to my YouTube you will have guessed this plant would make the list 😂 Low maintenance, super hardy, and produced plenty of food! Feijoas do taste better when they get 50 chill hours a year so they aren’t optimally grown here in Perth but they do grow well and are drought-tolerant. They are evergreen and super bushy so can be grown as an edible hedge. They are known to have fire retardant qualities which is very handy for hot dry climates. If you are looking to purchase a Feijoa, choose a named variety (such as Duffy, White Goose, Mammoth plus more) as these will perform better and produce fruit faster than generic seedling plants.

6. Passionfruit

Passionfruit is an edible vine that can be used to cover a fence, structure or grown over an arbor to create shade. This can help cool your garden down and provide delicious fruit. Passionfruit flowers can also be used to make calming teas to aid in sleep and anxiety. NOTE: Avoid planting a grafted variety the grafts takeover and become invasive, hard to get rid of, and don’t produce good fruits.

7. Citrus

Citrus like full sun and once established can thrive in hot environments. Avoid planting new trees before or during the hot summer so that they have time to get their roots established before the added stress of summer.

8. Lemon Verbena

A fragrant lemony scent that is similar to lemongrass. Lemon Verbena is great in teas, baking, and all the things!

9. Pomegranate

A hardy fruiting tree that thrives in hot environments.

10. Loquat

Loquats are hardy fruit trees that thrive in hot conditions. Loquats can be a pest plant because they grow so easily and birds spread the seeds so check with your local area.

11. Lilly Pilly

Part of the Syzygium genus is a great dense evergreen hedging plant with bright pink fruits. The fruits are edible and can be made into jams, sauces, and even sparking wine!

heat-tolerant edible plants

12. NZ Spinach / Warrigal Greens

NZ Spinach unlike most spinach can be grown over summer. Although not technically spinach it can be used just as you would use spinach. NZ Spinach grows as a tick edible ground cover to protect the soil and provide nutritious greens.

13. Malabar Spinach

Malabar spinach grows as a climbing vine and can be used to grow up structures and provide shade in summer. With succulent-type leaves, the Malabar Spinach does well in hot conditions but does not like frosts.

14. Quince

Quince is a hardy fruiting tree that thrives in hot conditions. Quince is great for making preserves such as jams, jelly, and chutney.

15. Zinnia

Zinnia is an edible flower that thrives in hot dry conditions. Zinnia has vibrant flowers in a huge range of colours. The great thing about Zinnia is that it produces nectar so it attracts a diverse range of pollinators to the garden such as bees, hoverflies, butterflies, and small birds. Zinnia is susceptible to powdery mildew so great for dry summers.

16. Sunflower

I love growing Sunflowers because they attract a huge amount of pollinators to the garden and you can pretty much eat the whole plant! I use the petals fresh in a salad or press to use on baking as garnishes. The seeds can be used on top of salads, to make oil, or to make spreads and the leaves are also edible. Sunflower stems can even be made into flour! Sunflowers also help remove toxins from the soil so they are a fantastic addition to a hot full-sun garden.

17. Figs

Figs are hardy edible plants that can easily be grown from cuttings. Figs are great for hot locations and the fruit can be used for jams, relish, baking, and just enjoyed fresh!

18. Olive

Olives grow well in hot conditions and also in pots and containers. They are beautiful-looking plants with their slim silvery leaves. Olives can be used to make oils and delicious preserves. Olive leaves also have many medicinal qualities.

19. Grapes

Grapes are great for growing over structures to provide shade to your garden and help other plants grow. Grapes are deciduous so they lose their leaves in winter to let light in and have full leaf coverage in summer to protect from the harsh midday sun. Grape plants have so many uses from fresh delicious table grapes to jams, preserves, and wine! grape leaves also have many uses in the kitchen.

20. Hollyhock

Hollyhocks are an edible flowers that can grow up to 10 feet tall! They attract 100 of pollinators to the garden and their height acts as a flag inviting them in. The leaves are also edible and can be cooked to make wraps. Hollyhocks are an annual so they will need to be planted again each year but are so worth it! They can be susceptible to powdery mildew.

21. Thyme

Thyme is a hardy herb that thrives in hot conditions. Thyme is very versatile in the kitchen and pairs well with tomato dishes, on pizza, and roast veggies. Thyme also produces masses of tiny white flowers that attracts an array of beneficial insects and pollinators. Thyme creeps over the ground so it makes a great edible ground cover plant.

22. Macadamia Nut

Macadamia nut trees can take a long time to start producing (5-7 years) but are really hardy and nuts are great additions to a homestead to make flour and milk from.

8 Tips for Successfully growing heat-tolerant edible plants

Many of these heat-tolerant plants listed are perennials and the reason perennials are so good for hot environments is that they have established roots and have time to get used to their environment. Annuals such as lettuce and tomatoes are planted new and have shallow roots so are more vulnerable to overheating.

Below are some tips to help you get your plants established and thriving through hot periods.

  1. Focus on good soil with plenty of organic matter
  2. Mulch, much, mulch
  3. Have water available nearby
  4. Avoid planting in hot weather (always check the forecast)
  5. Provide temporary protection such as shade cloth or umbrellas during hot periods.
  6. Grow nanny plants or pioneer plants (quick-growing trees that provide dappled shade in summer eg: grapes, mulberry, and deciduous fruit trees)
  7. Plant new trees in pots until after the summer heat has passed
  8. Plant densely – allow other plants to protect and shade each other and the soil.

Need SHADE loving plants? Check out this video 👇