After a dry April in Bayside Brisbane, 152 mm rain fell during the 28th April. A good gentle drop with no gales, it filled the rainwater tank and the stormwater soakaway pit. Not a drop was wasted : the compost-rich soil lapped it all up. A banana burst into bloom and my winter greens are growing strongly.

Crop diversity is rising once more with 120 edibles available right now…

Edible roots
Arrowroot, Canna edulis
* Cocoyam, Xanthosoma saggitifolia
Golden sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas ‘Marguerite’
Spring or Welsh onion, Allium fistulosum ‘Red Legs’
Spring or Welsh onion, Allium fistulosum
Multiplier spring onion, multiplier scallion, Allium fistulosum
Radish, Raphanus sativus ‘Watermelon’
Daikon or Japanese radish, Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus ‘Long White’
Aerial potato, Dioscorea bulbifera
Winged yam, Dioscorea alata

Edible shoots
Cucumber shoot tips, Cucumis anguria
Ceylon spinach, Basella alba
Pumpkin shoot tips, Cucurbita moschata ‘Jap’

Edible pods
Jute, Corchorus olitorius
Podding radish, Raphanus caudatus

Edible seed
Coriander, Coriandrum sativum
False cardamon, Alpinia nutans
Supersweet corn, Zea mays
Sword bean, Canavalia gladiata

Edible shoots and leaves
Jute, aka Egyptian spinach, Corchorus olitorius
Celery stem taro, aka Tahitian spinach, Alocasia esculenta
Chinese celery, aka smallage, Apium graveolens
Welsh onion, aka spring onion, scallion, Allium fistulosum
Purslane, Portulaca oleracea
Golden sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas ‘Marguerite’
Coriander, Coriandrum sativum
Shungiku, aka edible chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum coronarium
Lebanese cress, Aethionema coridifolium
Huauzontle, Chenopodium berlandieri
Chickweed, Stellaria media
Miners’ lettuce, Claytonia perfoliata (syn. Montia perfoliata)
Multiplier leek, Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum

Edible leaves
Jute, aka Egyptian spinach, Corchorus olitorius
Arrowroot, Canna edulis
Huauzontle, Chenopodium berlandieri
Parsley, Petroselenium crispum ‘Triple Curled’
Parsley, flat-leaved, Petroselenium ‘Giant of Italy’
Mizuna, red-leaved, Brassica juncea var. japonica
Native lemongrass, Cymbopogon ambiguus
Native mint, Mentha satureioides
Golden sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas ‘Marguerite’
Curry leaf, Murraya koenigii
* False cardamom, Alpinia nutans
Moroccan mint, Mentha spicata ‘Nana’
Chives, Allium schoenoprasum
Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum
Society garlic, Tulbaghia violacea ‘Variegata’
Kaffir lime, Citrus hystrix
Radicchio, Cichorium intybus
Sacred basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum
Cassava, Manihot esculentum
Variegated cassava, Manihot esculentum ‘Variegatum’
Vietnamese mint, Persicaria odorata
Variegated four seasons herb, Plectranthus amboinicus ‘Variegatus’
Lemongrass, Cymbopogon flexuosus
Lovage, Levisticum officinale
Phillip Island hibiscus, Hibiscus insularis
* Aloe vera
Aptenia cordifolia
Chaplu, Piper sarmentosum
Dwarf rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Benenden Blue’
Fastigiate rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Miss Jessopp’
Savoy cabbage, Brassica oleracea
Ceylon spinach, Basella alba
Chinese cabbage, Brassica rapa var. chinensis
Mizuna Mixed, Brassica juncea var. japonica
Chinese cabbage, Brassica rapa var. pekinensis ‘Tokyo Bekana’
Pak Choi, Brassica rapa var. chinensis group ‘Chokito’
Tatsoi, Brassica narinosus
Golden oregano, Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’
Pumpkin, Cucurbita moschata ‘Jap’
Coriander, Coriandrum sativum
Lettuce, Lactuca sativa ‘First Fleet’
Lettuce, Lactuca sativa ‘Royal Oakleaf’
Lettuce, Lactuca sativa ‘Butterhead’
Lettuce, Lactuca sativa ‘Lollo Rosso’
Chickweed, Stellaria media
French Tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus
Rosella, Hibiscus sabdariffa
Endive, Cichorium endivia ‘Green Bowl’
Endive, Cichorium endivia ‘Green Curled’
Radicchio, Cichorium intybus ‘Red Verona’
Radicchio, Cichorium intybus ‘Palla Rossa’
Mustard, Brassica juncea ‘Osaka Purple’
Dai Gai Choi, Brassica juncea var. foliosa ‘Wynnum Imperial’
Corn salad, Valerianella locusta ‘Large Dutch’
Watercress, Nasturtium officinale ‘Aqua Large Leaf’
Japanese parsley, Cryptotaenia japonica
Wild rocket, Diplotaxis tenuifolia
Red mizuna, Brassica juncea var. japonica
Hot Mustard Greens, Brassica juncea
Turnip, Brassica rapa subsp. rapa ‘Early Purple Top’
Ethiopian cabbage, Brassica carinata ‘Old Women Meet and Gossip’
Tuscan Kale, Brassica oleracea Acephala Group ‘Laciniato’
Amaranthus gangeticus
Amaranthus tricolor
Amaranthus tricolor ‘Mekong Red’
Amaranthus tricolor ‘Red Callaloo’
Amaranthus tricolor ‘Flaming Fountains’
Green amaranth, Amaranthus viridis
Love-Lies-Bleeding, Amaranthus caudatus
Aniseed, Pimpinella anisata
Garden cress, Lepidium sativum
Dill, Anethum graveolens
Purple fennel, Foeniculum vulgare

Edible flowers
Society garlic, Tulbaghia violacea ‘Variegata’
Pumpkin, Cucurbita moschata ‘Jap’
Aptenia cordifolia
Marigold, Tagetes patula ‘Himalayan’
Rosella, Hibiscus sabdariffa
Banana, Musa x sapientum

Edible buds
Rosella, Hibiscus sabdariffa (outer calyx is edible)

Fruit
Green banana, Musa x sapientum ‘Pisang Ceylan’
Plantain, Musa x sapientum ‘Bluggoe’
Kaffir lime, Citrus hystrix
Lime, Citrus latifolia
Australian lime, Citrus hybrid
Luffa, Luffa cylindrica
Naranjilla, Solanum quitoense
Chilli, Capsicum annuum ‘Siam Gold’
Mouse melon, Melothria scabra
Pawpaw, Carica papaya
West Indian gherkin, Cucumis anguria
Midyim, Austromyrtus dulcis (not a good crop: plants infected with introduced Myrtle rust)

Spice
Cinnamon, Cinnamomum verum
Turmeric, Curcuma longa
Ginger, Zingiber officinale
Galangal, Alpinia galanga
False cardamon, Alpinia nutans

Medicinal
Greater celandine, Chelidonium majus (stem or leaf sap controls warts on hands);
Bulbine frutescens (leaf juice used to treat burns, rashes, infusion for sore throats);
* Aloe vera (leaf juice used to treat sunburn, scratches);

*Plants with an asterisk are cropping heavily.

Jerry Coleby-Williams