There’s just 112 different types of edible available right now, less than in late winter, since many crops sown are still juvenile.

Winter in Brisbane is perfect for mushroom growing on the cheap. In cool conditions, mushroom fly (Lycoriella sp.) ceases egg laying, so its maggots don’t riddle mushrooms with holes.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I buy spent mushroom compost (eg compost that has produced a commercial crop) and mulch beds containing perennial crops, like cassava, ginger or turmeric. A 10cm deep layer conserves moisture whilst improving the soil – earthworms love it. By sprinkling it with the hose each day, keeping it evenly moist, within ten days it sprouts delicious fresh mushrooms.

In production at Bellis now
(* = in bulk)

From the 300 square metres under cultivation

Fungi
White or Button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus

Edible roots
Arrowroot, Canna edulis
* Cocoyam, Xanthosoma saggitifolia
Golden sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas ‘Marguerite’
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
Turnip, Brassica rapa subsp. rapa ‘Early Purple’

Edible shoots
Ceylon spinach, Basella alba

Edible pods
Podding radish, Raphanus caudatus

Edible seed
Coriander, Coriandrum sativum
Sword bean, Canavalia gladiata
Pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan
Coffee, Coffea arabica ‘First Fleet’
Chilean Wine palm, Jubaea chilensis

Edible shoots and leaves
Celery stem taro, aka Tahitian spinach, Alocasia esculenta
Chinese celery, aka smallage, Apium graveolens
Welsh onion, aka spring onion, scallion, Allium fistulosum
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
Watercress, Nasturtium officinale ‘Aqua Large-Leaf’

Edible flowers
Phillip Island Hibiscus, Hibiscus insularis
Cobbler’s Pegs, Bidens pilosa
Aptenia cordifolia
French marigold, Tagetes patula ‘Himalayan’
French marigold, Tagetes patula ‘Scarlet Sophia’
French marigold, Tagetes patula Mixed
Green banana, Musa x sapientum ‘Pisang Ceylan’
Heartsease, Viola tricolor ‘Johnny Jump Up’

Fruit
Green banana, Musa x sapientum ‘Pisang Ceylan’
Plantain, Musa x sapientum ‘Bluggoe’
Kaffir lime, Citrus hystrix
Lime, Citrus latifolia
Australian lime, Citrus hybrid
Pumpkin, Cucurbita moschata ‘Jap’
Chilli, Capsicum annuum ‘Siam Gold’
Pawpaw, Carica papaya
Dwarf pineapple, Ananas nanus

Spice
Cinnamon, Cinnamomum verum
Turmeric, Curcuma longa
Ginger, Zingiber officinale
Galangal, Alpinia galangal

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

Edible leaves
Chervil, Anthriscus cerefolius
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
Moroccan mint, Mentha spicata ‘Nana’
White peppermint, Mentha x piperita ‘Officinalis’
Vietnamese mint, Persicaria odorata
Golden sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas ‘Marguerite’
Curry leaf, Murraya koenigii
* False cardamom, Alpinia nutans
Chives, Allium schoenoprasum
Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum
Society garlic, Tulbaghia violacea ‘Variegata’
Society garlic, Tulbaghia violacea ‘Fairy Stars’
Kaffir lime, Citrus hystrix
Radicchio, Cichorium intybus
Sacred basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum
Lemon basil, Ocimum x citriodorum
Cassava, Manihot esculentum
Variegated cassava, Manihot esculentum ‘Variegatum’
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’
Ceylon spinach, Basella alba
Chinese cabbage, Brassica rapa var. chinensis
Mizuna Mixed, Brassica juncea var. japonica
Chinese cabbage, Brassica rapa var. pekinensis ‘Tokyo Bekana’
Tatsoi, Brassica narinosus
Golden oregano, Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’
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
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’
Ethiopian cabbage, Brassica carinata ‘Old Women Meet and Gossip’
Tuscan Kale, Brassica oleracea Acephala Group ‘Laciniato’
Amaranthus tricolor ‘Mekong Red’
Amaranthus tricolor ‘Red Callaloo’
Amaranthus tricolor ‘Flaming Fountains’
Green amaranth, Amaranthus viridis
Love-lies-bleeding, Amaranthus caudatus
Garden cress, Lepidium sativum
Dill, Anethum graveolens
Purple fennel, Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’
Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus ‘Jewel Mixed’
Thyme, Thymus serpyllum
Variegated kale, Brassica oleracea Acephala Group

112 taxa

Jerry Coleby-Williams
23rd June 2012