Here’s my subtropical food garden’s winter menu:
Edible roots
Arrowroot, Canna edulis
Carrot, Daucus carota ‘Paris Market’
Cassava, Manihot esculenta
Cassava, Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’
Cocoyam, Xanthosoma saggitifolia
Jerusalem artichoke, Helianthus tuberosus ‘Dwarf Sunray’
Radish, Raphanus sativus ‘Sparkler’
Edible leaves
Basil, Greek, Ocimum minimum
Basil, sacred, Ocimum tenuiflorum
Cassava, Manihot esculenta
Cabbage, Chinese, Brassica rapa var. pekinensis ‘Tokyo Bekana’
Cabbage, Ethiopian, Brassica carinata ‘Old Women Meet and Gossip’
Cassava, Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’
Celery stem taro, aka Tahitian spinach, Alocasia esculenta
Cha-plu, Piper sarmentosum
Chickweed, Stellaria media
Chicory, Cichorium intybus
Chicory, Cichorium intybus ‘Red Dandelion’
Chinese cabbage, Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis ‘Red Choi’
Chinese cabbage, Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis ‘Pe Tsai’
Chinese celery, aka smallage, Apium graveolens
Chinese spinach, Amaranthus tricolor
Chinese spinach, Amaranthus tricolor ‘Flying Colours’
Chinese spinach, Amaranthus tricolor ‘Mekong Red’
Chives, Allium schoenoprasum
Coriander, Coriandrum sativum
Coriander, Thai, Eryngium foetidum
Cranberry Hibiscus, Hibiscus acetosella
Curry bush, Helichrysum italicum
Curry leaf, Murraya koenigii
Dai Gai Choi, Brassica juncea var. foliosa ‘Wynnum Imperial’
Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale
Dill, Anethum graveolens
Edible Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum coronarium
Endive, Cichorium endivia ‘Pancellari Fine Cut’
Eschallot, Allium cepa var. aggregatum
Fennel, Florence, Foeniculum vulgare Azoricum Group ‘Zefa-Fino’
Fennel, Bronze, Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’
Garlic, wet neck, Allium sativum
Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum
Green Amaranth, Amaranthus viridis
Huauzontle, Chenopodium berlandieri
Japanese parsley, Cryptotaenia japonica
Kaffir lime, Citrus hystrix
Kale, Variegated, Brassica oleracea ‘Variegata’
Kale, Brassica oleracea ‘Red Russian’
Kohl Rabi, Brassica oleracea gongyloides group ‘Purple Vienna’
Lagos spinach, Celosia spicata
Lebanese cress, Aethionema coridifolium
Leek, multiplier, Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum
Lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus
Lemongrass, Native, Cymbopogon flexuosus
Lettuce, Lactuca sativa ‘First Fleet’
Lettuce, Lactuca sativa ‘Royal Purple Oakleaf’
Lettuce, Miner’s, Claytonia perfoliata (syn. Montia perfoliata)
Mangelwurzel, Beta vulgaris Crassa Group
Marjoram, Origanum marjorana
Mexican Tarragon, Tagetes lucida
Mexican tree spinach, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius
Mint, Nan & Grandad’s variety, Mentha sp.
Mint, native, Mentha satureoides
Mint, Moroccan, Mentha spicata
Mountain spinach, Atriplex hortensis ‘Atropurpurea’
Mustard, Brassica juncea ‘Osaka Purple’
Mustard, Brassica juncea ‘Red’
Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus
Nettle, Annual, Urtica urens
Old man saltbush, Atriplex nummularia
Pak Choi, Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis ‘Shanghai’
Pandan, Pandanus amaryllifolius
Parsley, Petroselenium crispum ‘Italian flat-leaved’
Purslane, Wild, Portulaca oleracea
Radicchio, Cichorium intybus
Rocket, Wall or wild, Eruca saliva
Sage, Salvia officinalis ‘Atropurpurea’
Sage, Salvia officinalis ‘Variegata’
Silverbeet, Beta vulgaris cicla ‘Rainbow Mixed’
Spinach, Spinacia oleracea ‘Giant Noble’
Society garlic, Tulbaghia violacea ‘Variegata’
Society garlic, Tulbaghia violacea ‘Fairy Stars’
Stinking Roger, Tagetes minuta
Sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas ‘Ace of Spades’
Sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas ‘Marguerite’
Swinecress, Coronopus didymus
Turnip, Flowering, Brassica rapa var. rapa ‘Cima di Rapa Quarantina’
Thyme, Golden, Thymus serpyllum ‘Aurea’
Variegated four seasons herb, Plectranthus amboinicus ‘Variegatus’
Variegated four seasons herb, Plectranthus amboinicus ‘Bayside Beauty’
Vietnamese mint, Persicaria odorata (just hanging in!)
Warrigal greens, Tetragonia tetragonioides
Watercress, Nasturtium officinale
Welsh onion, aka spring onion, scallion, Allium fistulosum
Welsh onion, perennial, aka perennial spring onion or scallion, Allium fistulosum
Zucchini, Cucumis pepo ‘Lebanese’
Fungi
Mushroom, white button, Agaricus bisporus
Edible petals
Banana, Musa x sapientum ‘Java Blue’
Banana, Musa x sapientum ‘Ladyfinger’
Banana, Musa x sapientum ‘Pisang Ceylan’
Bedding Begonia, Begonia semperflorens
Beetroot, Beta vulgaris ‘McGregor’s Favourite’
Cha-plu, Piper sarmentosum
Cranberry Hibiscus, Hibiscus acetosella (excellent for tea)
Fig-marigold, Aptenia cordifolia
Goldenrod, Solidago sp.
Pansy, Viola tricolor ‘Johnny Jump Up’
Pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan
Rocket, Wall or wild, Eruca sativa
Stinking Roger, Tagetes minuta
Edible seed
Chilean wine palm, Jubaea chilensis
Pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan
Fruit
Banana (green), Musa x sapientum ‘Ladyfinger’
Capsicum, ‘golden’, a home raised cultivar, Capsicum annuum
Chilli, Capsicum annuum ‘Portuguese Peri Peri’
Chilli, Capsicum annuum ‘Siam Gold’
Kaffir lime, Citrus hystrix
Lemon, Citrus x limon ‘Meyer’
Lime, sweet, Citrus x latifolia ‘Australian Sweet Lime’
Lime, Tahitian, Citrus x latifolia
Mandarin, Citrus x reticulata ‘Ellendale’
Pawpaw, Carica papaya ‘Southern Red’
Pepino, Solanum muricatum
Tomato, Cherry, Lycopersicon esculentum ‘Sweetbite’
Medicinal / Spices
Aloe vera – leaf juice used to heal sunburn, scratches, and for shampoo
Annual nettle, Urtica urens – leaf and stem juice used to staunch bleeding
Bulbine frutescens – leaf juice used to treat burns, rashes, as an infusion for sore throats
Brahmi herb, Bacopa monnieri – aids cognitive function
Cinnamon, Cinnamomum verum
Cardamom, Eletteria cardamomum
Cardamom, False, Alpinia nutans
Galangal, Alpinia galangal – spice used like ginger with similar properties
Ginger, Culinary, Zingiber officinalis – spice that helps decongestion of catarrh, aids digestion, blood flow
Ginger, Shampoo, SPECIES UNKNOWN – from Seed Savers. Juice from leaves and roots (rhizomes) used to wash hair
Greater celandine, Chelidonium majus – stem juice kills warts on hands
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum – juice used to heal wounds, relieve toothache, staunch bleeding
Krachai (root), Boesenbergia rotunda
Rosemary, dwarf, Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Benenden Blue’
Rosemary, fastigiate, Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Miss Jessopp’
Skullcap, Scutellaria lateriflora (young seedlings)
Turmeric, Curcuma longa – spice with anti-cancer properties
118 taxa
Jerry Coleby-Williams
1st August 2014
Jerry Coleby-Williams 
Hello Jerry,
I have in my garden most of my curry ingredients, ginger, turmeric, galangal, curry leaves, coriander etc, but did not get any fruit off my cardamom. The nursery that sold me the plant 4 years ago said it was a “true” cardamom, but never fruited in the 4 years I had it in the garden.
I eventually dug it up (which was a major undertaking).
So was I sold a pup, and do you get pods from your cardomom plant?
regards
Bribie Dave
I could have written this blog just for you! See: https://jerry-coleby-williams.net/2013/02/17/seeking-true-cardamom/
I am stunned & amazed & very impressed, Jerry, even though I’m always impressed by what you do.
Thanks, but it’s merely force of habit 🙂
This is a great list Jerry, lots of interesting ideas here even for us warm temperate gardeners in Adelaide.
Do you recall where you got your Mexican Tree Spinach (Chaya) from? I can’t find any commercial suppliers in Australia. I think it’s worth a try here.
from the Catlin family, private collectors at Jacob’s Well, I filmed them a year ago. They don’t sell stock, sorry
Do you actually use your arrowroot? Every time I look up uses for it I’m disappointed – a thickener basically, rather than a food.
Use the search facility to check this website, including my blog. Also the Gardening Australia website for uses. In 2009, I served 150 guests a special Open Day gourmet lunch cooked by local chefs. Arrowroot patties was an entree.