The Queensland Gardening Pages

This collection of links about vegetables and vegetable gardening (emphasisising Qld or places with similar conditions) is being built up over time. It's far from comprehensive at this stage, but you nevertheless may find some useful info here.

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Queensland. Check the Qld DPI website for up-to-date news about important pest and diseases outbreaks etc in Queensland.

Northey Street City Farm Windsor, Brisbane

Veggie Village Community Garden at Peregian Beach

For more clubs and community groups, go to the clubs page

Gustoso Blog about gardening and cooking in Brisbane

My Veggie Garden Blog from Toowoomba

In an attempt to cover some of the more traditional western vegetable species, some websites originating from colder/wetter climates have been included here. Keep this in mind when viewing the information (in addition to the region-specific details contained in most publications)

Vegetables Northern Territory Government, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines

Vegetable - commodity growing guides Department of Primary Industries, NSW

Vegetables Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

The World Vegetable Center promotes vegetable production and consumption to improve conditions in developing countries. A variety of growing information available under "extension materials"

ECHO An organisation helping people in developing countries overcome hunger. Lots of information on crops and techniques for difficult conditions at their website

Vegetable Crop Guides Texas A&M University

Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide University of Florida

Watch Your Garden Grow - A Guide to growing, storing and preparing vegetables University of Illinois Extension

Vegetable Growing Guides Cornell University, USA

Insect Pollination Of Cultivated Crop Plants Includes information on a variety of vegetables. United States Department of Agriculture

Access to Asian Vegetables Thesaurus Helping identify Asian vegetables by the many common names they go by. Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Rainfall (or lack of it) is an obvious problem for Qld vegge growers, but there are many other ways that climatic conditions can effect production

Some veggies like the heat Mississippi State University

Time To Plant Heat-tolerant Veggies LSU AgCenter, Louisiana

Vegetable Gardening in Moapa and Virgin Valleys (Some insights into growing vegetables in hot dry conditions.) University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (PDF)

Home Vegetable Production in Southern Nevada (Includes some advice for growing in strong sun.) University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (PDF)

Why Garden Plants Fail To Produce Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information, University of Arizona

With Hot Weather Comes Garden Woes Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information, University of Arizona

Some vegetables that will accept a little shade National Vegetable Society, U.K.

Give garden vegetables the water they need, when they need it Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

How to cut water use in the vegetable garden Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

How to discourage your veggies from bolting Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

More about the effects on gardens in general here: Weather and Climate

Vegetables and small fruits in the tropics at the ECHO website

Vegetables - Shade Tolerance Walter Reeves. Georgia

Soil temperature condition for vegetable seed germination Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County

Temperatures and times required for growing plants for field transplanting Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County

While local conditions and cultural techniques will always mean that it's not possible to dictate hard-and-fast rules about when to plant particular crops, many beginners will feel that a guide will be helpful. Seed packets, local publications and broadcasts, district garden clubs etc are sources of information, although you might have trouble finding a comprehensive guide specific to your area.

The following websites have planting guides:

Brisbane Organic Growers Inc. website, which has a month-to-month guide to planting and garden tasks

Gardenate A website that offers lists of what to plant each month for various climatic zones

The following vegetable sowing calenders from the Northern Territory Government may be useful to residents of Qld in comparable climatic areas:
Darwin & Katherine Regions
Tennant Creek & Barkly Region
Alice Springs Region

Organic vegetable production - soil management and crop establishment NSW Department of Primary Industries

Lead Contamination in the Garden Ohio State University

The Myth of Protected Preservatives (PDF) Discusses the issue of whether chemicals in pressure-treated timber can affect soil or plants. Washington State University

Organic Alternatives to Treated Lumber Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USA

Gardening and Landscaping with Wood Addresses some of the problems using timber in the landscape. Ohio State University. (Note that timbers species and treatments may be different in Australia).

Treated Lumber and Alternatives in the Garden Purdue University

Treated Wood for Raised Garden Beds University of Tennessee (PDF)

More about soils in general here: Soils

See also grafted vegetables (below)

Veggie-Might: Growing Vegetables in Containers Blog from the Gold Coast, Qld

Vegetable Gardening in Containers University of Florida

Intensive Gardening Methods Virginia Cooperative Extension

Intensive Organic Gardening Ohio State University

Grow Vegetable Vines in Small Spaces Developing Countries Farm Radio Network

Vegetable Garden: Container garden University of Arizona

Container Vegetable Gardening Clemson University, South Carolina

Vegetable Gardening In Containers Texas A&M University

Vegetables - Growing in Containers Walter Reeves. Georgia

Container Vegetable Gardening North Carolina State University

Growing Vegetables in Containers Cornell University

Container vegetable gardens good for small spaces Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

Minigardening (Growing Vegetables in Containers) University of Florida

Vegetable Gardening in Containers Virginia Cooperative Extension

Container Gardening in the Desert A blog about growing vegetables in containers in Las Vegas, Nevada

Growing vegetables in containers indoors Utah State University

Mini vegetables - crops of the future? National Vegetable Society, UK

Interest in patio gardens spreads Mostly about growing vegetables. Mississippi State University

Methods to grow vegetables and flowers in small spaces Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

Mini-Gardening (Gardening in limited space) North Carolina State University

Vegetable garden: Intensive gardening methods Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County

Intensive Gardening Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County

Healthy Harvests from Small Spaces University of Maryland Extension (PDF)

More about container gardening in general here: Container gardening

Rotating crops in garden may help fight disease Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

Damping-off disease may prove fatal to veggie seedlings Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

More about pest and disease control in the garden generally here: Pests and Diseases. See also information for specific crops (see below)

These links have been moved to the Pests and Diseases page

How long do garden seeds last? Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

Vegetable garden: Seed for the garden Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County

How are hybrid and open-pollinated vegetables different? Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

Hybrid? Open-pollinated? Clonal?...What's the difference? Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

(See also information about pollination on the Flowering and fruiting page)

Some types of vegetables may be grafted for disease resistance or other benefits. In some cases, a perennial rootstock might give a longer life to species usually grown as annuals. This could be appealing those growing in small gardens or containers, althought the plants will undoubtedly be more expensive to purchase in this form.

Grafting of Vegetables to Improve Greenhouse Production Food & Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific region

Grafting eggfruit to control bacterial wilt Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Qld

Tomato Grafting (an illustrated guide) Northern Territory Government, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (PDF)

Grafting Tomatoes for Bacterial Wilt Control Northern Territory Government, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (PDF)

Grafting Tomatoes Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County

Grafting Snake Beans to Control Fusarium Wilt Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, Northern Territory (PDF)

These links have been moved to a new page: Tomatoes

These links have been moved to a new page: Tomatoes, Capsicums, Chillies, Eggplant

These links have been moved to a new page: Tomatoes, Capsicums, Chillies, Eggplant

These links have been moved to a new page: Cucurbits

These links have been moved to a new page: Cucurbits

These links have been moved to a new page: Beans

The Edible Pea, from A to Z Washington State University Clark County Extension

Commodity growing guides - Snow peas and sugar snap peas NSW Department of Primary Industries

Growing Peas for Fresh Market Victoria Department of Primary Industries

Snow Pea and Sugar Snap Pea Victoria Department of Primary Industries

Peas Jefferson Farm & Gardens, Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute, Missouri (PDF)

Snow peas and sugar snap peas NSW Agriculture

Home Garden Edible-Podded Pea, University of Hawaii at Manoa (PDF)

Pea Shoots Washington State University (PDF)

These links have been moved to a new page: Cabbages

These links have been moved to a new page: Cabbages, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Radish and other Brassicas

Growing lettuce - Common questions Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries

Growing Lettuce Victoria Department of Primary Industries

Lettuce for the Home Garden University of Hawaii at Manoa (PDF)

Home Garden Lettuce North Carolina State University

Growing Lettuce in the Home Garden Ohio State University

Lettuce University of Illinois Extension

Commodity growing guides - Field lettuce production NSW Department of Primary Industries

Growing Lettuce Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Grow a salad this winter by adding lettuce to your garden University of Florida (PDF)

Growing Lettuce on the High Desert Colorado State University

Celtuce - Lactuca sativa var. asparagina L. University of Florida

Growing sweetpotatoes: Before you start Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Qld

Growing sweetpotatoes: Common questions Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Qld

Sweetpotato seedbeds: Producing sprouts as planting material Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Qld

Sweetpotato: Organic Production Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USA

Sweet Potato University of Illinois

Sweet Potato Jefferson Farm & Gardens, Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute, Missouri (PDF)

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Sweetpotato Roots Food & Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific region

Sweet potato, kumara, uwi, ubi, or U.S. yam (Ipomoea batatas) Washington State University Clark County Extension

Sweetpotatoes: Producing pathogen tested sweetpotato planting material Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Qld

Growing sweet corn: Before you start Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Qld

Commodity growing guides - Sweet corn NSW Department of Primary Industries

Easy Gardening...Sweet Corn Texas A&M University

Corn delivers the sweet taste of sunshine Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

Harvest baby ears from your corn patch Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

Beetroot: Commercial production (fresh market) Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Qld

Beta vulgaris L. Center for New Crops & Plant Products, Purdue University, USA

Beta vulgaris from Sturtevant's Notes on Edible Plants 1919

Commodity growing guides - Silver beet NSW Department of Primary Industries

Swiss Chard - Beta vulgaris L. (Cicla group) University of Florida

Grow chard for vitamin-rich green Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

Swiss Chard from "Handbook of Energy Crops

Chard or Swiss Chard Louisiana State University

Swiss Chard Texas A&M University

Swiss Chard Handbook of Energy Crops

Beet Jefferson Farm & Gardens, Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute, Missouri (PDF)

Beet Production North Carolina State University

World Carrot Museum A virtual museum providing information on carrot history, cultivation tips, uses and trivia

Carrot Jefferson Farm & Gardens, Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute, Missouri (PDF)

Daucus carota Ecocrop database, Food and Agriculture Organization

Organic Farming: Carrot Production Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Organic Farming: Carrot Production Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Organic Farming: Weed Control in Organic Carrots - Implements Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Commercial Carrot Production North Carolina State University

The New Mighty Maroon/Purple Carrot World Carrot Museum

Plant Pigments for Color and Nutrition University of Wisconsin, Madison

Design and assessment of nutritionally enhanced carrots with unusual pigments USDA

Parsnips: Commercial production Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Qld

Parsnip Jefferson Farm & Gardens, Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute, Missouri (PDF)

These links have been moved to a new page: Onions, Garlic, Shallots and other Onion Relatives

Known as "rosella" to Qlders, this plant is more commonly known as "roselle" internationally.

Roselle -- Hibiscus sabdariffa L. University of Florida

Roselle Fruits of Warm Climates by Julia F. Morton. Information from the book available online at the NewCROPTM website (Center for New Crops & Plant Products, Purdue University, USA)

Effect of Nitrogen Nutrition on Roselle at the Center for New Crops & Plant Products website

Red Sorrel, Hibiscus sabdariffa - The Other "Cranberry" Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

The Red Tea of Egypt Article about the spread and use of Hibiscus sabdariffa around the world, including Qld. Saudi Aramco World magazine

Roselle, My Cup of Zing at the Hawaii Gardening blog

Growing okra Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Qld

Okra Jefferson Farm & Gardens, Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute, Missouri

Growing Okra for South & Central Texas Homeowners Texas A&M University

Easy Gardening...Okra Texas A&M University

Okra University of Illinois

Okra in: Insect Pollination Of Cultivated Crop Plants. USDA Agricultural Research Service

Okra in the Garden LSU AgCenter, Louisiana

Abelmoschus esculentus Flowers of India

Growing Okra Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County

Okra Production North Carolina State University

Asparagus in Queensland: Commercial production Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries

Asparagus pests and diseases Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries

Commercial production of asparagus Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries

Asparagus Jefferson Farm & Gardens, Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute, Missouri (PDF)

Home Garden Asparagus Production North Carolina State University

Commercial Asparagus Production North Carolina State University

Spinach, Malabar - Basella rubra L. University of Florida

Basella alba var. rubra The Herb Society of America

Suggested Cultural Practices for Basella The World Vegetable Centre (PDF)

Basella alba Plants for a Future

Malabar Spinach Cornell University

Malabar Spinach Basella alba var. rubra at Flowers of India

Basella alba - Malabar Spinach University of Oklahoma

Yam bean (Jicama, Pachyrhizus erosus) Qld Govt factsheet available at the Rare Fruit Council of Australia website (PDF)

Yam bean - Jicama NSW Department of Primary industries

Jicama Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Jicama (Yam Bean, MexicanTurnip) Texas A&M University

Jicama Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis

Jicama Economic Botany, The Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, University of California

Pachyrhizus erosus Missouri Botanical Garden

Beautiful Yam Bean Flowers (Pachyrhizus erosus) Gardening with Wilson, Singapore

NB: Don't confuse Abelmoschus manihot, a relative of the hibiscus, with cassava (Manihot esculenta), which is an entirely different plant

Aibeka (Abelmoschus manihot, syn. Hibiscus manihot) Rare Fruit Council of Australia (PDF)

Aibika (Abelmoschus manihot) Qld Govt factsheet available at the Rare Fruit Council of Australia website (PDF)

Abelmoschus manihot Ecocrop database, Food and Agriculture Organization

Abelmoschus manihot Flowers of India

Abelmoschus moschatus Ecocrop database, Food and Agriculture Organization

Abelmoschus moschatus AgroForestryTree Database

Amaranth Qld Govt factsheet available at the Rare Fruit Council of Australia website (PDF)

Wonderful World of Amaranth Charlotte County Cooperative Extension Service, Florida (PDF)

Amaranthus tricolor (vegetable group) Missouri Botanical Garden

Ecocrop Information about many diverse species. Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN

Plants For A Future Information about unusual plants useful to mankind, including many edibles

The Famine Foods Database at the Center for New Crops & Plant Products website. Information on plants that aren't usually grown for food

Asia Food Glossary of Asian ingredients including many vegetables. Asia Society

Specialty Vegetables in Texas Information about some of the more unusual vegetable crops

Perennial Leaf Vegetables The Overstory, Agroforestry ejournal

Leaves to live by: perennial leaf vegetables (PDF)

Traditional African Vegetables Proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in Africa. Bioversity International

Secondary Edible Parts of Vegetables Texas A&M University

Traditional African Vegetables Proceedings of a International Plant Genetic Resources Institute workshop. Bioversity International

Kitchen Gardening A variey or articles including some unusual herbs and vegetables. Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

A Typical West Indian Fruit and Vegetable Garden (Some interesting notes on Cassava and other tropical crops) St. George Village Botanical Garden, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands

Vegetable Gardening - Tropical Style La Gringa's Blogicito, Honduras

Growing taro (Colocasia esculenta) Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Qld

Taro - The plant Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Qld

Taro NSW Department of Primary industries

The Taro Page by Windward Community College, Hawaii, USA

Harvesting Colocasia at India Garden (blog)

Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database Bishop Museum

Andean Roots and Tuber Crops Ahipa, arracacha, maca, yacon

Commercialisation of Boab Tubers (Adansonia gregorii) Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

Boab: Adansonia gregori Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants

Malunggay : The Miracle Vegetable (Moringa) Agriculture Business Week, Phillipines

Moringa oleifera (Horseradish Tree) The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, California USA

The home page of the plant family Moringaceae by Mark E Olson

New Zealand Spinach Cornell University

Rungia klossii Ecocrop database, Food and Agriculture Organization

Rungia klossii Mushroom Plant The Florez Nursery blog, NSW

Rare plant entry no4. Mushroom plant. Rungia klossii post at the "In the shade of a nut tree..." blog, Sydney

Sauropus androgynus Ecocrop database, Food and Agriculture Organization

Getting to know Sauropus androgynus Gardening with Wilson, Singapore

Chinese Water Chestnut Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USA

Culture of Long Yam, Using a Tube (Dioscorea opposita, Chinese yam) Food & Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific region

Kang Kong Northern Territory Government, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (PDF)

Kangkong Northern Territory Government, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (PDF)

Ipomoea aquatica var. reptans Kang Kong. Ecocrop database, Food and Agriculture Organization

Kang Kong in FLOWER! Gardening with Wilson, Singapore

Vegetables from the Kampong Blog post about some tropical edibles traditionally grown in Singapore Garden Voices blog, National Parks Singapore

English spinach: Commercial production Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Qld

Spinach Jefferson Farm & Gardens, Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute, Missouri (PDF)

Spinach North Carolina State University

Growing rhubarb Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries

Growing rhubarb in Western Australia Western Australian Agriculture Authority

Rhubarb Jefferson Farm & Gardens, Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute, Missouri (PDF)

Growing Jerusalem Artichokes North Carolina State University

Commercial Celery Production in Eastern NC North Carolina State University

Microgreens - A New Specialty Crop in: NFREC News, Nov 17, 2008. University of Florida (PDF)

Potatoes Grow Tomatoes? Purdue University

Colored Mulch for the Home Vegetable Garden Enhancing vegetable crops with plastic films that selectively reflect/transmit certain wavelengths of light

Can a Vegetable Garden Save You Money? Iowa State University

Save a year's salary by growing your own veg This is a media release about the UK's Royal Horticultural Society 'Grow Your Own Veg' 2008 campaign.

The Year-Long GRS Project: How Much Does a Garden Really Save? at the Get Rich Slowly blog. Check blog for latest updates on this project.

Edible gardens - building a raised garden bed at the "Go For Your Life" website, Victorian government

N.B. More on raised garen beds here: garden edging

Hills and Plains Seedsavers South Australia

GardenGal Adelaide

The Myth of Organic Superiority Washington State University (PDF)

The Three-hour Plot Vegetable growing in Sydney

My little vegetable garden Blog from Putrajaya, Malaysia

Use of herbs, fruit and vegetables in an decorative way is covered further on the Cottage Gardens page

If you're interested in growing yourown vegetables to save money, you might alos be interested in the Budget Gardening page