The Queensland Gardening Pages

Cottage Gardens including ornamental use of vegetables

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

See Garden Clubs for more gardening groups and community gardens

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"

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.

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

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

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

The Myth of Companion Plantings Washington State University (PDF)

2006 Companion Plant Trials Yard and Garden News, University of Minnesota

Companion Planting: Basic Concept and Resources Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USA

Allelopathy: How Plants Suppress Other Plants University of Florida

Fighting weeds naturally Scientists researching the use of allelopathic compounds to combat weeds

The importance of allelopathy in breeding new cultivars in: Weed Management for Developing Countries, Food and Agriculture Oganisation of the United Nations

Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. (River Red Gum) Water for a healthy country

See also grafted vegetables (below)

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

Growing Vegetables in Containers Cornell 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

More about container gardening in general here: Container gardening

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

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

Growing Tomatoes in the Top End Northern Territory Government, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (PDF)

Growing Tomatoes in the Alice Springs Region Northern Territory Government, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (PDF)

Field Tomato (These notes refer to growing tomatoes on a commercial basis in NT) Northern Territory Government, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (PDF)

Spring Weather Unkind to Tomatoes Purdue University

Tomatoes Not Ripening? Purdue University

Light, Fertilizer and Cultivar Selection Affect Growth and Yield of Containerized Patio Tomatoes University of Florida, USA

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

Success with Summer Tomatoes LSU AgCenter, Louisiana

Common Tomato Disorders under Desert Conditions University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (PDF)

Growing Tomatoes in Southern Nevada University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (PDF)

Easy Gardening...Tomatoes Texas A&M University

Tomatoes won't fruit Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture

As American as Tomatoes Article about the history of tomatoes. Texas A&M University

Tomato Casual Website devoted to growing and using tomatoes. including forum and blog

Capsicum (peppers) and Chillies Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Easy Gardening...Peppers Texas A&M University

Pumpkin Nook dedicated to everything about pumpkins

BigPumpkins.com Website about growing giant pumpkins

Growing Giant Pumpkins In The Home Garden Ohio State University

Squash Blossom Drop Purdue University

Squash Display (Illustrations of many varieies) Missouri Botanical Garden

Pumpkin and Squash in: Insect Pollination Of Cultivated Crop Plants. USDA Agricultural Research Service

Cucumber and Gerkin in: Insect Pollination Of Cultivated Crop Plants. USDA Agricultural Research Service

Growing cucumbers Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture

Bitter Cucumbers A Temporary Problem Purdue University

Easy Gardening...Cucumbers Texas A&M University

Zucchini fruit rotting Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture

Growing Seedless Watermelon University of Florida

Watermelon University of Illinois

Seedless watermelon good eating to soothe the summer heat includes some info on how seedless varieties are produced. Texas A&M University

Growing Watermelon in the Home Garden Ohio State University

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

Watermelon (and Stockmelon, Pie Melon, or Citron Melon) in: Insect Pollination Of Cultivated Crop Plants. USDA Agricultural Research Service

Asian Melons Northern Territory Government, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines

Loofahs, gourds, melons and snake beans Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation, Australia (PDF)

Grow Your Own Sponges (luffa gourd) University of Illinois

Luffa Sponge Gourds: A Potential Crop for Small Farms at the Center for New Crops & Plant Products website

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

Most Queenslanders know this familiar backyard vegetable as "Choko". It's more commonly known internationally as "Chayote". Although it's actually a cucurbit, it differs from other familiar members of that family in having a single-seeded fruit (which is planted whole to propagate) and a perennial habit.

Chayote -- Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, University of Florida, USA

Chayote - A Small, Multipurpose Squash Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, New york

Neglected crops 1492 from a different perspective FAO Plant Production and Protection Series, no.26. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. See section on Chayote (Sechium edule), in additon to the many other interesting species covered in this publication)

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

Chayote Production Guidelines for Hawaii (PDF)

Chayotes in Alabama? Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Chayote Texas A&M University

Unusual Vegetables - The Chayote University of Florida

Sorting Sechium names Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database, University of Melbourne

Possible Misspellings: Chokos, Chokoes, Chokeo, Choke-o

Cabbage growing Department of Primary Industries, Victoria (PDF)

Growing Chinese cabbage Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Chinese flowering cabbage (Choy sum) Department of Primary Industries, Victoria (PDF)

Evaluating Chinese Cabbage Cultivars for High Temperature Tolerance at the Center for New Crops & Plant Products website

Easy Gardening...Collards Texas A&M University

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

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

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

Sweet Potato University of Illinois

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

Eggplant Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Eggplant Department of Primary Industries, Victoria (PDF)

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

Easy Gardening...Sweet Corn Texas A&M 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

Production of fresh beans Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Easy Gardening...Green Beans Texas A&M University

Snake Bean Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, Northern Territory (PDF)

Growing Snake Beans in the Top End Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, Northern Territory (PDF)

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

Loofahs, gourds, melons and snake beans Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation, Australia (PDF)

Yard Long Bean in Exotic Crops Production in Hawaii, University of Hawaii

Southern peas & Yardlong or Asparagus bean LSU AgCenter, Louisiana

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

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

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

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

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

Taro NSW Department of Primary industries

The Taro Page by Windward Community College, Hawaii, USA

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

Boab: Adansonia gregori Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants

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

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

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)

Growing Lettuce Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Organic Farming: Carrot Production Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Garlic Texas A&M University

Organic Garlic Production Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USA

Garlic and Elephant Garlic National Vegetable Society, UK

Cultivating Garlic and Elephant Garlic National Vegetable Society, UK

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

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

Hills and Plains Seedsavers South Australia

GardenGal Adelaide

The Myth of Organic Superiority Washington State University (PDF)

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