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

Under the Choko Tree Variety of articles about self sufficiency in the suburbs. Sydney

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

Heat Stress on Vegetables Alabama Cooperative Extension System

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.

The effect of shade on the bio-climate and production of vegetable crops Reproduction of a 1965 article, Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society (PDF)

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

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

Latin and Caribbean Cultures Contribute Vegetables For Summer Hendry County Extension Service, Univ Florida

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

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

How to Prepare a Garden Bed: To Dig or Not to Dig University of Florida (PDF)

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 Cooperative Extension (PDF)

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

The Out-of-the-Ordinary Vegetables: Miniature Vegetables Cornell University Cooperative Extension (PDF)

Mini-Gardening North Carolina State University

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

See also information about pollination on the Flowering and fruiting page and general germination and seed raising issues on the Seeds 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

Growing vegetable transplants for the home garden North Carolina State University

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

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.

Vegetable Grafting Information Website University of Arizona

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)

Tomatoes - go to: Tomatoes

Capsicums and Chillies - go to: Tomatoes, Capsicums, Chillies, Eggplant

Eggplant - go to: Tomatoes, Capsicums, Chillies, Eggplant

Pumpkins, Cucumbers, Melons and other Cucurbits - go to: Cucurbits

Choko - go to: Cucurbits

Peas, smow peas, sugar snap peas - go to: Peas

Beans, Snake beans, Winged beans and other "beans" - go to: Beans

Cabbages, Broccoli, Cauliflower - go to: Brassicas

Radish, Turnip - go to: Brassicas

Lettuce - go to: Lettuce

Sweet Potato - go to: Sweet Potato

Beetroot, Silverbeet - go to: Beetroot and Silverbeet

Carrots and Parsnips - go to: Carrots

Onions, Garlic, Shallots - go to: Onions & Relatives

Rosella and Okra - go to: Rosella and Okra

Unusual / Tropical / Alternative Vegetables - go to: Unusual Vegetables

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

Commodity growing guides - Sweet corn NSW Department of Primary Industries

Sweet Corn Production Victoria 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

Specialty Corns New Mexico 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

International Potato Center (Centro Internacional de la Papa)

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

Potatoes Grow Tomatoes? Purdue University

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

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

Spinach North Carolina State University

Garden Peas and Spinach from the Middle East Discusses history of Spinach (Spinacea oleracea). Texas A&M 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

Cichorium intybus Ecocrop database, Food and Agriculture Organization Organization

Portulaca oleracea Ecocrop database, Food and Agriculture Organization

Purslane - Portulaca oleracea L. University of Florida

Purslane: A ubiquitous garden weed with nutritional potential Reproduction of a 1987 article, Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society (PDF)

Common Purslane, Portulaca oleracea University of Wisconsin-Extension Master Gardener Program

Microgreens University of Illinois Extension

Microgreens: A New Specialty Crop University of Florida

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

Italian Gardening Blog about growing Italian fruits and vegetables in Pennsylvania

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 also be interested in the Budget Gardening page