Before colonisation, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia utilised native plants for food, medicine, and tools. Food was, and continues to be, an integral part of First Nations tradition and culture. Whilst white settlers did make use of some of the indigenous plants, it was not done so extensively, and adoption of native crops is generally considered to be short-lived.

However, as we shift towards a more climate-conscious future, hundreds of species of native edible plants are now grown and sold in nurseries around the country, making them readily available for all to enjoy. If you are considering growing your own edible garden, read below for essential design elements and gardening tips to get your garden pantry up and running!

Assess Your Space

Before getting swept up in digging holes and buying plants, take time to consider your space and develop a design that works for you.

Choose your canvas

Think of your garden space as an artist’s canvas; when creating a masterpiece, every layer from the background to the highlighted foreground is equally important. In a garden sense, your fence is the background, a blank canvas ready to be ‘painted’ with a food forest.

Many people use Colorbond fencing because it’s designed to withstand the extremes of the Australian climate, and it comes in a variety of different colours. If you live in a coastal region you might consider a white or pale yellow fence to blend in with the sand. Or a contrasting blue to peep through the gaps in the foliage and give the impression of the ocean being in your backyard.

Space limitations

It’s possible to create a unique edible garden regardless of the growing space. Balconies with planters or pots, vertical gardens, or even the verge outside your residence (check with your local council) are all suitable for growing natives. Larger trees might not be the best option for pots or small backyards, but with so many edible natives to choose from, there are plants to suit all spaces.

Climate and soil

Using a simple definition of climate, Australia has six zones: equatorial, tropical, subtropical, desert, grassland and temperate. Plants generally grow best in areas they are endemic to or places that have similar growing conditions.

Many Australian natives prefer what may be considered “poor” soil quality, especially in sandy coastal and arid regions. Ensure you read the directions that come with plants and, if you use potting mix and fertilisers, buy bags that are specifically for natives.

Choose Plants That Work for You

There are three main factors to consider when deciding on what to plant: purpose, growing conditions and aesthetics.

What do you want to eat?

Australian natives offer herbs, fruits, nuts, leafy greens, seeds, tubers and flowers, able to be used in savoury and sweet recipes. Distilleries are also using native botanicals to flavour gins, rums and other distilled drinks.

Herbs include pepperberry and bush tomato. Saltbush and native sorrel are nutrient-rich leafy greens.

Macadamia trees produce nuts, and quandong and bunya trees have seeds that can be eaten as nuts or ground into a flour. Fruits include Kakadu plum and finger limes. Bush potato and Murnong are yams that were a staple before European settlement.

These are just a few examples of the vast array of native edibles that are widely available to purchase, particularly in native nurseries.

Growing conditions

When it comes to growing conditions, the two main factors to consider are container size (if not planted directly into the ground), and the climate.

Prostrates, ground covers, shrubs and small trees are ideally suited to pots. Climbing edibles, such as the spinach-like Warrigal greens can be grown in vertical gardens on the smallest of balconies. Even if you only have a window sill, native violets can thrive indoors and have edible leaves and flowers.

Many natives are able to adapt to a variety of climates and soil conditions, though it is best to avoid wild extremes: an arid plant at home in the red dirt of central Australia is unlikely to grow in southern Tasmania.

Aesthetics

The structure and layering of a garden, particularly one grown in the ground, make a huge impact on the visual appeal of the space. Having plants that complement each other in size, texture, colour and structure establishes the appearance of a ‘wild’ garden.

Tiered planting, where groundcovers fill space in front of shrubs which are, in turn, planted in front of trees. This optimises visibility of all the plants and provides easier access to your edibles. This holds true for co-planting in large pots. Layering and contrasting plants in a shared pot adds depth which makes the garden area appear larger and denser.

There’s something undeniably special about eating food you have grown yourself. Perhaps it seems more flavourful, or more nutritious. Or perhaps it is the immense satisfaction that comes with creating a garden that is both beautiful and edible. Whatever the reason, establishing a delectable native garden brings enjoyment, pride and, perhaps most importantly, good food!