Grow it and save
THE SOLUTION TO ESCALATING FOOD PRICES AND SHORTAGES IS IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
Savvy shoppers won’t have failed to notice the increase in the price of fresh fruit and vegetables in recent months – and it’s not expected to slow down any time soon. While the price hikes have been widespread, the humble iceberg lettuce has come in for special scrutiny, with fast food outlets rationing the staple on their burgers and in some cases replacing it with cabbage, earning one chain a goodnatured spray from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Icebergs are currently selling in supermarkets for more than twice their normal price and have been spotted in part of the country with price tags in excess of $10.
But the solution could be right in your backyard, with more and more Australians growing their own produce to help balance budgets.
Hardwares and nurseries have reported a rise in sales of vegetable and herb seedlings in recent months and the good news is lettuce is one of the easiest and fastest to grow, according to Selling House’s Australia’s resident gardening expert, Dennis Scott.
“Lettuce is a fairly quick grower, along with broccoli and cauliflower, so you should be able to yield a harvest by the end of winter and well and truly at the start of spring,” says Scott, adding they will grow almost anywhere, even in a pot on a balcony.
GARDEN STATES
In a country the size of Australia there is no one-size-fits-all approach to growing home produce.
The difference in winter inter between the warmer climate in the north and nd the more frigid conditions down south h means different plants thrive in different areas if planted now.
For the subtropical zone of southeast Queensland and northern hern NSW and the temperate ate zone of Sydney and the e NSW coast, Scott recommends getting the following plants in now: lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, leeks, peas, beetroot, carrots, celery and radishes.
For the southern tablelands climate zone that includes Melbourne, most of Victoria and
Tasmania, he’d opt for leeks, brussels sprouts, beetroot, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, snow peas and asparagus. (“You can still grow some lettuce, but you will probably have to be selective of what type of lettuce will survive.”)
And for the Mediterranean zone of Adelaide and Perth, Scott says broad beans, peas, carrots, English spinach and onions are the best bets.
TAKE THE TIME
Scott says most fruits and vegetables are easy to grow for home gardeners, all they need is a little time and care, and the best time to start is right now.
“All of them can be planted right now, so go straight to your local hardware or nursery and grab some seeds, get yourself a good bag of potting mix that is going to be suitable for vegetables, plant your seeds, water it and away you
go.”
Scott warns the colder climates might need a little extra care during the winter months – and suggests watering in the morning so the plants don’t freeze and building a greenhouse or covering to keep the frost at bay.
SIZE DOESN’T MATTER
Those with smaller backyards or who live in apartments or townhouses need not miss out, with herb gardens able to thrive with limited space.
Scott recommends putting in parsley, garlics, dill, mint, thyme, lavender, sage and oregano now – and when it gets a little warmer strawberries and tomatoes are also tasty options.
Or if that doesn’t appeal, there are community garden plots all around the country (find one at communitygarden.org.au/find-agarden). “Community plots are definitely a great option,” says Scott.
“The benefits of like-minded people getting together and enjoying the outdoors and fresh air comes hand-in-hand being able to grow fruit and vegetables and saving money.”
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
Scott says in addition to the potential savings of growing your own produce – “every dollar counts at the moment with the way that interest rates are increasing” – the hobby is also its own reward.
“Anything you grow yourself; you know what’s gone into it and the effort that’s gone into it so the reward is self-gratifying in relation to eating something that you have hand grown and cared for yourself.”