Autumn is the perfect time to plant!
Tasmania has experienced a very cool, wet summer this year as have many other parts of the country! While this means that our basils, tomatoes, chillies and other heat loving plants haven't done so well it's not a complete loss. Wasabi has thrived in our backyard - we planted them in and around the vegetables in dappled shade and they have tripled in size! I intend to harvest a couple of plants and taste the unique and intensly flavoured wasabi paste and experiment with a few different recipes. Eating Wasabi regularly is also reputed to keep colds at bay - just what we need for the long, cold winter ahead....
Another healthy addition for winter eating is Garlic. In Tasmania we begin planting in late March to early May (depending on how cold it is). Given that we have had a few light frosts already we will be planting sooner rather than later! Space is fairly limited in our vegetable beds, so before garlic cloves are planted, we have to wait for the summer vegetables to ripen and be harvested. This year, we had a wonderful crop of corn, spring onions, asparagus, cape gooseberry, baby carrots, potatoes. About thirty of our heirloom tomato varieties are still valiantly trying to ripen kilo's of fruit, and will be destined for pasta sauces along with the 20 basil plants struggling to produce more leaves given that I keep picking them off to dry for various winter uses. Patience is not one of my strong points.....
New Products Available on our website http://www.fourseasonsherbs.com.au/ now
Another healthy addition for winter eating is Garlic. In Tasmania we begin planting in late March to early May (depending on how cold it is). Given that we have had a few light frosts already we will be planting sooner rather than later! Space is fairly limited in our vegetable beds, so before garlic cloves are planted, we have to wait for the summer vegetables to ripen and be harvested. This year, we had a wonderful crop of corn, spring onions, asparagus, cape gooseberry, baby carrots, potatoes. About thirty of our heirloom tomato varieties are still valiantly trying to ripen kilo's of fruit, and will be destined for pasta sauces along with the 20 basil plants struggling to produce more leaves given that I keep picking them off to dry for various winter uses. Patience is not one of my strong points.....
New Products Available on our website http://www.fourseasonsherbs.com.au/ now
Basil Licorice Also known as 'Anise' or 'Persian' Basil this one has a spicy Anise flavour. Similar in appearance to Thai Basil, except the leaves have a silvery shade to them.
Turmeric Turmeric originates from South East Asia & has been used for thousands of years. Turmeric is the orange colour & flavour in most curries & mustards. Turmeric powder is from the root after it has been roasted & dried, but it can also be grated just like Ginger, Horseradish & Wasabi. The leaves can also be used as a wrap.
Echinacea 'Prima Donna Deep Rose' This variation of Echinacea has long lasting, bright crimson flowers and will attract bees and butterflies to your garden.Mint Lemon Delicious minty/lemon flavour and scent!
Pepino 
A small (kiwi sized) yellow fruit streaked with pale purple stripes and varying in colour from golden-yellow to apricot. The pale yellowish-green flesh has a delicious melon-like texture. It is a delicious subtle flavoured fruit similar to a honeydew or rockmelon.
A small (kiwi sized) yellow fruit streaked with pale purple stripes and varying in colour from golden-yellow to apricot. The pale yellowish-green flesh has a delicious melon-like texture. It is a delicious subtle flavoured fruit similar to a honeydew or rockmelon.Myrtle Lemon Scented
Lemon scented Myrtle is a beautiful native Australian tree with leaves & flowers that have a strong, sweet lemon fragrance. Mature height will vary from between 6 to 20 metres depending on local conditions. A tea made from the leaves will help relieve the symptoms of coughs & colds.
Yarrow Woolly
Woolly Yarrow is a mat forming ground cover version of the Yarrow family, with woolly leaves (obviously!) & bright yellow flowers. Doesn't have the medicinal properties of the taller Yarrow's.
Yarrow Snowball (Sneezewort) Sneezewort Yarrow is one unusual herb. It's dried leaves really are sneezing powder, yet fresh leaves chewed can relieve a toothache. It is also poisonous to livestock. Sneesewort is very hardy & grows to about 2 feet tall with daisy like white/mauve flowers & long spiky leaves.
Zaatar - Spiked
Spiked Zaatar has long been used as a spice in Middle East regions. If you like Lebanese food, Zaatar is probably the reason why. Especially the flatbread called Manakeesh. It doesn't like extreme cold, but is otherwise a pretty tough perennial.
Lemon scented Myrtle is a beautiful native Australian tree with leaves & flowers that have a strong, sweet lemon fragrance. Mature height will vary from between 6 to 20 metres depending on local conditions. A tea made from the leaves will help relieve the symptoms of coughs & colds.
Yarrow Woolly
Woolly Yarrow is a mat forming ground cover version of the Yarrow family, with woolly leaves (obviously!) & bright yellow flowers. Doesn't have the medicinal properties of the taller Yarrow's.
Yarrow Snowball (Sneezewort) Sneezewort Yarrow is one unusual herb. It's dried leaves really are sneezing powder, yet fresh leaves chewed can relieve a toothache. It is also poisonous to livestock. Sneesewort is very hardy & grows to about 2 feet tall with daisy like white/mauve flowers & long spiky leaves.
Zaatar - SpikedSpiked Zaatar has long been used as a spice in Middle East regions. If you like Lebanese food, Zaatar is probably the reason why. Especially the flatbread called Manakeesh. It doesn't like extreme cold, but is otherwise a pretty tough perennial.
Strawberry 'Temptation' Strawberry-Temptation has large, fleshy fruit which ripen earlier than other Strawberry varieties. It is also doesn't form runners, making it the ideal choice for either the vegie patch or in a container on the patio.
Angelica Angelica comes from temperate-sub Arctic Northern Europe & North America & has been long used for its medicinal properties. Nowdays its mostly used to flavour confectionary as well as liqueurs, so it must be pretty good!!! It dislikes full sun but will grow into a nice tall shrub in a shady spot.
Angelica Angelica comes from temperate-sub Arctic Northern Europe & North America & has been long used for its medicinal properties. Nowdays its mostly used to flavour confectionary as well as liqueurs, so it must be pretty good!!! It dislikes full sun but will grow into a nice tall shrub in a shady spot.
