Edible Blacony - Vertical Wall Plants Arrive

Nine new residents arrive at the Edible Balcony harbourside resort

As available floor space rapidly dwindles on the Edible Balcony I've decided to plant ....UP!

Tomorrow I'm having a vertical wall unit installed which will be able to accommodate 15 new edible plants.

The EcoVert wall unit is an exciting new design from Sydney landscape design company Junglefy.

It has been developed using the latest sustainability principles. It's made from light weight recycled plastic, and comes with modular compartments so plants can be replaced easily. The more advanced units have self-timing water pumps and solar panels so busy urban professionals can keep on being... well...  busy urban professionals and still have fresh herbs and vegies when they come home at night! They'll be installation pics and more details on Saucy tomorrow.

After assessing, space, available sunlight, water needs etc, I've selected a mix of herbs, pest control flowers and plants, and some lettuce varieties to plant into the EcoVert.

Most suburban nurseries and garden centres have a limited range of interesting herbs so I did some research and found the Four Seasons Herbs Company in Exeter, Tasmania.

Not only do they grow an exciting variety of seedlings which they will ship to you, but their seed stock is non-hybrid, non GMO (genetically-modified) and chemical-free. And for an edible gardener this means the plants are hardier, have a significantly higher nutitrional value, are more resistant to disease and pests and produce over a longer period of time.

Let me introduce you to .......

'Signorina' Spanish Sage ( Salvia Lavandulifolia)

In Spain this is the only sage apparently that they use in cooking. It has smaller leaves than regular sage but is more pungent. Some studies suggest that it is good for lowering blood sugar without affecting insulin levels. Sage protects cabbages from cabbage white moth.

'Count' Zataar (Origanum Syriaca)

 This is a relative of oregano. Its small greyish leaves smell sweet and spicy - a combination of thyme, oregano and sweet majoram actually.

'Chancellor' Chives (Allium Schoenprasum)

Chives are good companion plants for carrots and onions and its strong smell deters aphids

'Her Serene Highness' Vietnamese Mint (Persicaria Odorata)

Vietnamese Mint is a south-east Asian herb often used in laksas. Despite its name it is not a member of the mint family and likes soils to be damp but not too wet.

'The Imperial Miss' Feverfew (Chrysanthenum Parthenium)

Feverfew flowers attract beneficial predator insects (Ladybugs, Lacewings and Hoverfly) into the garden. It has reasonably high fertiliser requirements, and thrives in moist conditions with some shade.

Feverfew has been used to ease migraines and headaches as well.

'Monsieur' French Sorrel (Rumex Acetosa)

A tangy herb used in French cooking to make sorrel soup and sorrel sauce. Can be interchanged with spinach in recipes but should be cooked as it contains high levels of oxalic acid.

'Mistress' Catnip (Nepeta Catana)

Catnip repels some insects such as fleas, ants and mice (although, surprisingly, mice are not a huge problem on the 13th Floor!) It has a strong minty smell and attractive blue flowers and apparently cats go ga ga over it.

'Colonel' Mint Julep (Mentha cv julep)

 Best contained in a pot due to its invasive nature.

I'm mainly growing this so I can enjoy some southern Kentucky Mint Juleps!

'Wazza' Warrigal Greens (Terragonia Tetragonide)

If you've never eaten Warrigal Greens before (sometimes known as New Zealand Spinach) a taste sensation awaits you. I first experienced them in the little NSW coastal town of South-West Rocks where they grow wild. The local Italian chef Geppi prepares them blanched ( to remove the harmful oxalic acid in them) and then tossed in olive oil and butter with roasted walnut crumbs and parmesan wafers. Just writing that made my tummy rumble! Warrigal Greens like similar growing conditions to beans.

Check out Four Seasons Herbs full range of seeds and seedlings.