Out of the ordinary

Recently the Diggers team had the pleasure of spending a day with Dr Chris Williams at the University of Melbourne’s Burnley campus, where we were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the research crops currently being grown in their field station. Chris lectures in urban horticulture and researches the various social, cultural and technical aspects of the field through his Novel Crops project. Students undertaking the Masters of Urban Horticulture can elect his specialist subject ‘Food Production for Urban Landscapes’.

Chris has a passion for understanding the experiences of migrant groups who engage in food gardening and their use of edibles that are not yet widely grown in Australian gardens. As we wandered through the lush greenery of the gardens, we were amazed by the diverse range of edible plants thriving in Melbourne’s temperate climate. There was an incredible array of garden-worthy plants growing in the field station and Chris introduced us to many special varieties including konjac, cranberry hibiscus, cassava, Brazilian spinach, taro and choko.

Hostas – who knew?

We were particularly interested to learn more about the beautiful hosta (Hosta ssp.) – a perennial native to Japan, commonly grown for its foliage. What we didn’t know was that all parts of the plant are edible! The new spring shoots, known as urui, can be eaten like asparagus and have a similar taste. Hostas do well in pots where they can be protected from ravenous snails and are best planted in nutrient-rich well-drained soil with morning sun and afternoon shade.

Sugarcane for southerners

A common sight in tropical regions, it was exciting to find sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) plants thriving at the Burnley field station, having survived several frosts in the past year. The fleshy fibrous stalks are relished by home cooks and chefs for their sweet juice, and they can also be grown as an impressive substitute for ornamental grasses.

Sweet potatoes and yams

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a much-loved vegetable and several varieties are being trialled by Chris and his team of volunteers. The trials have shown great results and demonstrated that, despite Queensland being the centre for commercial production, Melbourne has the right climate to get good yields in the summer months. The Burnley team works closely with Melbourne-based charity FareShare, propagating sweet potato cuttings for their three kitchen gardens. Of the varieties grown in the field station, ‘Beauregard’ and ‘Northern Star’ have proved to be standouts for their high yields and sweet flesh. In warm areas, sweet potatoes can be grown year-round, while in cooler climates with frost, young plants must be protected from the cool weather and planted out when the soil warms up. Plant them in free-draining soil to stop the tubers from rotting.

One of the world’s most important food sources is yam (Dioscorea ssp.) and several tropical and subtropical species are growing in pots and climbing up trellises in the garden. According to Chris, the Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya) is the tastiest and best suited to the home garden. A true perennial, Chinese yam dies down and re-emerges in spring, and the tubers are easiest to harvest when grown in pots. Australia even has its very own native yam (Dioscorea transversa), which produces long thin edible tubers that can be eaten raw or cooked.

The versatile African banana

Nearing the end of our tour we caught sight of an impressive grove of Abyssinian banana (Ensete ventricosum) trees, which are five years old and around six metres high. They are a stunning addition to any garden, producing giant lush green leaves with a prominent bright red spine. Although the fruit is inedible, the stems and roots are used in Ethiopia to make porridge and bread. With its resilience to frost, drought and floods, as well as its ability to rapidly sequester large amounts of carbon, Abyssinian banana has the potential to have a key role in addressing food security and climate change.

By exploring unconventional crops and new growing techniques, Chris and his students at Burnley are helping to promote these crops, which in turn helps us all to create more resilient and sustainable food systems that benefit everyone.

You can follow Chris and the Novel Crops project on Instagram: @peopleplantslanscapes

Written by Marian Scott, Diggers plant product manager.