Get ready to spice up your cooking and enjoy endless harvests with plants that you only need to plant once and can pick forever! Explore our list of easy-to-grow salad mixes, herbs, and veggies that add a delicious twist to your meals.
From tough kale to fragrant herbs like mint and sage, there's something tasty for everyone's plate. Here's to a more sustainable way to feed your family!
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Plant Once, Pick Forever
Salad Mixes to Plant Once, Pick Forever
Watch our YouTube video about 9 Delicious Salad Mixes to Plant Once, Pick Forever!
Here are detailed descriptions for each plant mentioned, in case you prefer reading the details:
1. Kale
Kale is a nutritious leafy green vegetable celebrated for its robust flavour and health benefits. While most kale varieties are annuals, it's worth noting that certain perennial varieties exist, providing a continuous harvest in suitable climates.
Easy to grow and highly adaptable, kale thrives in cool weather and various soil types. Harvest leaves as needed for fresh and vibrant additions to salads, smoothies, and cooked dishes, ensuring a nutritious boost to your meals year-round.
2. Malabar spinach
Is a leafy green vegetable known for its lush, thick leaves and mild flavour. In warmer climates, certain varieties of Malabar spinach are perennial, providing a continuous harvest throughout the year.
This versatile plant thrives in heat and humidity, making it an excellent addition to gardens in tropical and subtropical regions. Harvest leaves as needed for fresh salads, stir-fries, and soups, adding a nutritious and flavourful element to your dishes.
3. Sorrel
A staple in many cuisines worldwide. Sorrel is a versatile herbaceous plant prized for its tangy flavour and nutritional benefits. It flourishes in various climates, including temperate regions. Harvesting sorrel involves selectively plucking the mature leaves.
This process encourages continual leaf production, ensuring a fresh and abundant supply for cooking. Sorrel's tartness adds a refreshing zing to salads, soups, sauces, and even beverages, making it a delightful and healthful addition to any kitchen.
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A Must Have Complete Guide for Every Australian Garden
4. Watercress
Watercress is a nutrient-rich aquatic plant known for its peppery flavour and crisp texture. It grows in freshwater streams and ponds, thriving in cool, flowing water. Harvest the tender leaves and stems as needed for salads, sandwiches, and garnishes, adding a zesty and refreshing element to your dishes.
5. Chicory
Chicory is a versatile leafy green vegetable with a slightly bitter flavour, prized for its use in salads and cooked dishes. Some chicory varieties are perennial, providing a continuous harvest in suitable climates.
This hardy plant thrives in cool weather and well-drained soil, making it a resilient addition to gardens. Harvest leaves as needed for fresh salads, adding a unique and slightly bitter taste to your meals.
6. Nasturtiums
Thriving in various climates, from temperate to warmer regions, Nasturtiums are favoured by gardeners for their versatility and ornamental value.
Harvesting nasturtiums involves picking the mature flowers and leaves, which are known for their peppery and slightly spicy flavour, reminiscent of watercress. This continual harvesting not only promotes plant growth but also allows for trying new recipes.
7. Swiss Chard
This is a versatile leafy green vegetable known for its vibrant colours and nutritional benefits. While most Swiss chard varieties are annuals, it's important to note that some varieties are perennial, providing a continuous harvest in suitable climates.
This hardy plant thrives in cool weather and tolerates a range of soil conditions. Harvest leaves as needed for fresh salads, sautés, and soups, adding a nutritious and flavourful element to your meals.
8. Radicchio
Closely related to chicory and shares similar growing conditions, Radicchio is a colourful leafy vegetable with a distinctive bitter flavour, commonly used in salads and as a garnish.
Radicchio varieties may include perennial types, ensuring a continuous harvest in appropriate climates. This robust plant prefers cool weather and fertile, well-drained soil.
Harvest leaves as needed for fresh salads or grilled dishes, incorporating a bold and slightly bitter taste into your meals.
9. Land Cress
Also known as upland cress, Land Cress is a leafy green vegetable with a peppery taste similar to watercress. Unlike watercress, land cress grows on land in well-drained soil and partial shade.
Harvest the young leaves for salads, soups, and cooked dishes, enhancing their flavour with a mild spiciness. Land Cress is a versatile addition to your garden, providing a fresh and nutritious option for cooking.
Herbs to Plant Once, Harvest Forever
Watch our YouTube video about 14 Incredible Herbs You Only Plant Once, Pick Forever!
Here are detailed descriptions for each plant mentioned, in case you prefer reading the details:
10. Rosemary
Thriving in hot, dry climates with full sun, rosemary is a fragrant herb that requires minimal water once established. Its drought-tolerant nature makes it an ideal choice for arid environments, and it grows exceptionally well in pots, making it versatile for various gardening setups.
Harvest rosemary sprigs as needed, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh, flavourful herbs. Beyond its role in cooking, rosemary has a traditional association with improving memory, adding to its allure as both a useful herb and a beneficial plant for overall well-being.
11. Mint
Perfect for novice gardeners, mint is an excellent herb that easily adjusts to diverse climates, including Peppermint and Spearmint. Peppermint is known for its strong and refreshing flavour, while spearmint offers a milder and sweeter taste.
Mint thrives with partial shade in hotter areas, making it ideal for growing in pots to manage its invasive tendencies and provide better control over its spread. To capture the best flavour, harvest mint leaves before the plant begins to flower.
For continuous harvesting, trim the top leaves regularly, which encourages new growth and prolongs the harvesting period.
12. Oregano
A staple herb in Mediterranean cuisine, oregano is renowned for its bold, peppery flavour that adds depth to dishes. This herb thrives in warm climates and full sun, making it a hardy perennial that requires minimal care once established.
To capture its intense flavour, harvest oregano leaves before the plant flowers. Trim the top leaves regularly for continuous harvest. Oregano has been valued for both its cooking uses and medicinal properties, making it a versatile and cherished herb in various cultures.
13. Thyme
Cherished for its small, highly aromatic leaves, thyme is a popular herb used to season meats, soups, and stews, adding a delightful flavour profile to dishes. Thriving in hot, sunny locations, thyme is a low-maintenance herb that requires minimal water once established.
Harvest thyme leaves as needed, ensuring a fresh supply of aromatic leaves. Beyond its cooking uses, thyme is valued for its medicinal properties, known for its antimicrobial and antioxidant benefits.
14. Sage
Renowned for its earthy, slightly peppery flavour, sage is a beloved herb in cooking, especially in dishes like stuffing and sausages, where it adds a distinct and aromatic taste. Plant sage in full sun and avoid overwatering, as it thrives with minimal care once established.
Harvest sage leaves before the plant flowers to ensure the best flavour. This herb is a staple in many meat dishes, enhancing their taste and aroma.
15. Tarragon
A distinctive herb favoured for its aromatic, anise-like flavour, making it a popular choice in French cuisine where it adds a unique and delightful taste. Interestingly, tarragon exhibits adaptability and can thrive even in poor soils, showcasing its resilience and versatility as an herb.
For optimal flavour, harvest tarragon leaves as needed, preferably before the plant flowers, to enjoy its fresh and aromatic qualities in preparing meals.
16. Chives
Celebrated for their delicate, onion-like flavour, chives are a perfect garnish for enhancing the taste of soups, salads, and potato dishes. Adapting well to most climates and tolerating partial shade, chives are perennial herbs that return year after year, making them a reliable addition to any garden.
To harvest, simply cut chive leaves at the base as needed, ensuring a fresh supply for cooking needs.
17. Lemon Balm
Known for its calming properties, Lemon Balm is often used in teas and cooking. It is a delightful herb with a lemony scent and flavour. It adapts well to various climates, making it a versatile addition to gardens.
To manage its spreading tendencies, consider growing Lemon Balm in pots. Harvest the leaves before flowering for the best flavour and aroma. Regularly trimming the top leaves encourages new growth, extending the harvesting period and ensuring a steady supply of fresh Lemon Balm.
18. Marjoram
With delicate flavour and aroma, Marjoram can complement a variety of dishes, from soups and stews to meats and vegetables. It thrives in diverse climates, including temperate regions, making it accessible to a wide range of gardeners.
To manage its growth, consider planting marjoram in pots or containers. Harvest the leaves before flowering to capture the freshest flavour. Regular pruning of the top leaves stimulates new growth and prolongs the harvesting season, ensuring a continuous supply of flavourful marjoram.
19. Bay Leaf
Known for its distinctive aroma and flavour, Bay leaf is a versatile herb commonly used in cooking to add depth and complexity to dishes. It thrives in various climates, including temperate regions.
Harvest mature bay leaves after two to three years, selecting leaves from the lower part of the plant for their intense flavour. Bay leaves can be used fresh or dried, with dried leaves retaining flavour well.
Regular pruning and maintenance promote healthy growth, ensuring a steady supply of flavourful bay leaves for enhancing meals.
20. Lemon Verbena
Is a fragrant and flavourful herb prized for its citrusy aroma and taste. While typically grown as an annual in many regions, it can thrive as a perennial in areas with mild winters and well-drained soil.
Harvesting lemon verbena involves snipping the tender leaves from the stems, which can be done throughout the growing season for a continuous supply of fresh leaves.
21. Lovage
This is a versatile herbaceous plant known for its robust flavour and aromatic leaves. It thrives in various climates, including temperate regions, making it accessible to a wide range of gardeners.
Harvesting lovage involves cutting the stems close to the base when they are mature yet still tender, allowing for continual growth and a steady supply of fresh leaves.
22. Stevia
Derived from the Stevia rebaudiana plant's leaves, is a natural sweetener prized for its intense sweetness without the calories. Originating in South America, it adapts to various climates, making it a versatile choice for sweetening foods and drinks.
Harvesting stevia involves delicately plucking mature leaves and processing them to extract steviol glycosides, such as stevioside and rebaudioside A, which are up to 300 times sweeter than sugar.
23. Garlic Chives
These are aromatic herbs celebrated for their mild garlic flavour and versatility. Flourishing in various climates, including temperate regions, they are prized by gardeners for their resilience and cooking appeal.
Harvesting garlic chives involves snipping the mature leaves, which possess a delicate balance of garlic and onion notes. This selective harvesting encourages continual growth, providing a steady yield of fresh chives for enhancing meals.
Vegetables to Plant Once, Pick Forever
Watch our YouTube video about 9 Vegetables to Plant Once, Pick Forever!
Here are detailed descriptions for each plant mentioned, in case you prefer reading the details:
24. Asparagus
Widely cultivated as a vegetable crop, asparagus is prized for its tender shoots that emerge early in spring. It loves sunny spots and thrives in most Australian climates, particularly temperate regions.
When it comes to harvesting, wait until the third year after planting. Cut spears when they are about 6-8 inches tall, allowing them to grow back again year after year for a continuous supply of delicious asparagus.
25. Globe Artichokes
This plant is celebrated for its edible flower buds that are harvested before blooming. Globe artichokes thrive in warmer climates and need plenty of sun to develop their large, flavourful flower buds.
Harvest the flower buds in spring before they open fully for the best flavour. Globe artichokes can be steamed, grilled, or used in a variety of dishes.
26. Egyptian Walking Onion
Also known as tree onion or top-setting onion, Egyptian walking onion is a perennial plant with a unique growth habit. It produces small onion bulbs at the top of tall green stalks, which become heavy enough to bend and touch the ground, allowing them to root and create new plants.
This hardy plant is adaptable to various soil conditions and thrives in cool weather. Once established, it requires minimal maintenance, making it a reliable source of flavourful onion bulbs for salads, soups, and stir-fries.
27. Fennel
This versatile herbaceous plant is known for its aromatic leaves, flavourful seeds, and bulbous stalks. While traditionally considered an annual, fennel can behave as a perennial in some regions with mild winters and well-drained soil.
To harvest fennel, cut the stalks close to the base when they are mature but still tender. Both the leaves and bulbs are edible and can be used in a variety of dishes, adding a sweet, licorice-like flavour.
Fennel is commonly used in salads, soups, roasted dishes, and as a flavouring agent in teas and infusions.
28. Horseradish
Renowned for its sharp, pungent flavour, horseradish is a prized root crop for its ability to add a distinctive kick to dishes. It's low-maintenance once established, needing minimal watering and thriving in various soil types, including poor soils, showcasing its resilience.
Harvest the roots throughout the year for a continuous supply, with peak flavour achieved after the first frost. Stored roots ensure a steady provision of zesty horseradish paste or sauce, elevating dishes year-round.
29. Jerusalem Artichoke
Also known as Sunchoke, Jerusalem artichoke is prized for its sweet, nutty flavour and versatile uses in cooking. This root vegetable thrives in various soil types and climates, requiring minimal maintenance once established.
Harvest the tubers throughout the year for a continuous supply, with their best flavour achieved after a period of frost. Stored tubers ensure a consistent provision of delicious Jerusalem artichokes for a range of cooking needs year-round.
30. Perennial Leeks
A type of onion that grows year after year without needing replanting. These hardy plants produce small onion bulbs at the base of tall, slender stalks.
Harvesting perennial leeks involves cutting the green tops as needed, leaving the bulbs in the ground to produce new growth. This unique growth habit allows them to provide a continuous harvest throughout the seasons.
In the kitchen, perennial leeks add a subtle onion flavour to salads, soups, stews, and stir-fries, making them a valuable and sustainable addition to any garden.
31. Rhubarb
Featuring large leaves and fleshy stalks, rhubarbs are often used in pies and desserts. Rhubarb prefers cooler parts of Australia and some shade. Begin harvesting in the second year by pulling stalks from the base.
Remember, never eat the leaves as they are toxic, and avoid over-harvesting to keep your plants vigorous.
32. Shallots
Prized for their mild yet complex taste, Shallots are a versatile and flavourful member of the onion family. These bulbs grow in clusters and can be harvested individually as needed by gently pulling them from the soil.
It's important to avoid damaging the bulbs during harvest to ensure their quality and storage potential. Shallots thrive in well-drained soil and prefer full sun to partial shade. Their unique flavour enhances a wide range of dishes, from salads and dressings to soups, sauces, and marinades.
Plant Once, Pick Forever – It's that Simple!
Transform your garden into a flavourful paradise with these easy-to-grow plants. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, these plant once, pick forever salad mixes, herbs, and veggies will make your meals tastier and your garden happier. Get growing and enjoy the fruits (and veggies) of your labour!
Published on May 9, 2024 by Nathan Schwartz
Last Updated on August 21, 2024
