A British Expat Gardening In The Tropics

I’m no expert on gardening in the tropics, I’ve lived here for 5 years, in tropical Queensland,  I’m a British expat in Australia, I’ve made plenty of  gardening mistakes, but I’m starting to see some good results.

Check out our tomato crop.

Our first major tropical success with tomatoes, we picked over 500.

Until a few years ago I lived in the UK. I’d grow tomatoes every summer, raise a few herbs which usually died off over the winter and struggle to produce one or two aubergines ( eggplant).

Tropical gardening is a whole new world!

We’ve grown limes, papayas (paw paw), aubergines by the hundred, several bunches of bananas and enough passion fruit to top a whole town’s pavlovas.

The secret with tomatoes seems to be growing them in the ground, rather than in pots. I’ve failed to grow larger varieties but the little cherry tomatoes go crazy in the tropical climate.

Asian herbs do extremely well, lemon grass, Vietnamese mint, Thai basil and galangal grow all by themselves with no attention from me. European herbs are trickier, but thyme, rosemary and mint are doing OK for me in pots in the shade.

Eggplant (aubergines), chili peppers and sweet capsicums grow as perennials, there is no stopping them, we have a supply all year round.

Aubergines (eggplant) grow as perennials in a tropical garden.

I’ve given up on anything leafy, the grasshoppers like eating them too much, they are a total no go area for me.

Bananas crop once a year, each plant producing one bunch before being cut back to the ground. I’ve not had much luck with citrus fruit, other than kaffir limes, they grow easily, giving me a year round supply of leaves for curries and fruit for around six months. I also grow Indian curry leaf tree to use in southern Indian dishes

Like I said, I’m no expert, but if anyone needs any help or advice about gardening in the tropics, what you can, and can’t, grow, feel free to drop me a line in the comments section.

Travel Dream Vs Garden and Home

My tropical garden has got to be one of the biggest pluses of emigrating to Australia. Living Down-Under is not always a bed of roses, adjusting to expat life has been hard, picking a passion fruit in my own back garden can brighten up even the worst day of home-sickness. The thought of selling up and losing this garden that I’ve worked hard to create is actually holding me back, I’m struggling with the idea of selling the house to live our travel dream. Cold feet ? Me ? What should I do, sell up and travel the world or stay and enjoy my tropical home and garden?

Happy gardening!

Part of photo Friday on Delicious Baby.