Grow an edible garden
You can’t beat an Aussie Christmas, especially when mealtime is flavoured-up by the season’s produce, fresh from your own garden. Get set to serve up fab dishes from your kitchen using this combo of homegrown essentials – all of which will thrive in an open, sunny spot.
Love your lettuce
Plant a mix of fancy leaf lettuce varieties, rocket and mizuna. If you don’t have a dedicated vegie patch, try planting them together in a wide-mouth bowl or container. Just set it atop your outdoor table then harvest leaves on demand. Also look out for ready-planted ‘salad bowls’ at your local Bunnings garden centre, which typically include a mix of popular lettuce and herb varieties.
Heavenly herbs
Boost the flavour of your summery salads with all kinds of fresh herbs that you can plant in your vegie patch, or in small containers on your balcony or courtyard. Choose basil, chives and dill for a classic trio that will keep on giving all season long. Plus, you might like to grow oregano, rosemary and parsley to accompany your Christmas barbecue cook-up, too!
Juicy cherry tomatoes
Look for compact varieties that are almost ready to burst into fruit – just in time for Christmas. You can grow cherry toms in pots or vegetable beds, just drive a few stakes into the soil nearby and tie the main stems of the plant to the stakes for support. Cherry tomatoes are so versatile in the kitchen – you’ll love them in salads, pasta dishes, to accompany your roast or on pizzas.
