Episode: Three
Date: 2nd May. 3rd in WA.
Story: Growing interesting plants
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane

There are an amazing variety of weird and wonderful edible plants which can be found around the world, Trevor takes a closer look at three which you can grow yourself.

Featured Plants

Climbing Vietnamese Spinach, Anredera cordifolia

• Lives all year around.
• Tastes fantastic in a stir-fry, or steamed with oyster sauce, or in a salad.
• Rich in mineral nutrients.
• Sap inside the leaf is called mucus oil, which is supposed to clear up blockages. Congesting it will therefore help to clear the head.
• Mature plants provide tubular-like growths, which can be picked and planted into new pots.
• Keep your Vietnamese Spinach away from waterways as it can be invasive.

Tamarillo or Tree Tomato, Cyphomandra botacea

• Originates from the Andes Mountains in Peru.
• Distantly related to the tomato.
• The fruit itself is really tangy and unique in flavour.
• Blending it into a juice and pouring over steak will taste incredible.
• Tamarillos are available in red and gold varieties and are easily grown by seed.

Taro or Elephant?s Ear, Colocasia osculenta

• Water plant; grows in the centre of a pond in a vegetable patch.
• You eat the root of the plant which is a big tuber. When baked it tastes sweet and delicious.
• Easy to grow. Originates from the tropics but is also able to grow in a cooler climate.

Interested in ways you can use these plants in delicious recipes? Check out Trevor?s and Neville?s popular book, Delish. It is available at all good book stores throughout Australia or you can click here to find out more and order a copy through our website.