Gardeners across Perth commonly cry that Perth is TOO HOT to grow anything other than Natives and Succulents and are we allowed to turn the water on yet?? This is mainly due to two contributing factors that could be linked. First is Perth is renowned for having an extremely LOW CANOPY COVERAGE and secondly is low water allowance and even lower rainfall. One way conscious gardeners are learning to combat this, is to learn how to provide and create a canopy that not only cools you by way of shade and wind, but also provides a multitude of benefits such as habitat, fertilizer, textiles, medicinals, herbals, soil remedies, soil hydration, gifts and nutritional real food. We are aiming to take the suburbs from Hotta Pot to Cool and Calm, full of life and plenty of love.
But how can we grow anything when all there is is dry soil and too much Sun? The answer lies within following the SEVEN SEALS/STORIES. This is an ancient collaboration of growing wisdom from all around the world adapted for growing here in Perth.
Below I will provide a list of plants I use here at ONENESS FARMS and in all my garden creations. But first is overstanding what needs to be done in a logical and easy format. This starts with observation, planning, executing it and attempting to teach the lost art of patience at the same time.
Trying to grow without any canopy is like trying to walk outside in the summertime with no shirt. Soon come you will be burnt. It’s why many put shade cloth above outdoor areas and gardens but who wants shade cloth when you can have a LIVING CANOPY of SHADE, PROTECTION, FOOD, LIFE AND CREATION.
Plant selection and planting times/schedules are crucial.
- You should be aiming for your quickest growing, largest spreading and canopy covering, tallest plants and trees to be going into already prepared soil first. This is your initial canopy. Some good Perth options are: PAPAYA, MORINGA, ELDERBERRY, BANANA, PLANTAIN, POINCIANA, OLIVES, LOQUAT, MANGO, LYCHEE for example. By planting these first, you are now establishing your canopy to protect the understories.
- Mid to semi tall trees are next to go in, sitting below the canopy and filling in gaps of the crown whilst creating some buffering of wind. Another role of this second layer is to mitigate direct droplets of water acting like a diffuser to harsh battering weather. Some good Perth options are: PIGEON PEA/GUNGO PEA, CITRUS, BOLIVIAN SUNFLOWER, ACEROLA, SOURSOP, COFFEE, BRAZILIAN CHERRY, DWARF FRUITING TREE’S, FIGS, ACACIA GOLDEN WREATH/ RED EYED WATTLE for example.
- Shrubs and bushes go in next and also provide central stability and protection for the next seals/stories. The shrubs and bushes trap in warmth and huditiy as well as providing shelter for seedlings and the next story. Some good Perth options are: SUPER DWARF FRUIT TREE’S, CASSAVA/YUCA, GERANIUMS, ARROWROOT, CANNAS, GINGER/GALANGAL/TURMERIC, PINEAPPLES, LEMONGRASS, VETIVER GRASS, COLIUS, PINEAPLLE MARIGOLS, CORDYLINES, SALVIA’S, SALTBUSH, HOLY BASIL, HIBISCUS for example.
- Here comes the vegetables and herbaceous plantings, you know the ones that you spent years burning, you will now spend years harvesting. This is where many started out first and had poor results due to no above canopy and buffering systems. By reversing the order, through overstanding of what is required aside from fertilizers and plant providers, you will now have the right conditions to grow just about any veg or herb you can at this story. Complimenting the above stories provisions and life. Some good examples can be found in my PERTH PLANTING GUIDE for Vegetables in the link below.
“Guides Archives – Suburban Farmer” https://www.suburbanfarmer.com.au/product-category/guides/
- Cooling the ground and acting like a blanket for the soil is the ground covers. Living mulches. Giving habitat, food and a constant temperature/moisture controller – ground covers are a wonderful seal. Some good options for Perth are: SWEET POTATO, MUGWART, PENNY ROYAL, PIGFACE, DICHONDRA, SNAKE BUSH, WARRIGAL GREENS, NASTURTIUMS, GOTU KOLA, LANDCRESS, ANY PROSTRATING ROSEMARY/THYMES, STRAWBERRIES for example.
- Filling the gaps and creating insect highways, connecting by naturally made string lights are the vines. Some good Perth options are: WARRINE, PASSIONFRUIT, SWEET POTATO, HOPS, GRAPES, PASSIONFLOWER, CHOKO, WISTERIA, SNAKE BUSH, BOUGAINVILLIA, MADAGASCAR BEANS for example.
- Lastly there are the ROOTS. Breaking up the soil structure and allowing water infiltration, acting like little water reservoirs and compost/nutrient/humus catchers when removed or left to break down. Some good Perth options are: SWEET POTATO, CANNAS/ARROWROOT, JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES, YOULK, CASSAVA/YUCA/BISSY, TARO, YACON, LEMONGRASS, VETIVER GRASS, COMFREY, BURDOCK, LICORICE, SUGAR BEETS/BEETS, WALKING ONIONS, RADISHES/CARROTS, PEANUTS for example.
So, you see you can grow here in Perth. You just have to know what goes where and when. I hope this helps you overstand further and lettuce give thanks for Life and to The Life Giver.
Figure 1 “La Isla Nena” BIEKE this is my little Vieques island here in PERTH
Figure 2 Food Forest Layering SEVEN SEALS/STORIES
Figure 3 RAS MARK SUBURBAN FARMER at ONENESS FARMS WANNEROO
Figure 4 Syntropic Row I visited whilst in VIEQUES PUERTO RICO