Getting started
Sowing and space
Direct-sow or transplant, then thin to give each plant a broad leaf canopy.
The cycle is an editorial band linked to the method above. Cultivar, temperature, transplant age and the harvest stage can change it.
Allow about 30 cm of usable depth and roughly 40 cm between plants. A suitably sized container can work when the full root volume and mature canopy are allowed.
Water demand is moderate and regular. That is not a fixed timetable: heat, wind, rain, container size and growth stage change the interval.
Planting windows by broad profile
The highlighted months are conservative editorial references, not a current forecast or postcode calendar. Confirm the cultivar, packet, current warning and local advice.
Tropical wet–dry
Use airflow and remove damaged leaves promptly in humid weather.
Humid subtropical
Hot and arid
Mulch and wind protection help keep the root zone more stable.
Warm temperate
Cool temperate
Practical care
- Harvest outer stalks and leave the centre growing.
- Give one mature plant adequate pot volume.
Points to check
- Salt or fertiliser concentration can rise in repeatedly watered pots.
- Handle harvested leaves hygienically.
Provenance and confidence
This rule is editorial guidance without claimed independent agronomic review. Confidence describes evidence coverage, not the chance of a harvest.
Australian home food garden editorial synthesis — version 1
Original synthesis for broad Australian profiles. It remains editorial draft until independent agronomic review is recorded.
Waterwise gardening
Supports soil improvement, mulching, efficient irrigation, wind protection and grouping plants with similar water needs; not a fixed watering schedule.
Food safety in horticulture
Context for hygiene, water, soil, compost and produce handling. Commercial standards are not presented as legal duties for ordinary home gardeners.