Tropical Flavour

October 14, 2006 9:16 PM

What are some good herbs and spices that I can grow in pots in a tropical climate?

I've recently moved from a Mediterranean climate to a tropical climate (8 months of the year are hot and dry, 4 months of the year are hot and rainy) and I'm missing my old herb garden (not to mention the vineyard down the street, but that's another issue). Darwin, Australia. What herbs and spices can I expect to be able to grow here that won't die from fungal infection, or wilt in the heat, or refuse to develop flavour due to lack of cool weather? Are there any particular varieties of basil, coriander, oregano that are suited to this environment, or any other more interesting, unusual tropical plants that I might not have heard of? Unfortunately, living in a rented house, digging up the garden isn't an option, so smallish things that like pots would be ideal.

posted by Jimbob to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

Response by poster: (Oh, I forgot, what's the season for planting herbs up here? The old summer/autumn/spring/winter idea doesn't really apply up here. Do I plant herbs before the dry season, or before the monsoon?)
posted by Jimbob at 9:18 PM on October 14, 2006

Best answer: Thai basil might be one to try.
posted by Wolof at 11:27 PM on October 14, 2006

Best answer: There are lots of asian herbs...

Vietnamese mint. Coriander. Ginger. Basil...

I suspect fungus would be a problem.


Good luck - one of the few reasons I can think of living in Darwin (or anywhere past Adelaide) would be the challenge of starting a tropical garden. Bananas! Mangoes!
posted by wilful at 4:40 AM on October 15, 2006

Best answer: Lemongrass, chillies, green tea and ginger
posted by w_boodle at 9:15 AM on October 15, 2006

Best answer: Fenugrek leaves, curry plant, allspice plant (leaves are edible), Mexican oregano, miracle fruit, and galangal.
posted by DenOfSizer at 11:18 AM on October 15, 2006