Volker's Garden

Volker's garden is located about 10 minutes from Cairns CBD. He has recently moved there from Bridie island where he grew food for the local inhabitans of the island.
He ran a hydroponic system to grow salds. He also grew many local staples like Cassava, sweet potato etc. He has come to Cairns with extensive experience in tropical agriculture and it was great to see the garden he is setting up and share some of his knowlege.


Volker concentrates on plants which are easy to maintain and florish in the tropics like this Ibika spinich. the leaves grow from a very robust stem and can be continually harvested and used in salads, soups etc.


Volker utilizes the soft part of the palm fronds as mulch to protect the soil and retain moisture. This sweet potato here grows very well in the tropics and definitly on to consider adding to your garden. Very easy to grow as a cutting or from the actual potato.
Other tropical food plants Volker recommends are Kang Kong.Kang kong is closely related to sweet potato, as well as ‘morning glory’, the climbing plant with large purple flowers that grows as a weed in the warmer parts of Australia. Like its relative, kang kong can escape from cultivation and the plant is considered a weed in some places. However, it is a popular and common vegetable in many parts of south-east Asia. kang kong is eaten raw as part of a salad or included in soup. Elsewhere it is usually lightly cooked, such as stir-fried with a savoury paste or chillies
Volker also grows pumpkin,paw paw, Galangal and banannas.
A truely tropical food garden right here in Cairns