Thanks to Lachlan & Emily for running the workshop, it was a really fun, informative afternoon, enjoyed by everyone.

Cassava

To know: Cassava is a plant that grows up to 2-3 metres tall that provides tasty roots as well as leaves and shoots to eat. It can grow with any other plants like sweet potato, pumpkins and beans and loves the Darwin climate.

To grow: Cassava is grown from cuttings of the stalk. Mature stalks are cut into sections with 6-8 nodes (growth points) and then planted in the ground with half in the ground and half sticking out. In the dry season the sections should be placed in water for a few days to promote roots. In the wet season they will grow straight away.

Plant them in a shallow trench 80-140cm apart, and fill the trench with soil and manure. At least 3 nodes must be above the soil. Easch row should be about 1-2 metres apart. Cassava will grow with minimal watering and minimal feeding but will grow much faster with more water in the dry season as well as compost and mulch. It loves full sun but will still grow in part sun/part shade.

Cassavas like growing  with many different plants including corn, sweet potato, pigeon pea, pumpkins, papaya, sweet leaf, melons and beans. The roots will be ready to harvest between 6-9 months if well fed and watered. Leaves can be harvested continuously.

To harvest: Cut the top leaves and tips off as needed. Always leave some new tips and lots of leaves so that the cassava roots will grow quickly. When the roots are ready, dig up the whole plant,there should be at least 4 or 5 large tubers growing out from the centre.

To use: The leaves can be steamed, used in stir-frys, added to soups and generally used like other Asian leaf vegetables. The leaves taste great steamed with some soy sauce and lemon or lime.

The roots can be sliced and fried like potato chips, cut up and added to soups, stews and bakes, or dried and turned into flour to use in cakes and bread. It can also be grated for use in bread and cakes or as a thickener. It can also be boiled in the skin. The skin can be removed and cassava root eaten the same as boiled potato. Try adding a chilli sauce to flavour the cassava.

Cassava leaves and roots are also excellent animal food for chickens, ducks and pigs.

Cassava roots can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months or dried and stored in an animal free place in the dry season for a few months.

Pineapples

 To know: Pineapples are a small plant growing up to 1 metre tall and wide. The fruit can sometimes take a while to grow but its easy to grow and worth it!

To grow: Pineapples can be easily grown from the top of pineapple fruit. Cut the top off, pull off the bottom leaves so that the stem is clear for 1cm then put the stem in water. After a few days roots will start appearing, after 1 - 2 weeks plant the new pineapple plants into the ground or in pots.

Pineapples also grow from small pineapple plants that grow out of the same stalk as the pineapple fruit when it is fruiting. When the plant is mature, new plants will also grow out of the ground next to the original plant. Once the fruit is harvested, pull out the original plant and replace with the new plants.

Pineapples grow well in Darwin. They will grow with not much watering of food but will grow much faster if they are watered and fed regularly. They can grow in full sun or part shade.  They grow well with other plants but as they have many spikes they make it harder to manage other plants around them. Grow them with other plants that don't need to be managed much or harvested very often, like papaya.

To harvest: Pineapples grow slowly and take 1 to 2 years until the fruit is ready. Once the fruit is harvested the plant can be pulled up and replaced with a new pineapple plant or something else. They taste best if they are picked when yellow and mature. Watch out for animals though, they like eating them too! Pineapples can be picked green and left to mature as well. Usually they are ready around December, but harvest time also depends on when they are planted.
 

To use: Eat fresh or make juices to enjoy the juice and flavour. Pineapples can be fried as well, added to burgers, cooked with roasted meat and added to pizza.
Dried pineapple is delicious and a good way to preserve it for a long time. Simply cut it in slices and dry it on wire mesh or in a dehydrater. (don't let rain damage it)