Green Thumb Edible-garden enthusiast Stephanie Alexander.

G R E E N T H U M B

ST EPH ANIE A L EX ANDER

Influential chef, author, educator and kitchen-garden advocate, Stephanie Alexander is exploring the possibilities of her new, compact, kitchen garden.

You’ve recently downsized to a courtyard garden. How big is your patch? The courtyard’s 20x5m. I have a 1x1.5m bed, two sleepers high, where I grow my vegies. And I’ve planted a small but flourishing wall-mounted vertical herb garden. Elsewhere, I’m growing wavy grasses and perennials such as Agastache (giant hyssop), plus healthy rosemary, sage and basil bushes. I also have a few rose bushes, chosen for their scent. Which edibles are you growing? Salad vegies always. Also beans, tomatoes, rhubarb, silverbeet and herbs. Do you miss having a large garden? I miss the variety of produce, of course, but I don’t miss the impotent rage against greedy insects and wildlife helping themselves to new seedlings and low-hanging tomatoes! When did your love of gardening take hold? I have strong and positive memories of my mother and grandfather Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden Companion: Growing ($49.99, Lantern) is out now.

deriving much pleasure from their productive gardens, and I oten helped with harvesting as a child. As I grew older and had access to a bit of dirt of my own, I wanted to try to grow edibles myself. What drives you to grow your own vegies? The appeal of truly fresh salad leaves, and the superiority of a just-picked bean or zucchini, or a fat vine-ripened tomato. Favourite pastime in the garden? It has to be harvesting a tender-leafed lettuce, giving it a brief wash and dry and enjoying it for lunch with the best Australian extra-virgin olive oil. You’re releasing a new book, and this time it’s about gardening? Yes, Kitchen Garden Companion: Growing combines practical statistics about the seasons, best growing conditions for each plant, times to maturity as well as simple ways of using the plant. It also contains ideas for working with children in the garden. Your advice to other gardeners with small-sized plots? Consider all the basics – aspect, soil, water – and then grow what you love. Consider how much time you want to spend caring for your garden and whether you are mainly interested in growing herbs, salad greens, silverbeet and a rhubarb plant or whether you want flowers, climbers, greenery, perennials or masses of one variety of plant. Visit reputable nurseries and some open gardens to see how others solve the challenges of limited space. #

S T E P H A N I E ’ S FAVO U R I T E . . .

Vegie to grow Salad leaves. Fast-growing and always on my menu. Flower scent Stephanotis. The smell is exquisite. Gardening tools Strong hand tools: trowel, fork and a good dibber.

M A S T E R T H E A R T O F E A S Y E N T E R T A I N I N G

How to take high tea to the next level.

Bell Hop bar cart, West Elm. T O P S H E L F from left Scope vessel and Primary vessel, both Freedom. Taika espresso cup and saucer, Iittala. Madison cake server, Maxwell & Williams. Tickar plate, Ikea. Glow cake stand, Domayne. B O T T O M S H E L F from left Vera Wang Sequin champagne saucers, Wedgwood. Clarendon Emerald Hock wineglasses, Williams-Sonoma. Vera Wang Peplum tumbler, Wedgwood. Elysian Collection coupe in Amethyst, Waterford Crystal. Molly placemat, Sloane jug and Alchemy vessel, all Freedom. Flowers from Mandalay

Flowers. F O R W H E R E T O B U Y, S E E PA G E 1 8 6 .