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Different plants in a garden bed outside.
Investment in an edible garden can lead to long-term gains for your food budget. Skip replanting and save even more with these easy-to-grow perennial herbs, vegies and fruit trees. 

Even aspiring gardeners are probably used to seeing one thing grow, and that’s the numbers at the checkout during their weekly grocery shop. Maximising your food budget might mean skipping non-essential ingredients like fresh herbs that can make your cooking shine. That’s what makes an edible garden such a worthwhile investment for your time and energy. It’s not just about the cost of buying produce – there’s also the waste of throwing out what you can’t use up before it goes bad. Would you rather have happy plants in the garden or wilting ones in the fridge?

Why perennials?

Unlike annuals, which are a one-time only offer each year, perennial plants come with a major pay-off: in the right conditions, they usually last more than two years and require less effort overall. Of course, this varies depending on the region – however well you look after them, not every perennial is going to make it through a frosty winter. But succeed at growing the plants on this list – from quick-and-easy herbs to slow-and-steady vegetables and fruit trees – and you can look forward to saving money at the checkout and sharing excess produce with friends and neighbours. Double yay!

Apples

The sweet crunch of homegrown apples is a worthy target to aim for, even when you don’t have room for a whole orchard. Suitable for small spaces, columnar apple trees can be grown in narrow garden beds or in large pots and planters in courtyards, on decks and even on balconies. Give it about four years in a sunny spot, then start looking up apple pie recipes.

A cluster of red Pippin apples on an apple tree.

Asparagus

Good things come to those who wait, and asparagus is one of those things. Supermarket spears taste so delicious, just imagine having freshly harvested ones to enjoy every spring – for decades! Plant crowns and let them get settled for the first few seasons, then avoid cutting too-skinny spears. For even more flavour, try companion planting with parsley.

Berries

Ever argued with your partner about whether or not to buy the berries? Don’t turn it into a thorny issue – put down that pricey supermarket punnet and think about the fun you’ll have together picking strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries fresh from your own garden. A mulberry tree is another favourite if you have the space. Plus, making and gifting jam can save you money too.

Close up of a bunch of blackberries in varying shades of red hanging from a stem

Chives

Chives feel light in your shopping basket but can weigh on you at the checkout, whereas getting them from the garden is a snip! A great plant for beginner herb growers, they’re low-maintenance and help to repel pests and attract pollinators. You can grow them in pots or garden beds, but a rich, moist soil helps bring out the best in the mild onion flavour.

Citrus

A squeeze of fresh lemon is a secret weapon in the kitchen, so you’re going to love having a lemon tree to call on whenever you need a burst of acidity in sweet and savoury dishes. They can grow in pots and the wait time for fruit is about three years. Keen citrus growers should also try growing a lime tree (or makrut lime tree if you love making Thai curries) and mandarin tree too.

A dwarf mandarin branch, heavy with fruit.

Mint

Strong and aromatic, mint is very handy to have in the garden when you need a little – say, a sprig in your drink – or a lot, like when you fancy making traditional mint sauce for your Sunday lamb roast. Super-easy to grow (even for kids!), it can overtake your garden if you’re not careful, so plant in pots to be on the safe side.

Oregano

Got your eye on a backyard pizza oven? You’re going to love having homegrown oregano nearby to sprinkle over the top. This Mediterranean favourite isn’t the easiest herb to find in supermarkets but it is easy to grow your own, either in pots or in the garden.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is a rarity among vegies – not only is it a perennial unlike many others, but it’s also one of the only vegetables that’s treated like a fruit. Plant it and think of what a great-value gift you’re bestowing on your dessert kitchen for many years to come. Discard or mulch the toxic leaves before prepping the rosy stalks for stewing or roasting.

Rosemary

A little goes a long way with rosemary thanks to its strong flavour, so planting your own is a smart way to avoid wasting those unused sprigs. It’s also one of the best scented plants to grow in pots. When choosing between potted varieties, rub a leaf to check the aroma is to your liking. Try stripping leaves off the woody stems, soaking and using them as natural barbecue skewers, too.

Rosemart - Close up

Thyme

If you only grow one thing in your kitchen herb garden, make it thyme. Dishes rarely call for more than a few sprigs at once, so buying by the bunch is a recipe for food waste, but a pot of thyme is a reliable friend to every cook. It’s also a plant that barely needs any input from you (great news if you’d rather be eating than gardening!)

Watercress

From the same plant family as broccoli, watercress has peppery leaves that look and taste great freshly cut for salads and sandwiches or as a garnish. As the name suggests, you’ll need to water it regularly so the soil stays moist but not waterlogged – don’t let it dry out. Or go the lazy option and grow it in water in a garden pond.

Tarragon

If you’re a fan of French cuisine, it’s worth growing your own tarragon because the fresh stuff can be hard to find in stores. Thankfully the plants are easy to look after and should last for two to three years. The distinctive aniseed flavour of the delicate leaves is fantastic with eggs, fish, chicken and vegetables.

Sweet potato

Unrelated to regular potatoes, sweet potatoes are the underground tubers of a perennial vine that you may need to treat as an annual depending on where you live. Usually dug up before winter in cooler zones, the plants can last for years in the ground in warm areas and they’re easy to propagate and grow at home. What you wouldn’t know from a trip around the produce section at the supermarket is that the leafy greens also taste great. Try stir-frying them with garlic and sesame oil, and give our BBQ roasted sweet potatoes a go too.

So, where do you want to start?

Check out our great range of fruit, herbs and vegetables to get your kitchen garden growing.

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.