travelling herbs

Lidia · Member

travelling herbs

Tony Bev · Guru

Welcome to the forum Lidia

I personally do not know of anyone, who travels with herbs

From experience, when I cross into either West Australia, or South Australia, they check at the border, for fresh fruit, plants etc

I believe that the fines are now high enough, to deter people from doing the wrong thing

Lidia · Member

Hi Tony, thats a very good point you make, had not thought about any possible quarantine, which may well be the case.
Ill make some inquiries. Thanks very much for your response.
Cheers, Lidia :)

Lidia · Member

As a general rule the conditions for this approval will require the plants to be free of all soil and potting mix, and undergoing a 100% inspection on arrival in WA. You can bring plant pots into WA, but they must be washed free of all soil and plant material. Inspection fees and charges will apply.

Well that totally leaves out the idea of travelling with potted fresh herbs.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Applies to every State border, not just WA.
Cheers,
Peter

Lidia · Member

Yes, so it appears. Did some more research.
Kicking myself for not thinking about quarantine.
Thanks for your feedback, Peter.

Dunmowin · Guru

Hi Lidia, good question which I hope I can answer for you.

We have been on the road for almost 10 years, always travelling with troughs of herbs. Our current "garden" includes basil, parsley (curled and flat), chives and two types of thyme.

Yes, it is correct that you cannot take plants/potted plants across certain borders, but when you consider the cost of say

1 x punnet of parsley

1 x punnet of basil

1 x punnett of chives

at about $5.00 per punnett, a small bag of potting mix at about $4.00 per 25lt, 1 or 2 troughs (your choice - ours are the ones that retain water in the tray and self wick)

Opposed to:

Tonight I need some parsley, so I buy a packet from the supermarket, which only lasts two or three days, mostly it gets thrown out when it goes soggy

Then a week later I need some more, so have to go and buy some more, and some basil as well. Looking at about $9.00 just this week alone for a few bits of greenery that won't last.

So, by planting and nurturing my own, (which is a comforting thing to do) I actually save money. Each time we plan to cross a border, just like all our fruit and veggies which we do a big cook up, we dispose of the herbs and soil, wash thoroughly the troughs and continue into the new state, find a nursery and start again (bearing in mind that you already have your troughs)

-- Edited by Dunmowin on Sunday 7th of March 2021 04:17:17 PM

Mike Harding · Guru

Good question - and one I've been meaning to look at for some time too.

I like Dunmowin's idea and he's right, with supermarket herbs at around $4 a bunch.

Another possibility for people like me who tend to mainly stay in one or two states (Vic and NSW for me) is to find a forest close to an area you regularly visit and leave your potted herbs to fend for themselves whilst you go interstate then pick them up on return.

Dunmowin · Guru

One thing I forgot to mention. We have had our herbs eaten by wild animals and domesticated cows. When camped,, we make sure at night that the herbs are not reachable.

Lidia · Member

Thank you Dunmowin and Mike for your helpful input.
We will have to rethink our idea of travelling with herbs.
Can't blame the wild animals and domesticated cows for eating your herbs, such an unexpected treat for them, hahaha
Where do you keep the herbs at night, on top of your caravan?
We are from Cairns about to depart for WA and NT but due to possible COVID quarantine in WA will have to give our WA destination some more thought.
So we may yet be able to travel with herbs.
Uncertain times and fingers crossed.
Safe travels to you and your herbs.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Not only is there quarantine between states. There are quarantine zones within states.

https://www.interstatequarantine.org.au/travellers/quarantine-zones/

mark and kerry · Veteran Member

yes we do got a couple of trays frombunnings and have parsley/chives/and time will add more soon

burnj · Newbie

New member doing 1 or 2 week trips we take a small variety of herbs nothing like fresh our last trip was when sa opened border gave away just before border to fellow campers heading north along

Possum3 · Guru

Welcome to GN's burnj, I hope you are enjoying your cooking with spices and condiments along your travels - be safe out there.

Tamsun · Senior Member

I normally have water plants that I travel with, no soil just in water however I left them in NSW when travelling interstate. Not sure if there would be any herbs that you could grow in water but I just hang them up and put them in the sink when I'm driving.

I did see a MH that has potted plants on the outside of their windows which I'm sure they would bring in when driving. It looked pretty cool!

mark and kerry · Veteran Member

We have traveled for a couple of years with our fresh herbs-parsley-garlic chives-Tyme and sage I bought a rectangular pot from Bunnings a self watering type we just put them in the back of the Ute very successful

mark and kerry · Veteran Member

We have traveled for a couple of years with our fresh herbs-parsley-garlic chives-Tyme and sage I bought a rectangular pot from Bunnings a self watering type we just put them in the back of the Ute very successful

Cupie · Guru

I usually carry sprigs of Greek (bush) Basil in water. When they root I plant them in a pot. By the time I get back home they are ready to plant out in my garden.

The leaves are essential in our home made pizzas.

I have been known to plant a few in the 'free to harvest' herb gardens that we find near the Camp Kitchens in some CPs.

I also carry a selection of fresh herbs from home in zip lock bags in the fridge. They last a few weeks & then it's over to the large range of dried herbs & spices that are in my pantry.

Of course, I abide by the relevant plant quarantine rules.