Grow your own cocktail garden
Whatever your summer tipple, you'll enjoy it all the more when all you have to do is pick the ingredients from your own cocktail garden.
Fancy adding a splash of homegrown flavour to your summer drinks?
A cocktail patch is a fun, space-friendly garden project that delivers fresh herbs, fruits, and edible flowers right when you need them.
In South-East Queensland’s subtropical climate, you can plant most of these in spring for a lush summer harvest — perfect for garden parties, lazy afternoons, and guilt-free mocktails.
Step 1 – pick your cocktail crew
Choose plants that are versatile, flavour-packed, and happy in pots or garden beds in SEQ:
| Plant | Best from Seed or Seedling | Likes | Dislikes |
| Cucumber | Seed | Full sun, well-drained rich soil, steady moisture | Waterlogging, cold nights |
| Basil | Seed or seedling | Warmth, full sun, fertile well-drained soil | Frost, drought stress, flowering too early |
| Stevia | Seedling | Sun, light fertile soil, moderate watering | Heavy clay, overwatering |
| Strawberry | Seedling or runners | Full sun, slightly acidic rich soil, steady moisture | Water on leaves, hot dry winds |
| Chocolate Mint | Cutting/seedling | Moist, rich soil, part sun–shade | Drying out, poor drainage |
| Borage | Seed | Full sun, average free-draining soil, moderate water | Humidity + poor airflow |
| Celery | Seedling | Moist, fertile soil, regular feeding, sun–shade | Drying out, heatwaves |
| Mint (common) | Cutting/seedling | Moist, rich soil, part sun–shade | Drying out, lack of feed |
💡 Pro tip: Group thirsty plants like mint, celery, and cucumber together so you can water them more often without drowning the dry-lovers like stevia.
Step 2 – time your planting
- Spring planting works well for cucumber, basil, borage, mint, and stevia.
- Celery and strawberries are best planted in cooler months (autumn–winter) for peak yield, but you can plant in early spring if you keep them well-watered and shaded in heatwaves.
Step 3 – give them the right home
- Pots vs. beds: Pots are great for mint (keeps it contained) and strawberries (keeps fruit clean). Use at least a 30 cm pot for herbs and a 40 cm pot for fruiting plants.
- Soil: Use a premium potting mix with compost for pots; in garden beds, add compost and organic fertiliser before planting.
- Drainage: All plants in your cocktail patch hate sitting in soggy soil. Make sure pots have good drainage holes and beds aren’t in a low, flood-prone spot.
Step 4 – water and feed for flavour
- Keep soil consistently moist for cucumbers, celery, mint, and strawberries.
- Water basil, borage, and stevia when the top couple of centimetres of soil feels dry.
- Feed with a liquid fertiliser every 2–3 weeks for strong growth and flavour-rich leaves.
Step 5 – harvest and mix
Harvest herbs in the morning when flavours are most concentrated. Use them fresh, muddled, or made into syrups for your summer drinks. And don’t forget edible garnishes — borage flowers and mint sprigs make even a simple soda look fancy.
Cocktail Recipe – Summer Garden Smash
A refreshing, herbaceous drink with cucumber, basil, and mint.
Ingredients:
- 4 slices cucumber
- 4 basil leaves
- 4 mint leaves (or chocolate mint for a twist)
- 45 ml gin
- 15 ml elderflower liqueur
- 20 ml fresh lime juice
- 15 ml sugar syrup
- Soda water to top
Method:
- Muddle cucumber, basil, and mint in a shaker.
- Add gin, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, and sugar syrup with ice.
- Shake well and strain into an ice-filled glass.
- Top with soda, garnish with cucumber ribbon and basil sprig.
Mocktail Recipe – Strawberry Borage Cooler
A sweet and floral non-alcoholic drink using homegrown strawberries and borage flowers.
Ingredients:
- 4 fresh strawberries, hulled
- 10 ml stevia syrup (stevia leaves steeped in hot water, cooled)
- 20 ml fresh lemon juice
- 6 borage flowers (optional garnish)
- Sparkling water
Method:
- Muddle strawberries with stevia syrup and lemon juice.
- Strain into a tall glass over ice.
- Top with sparkling water.
- Garnish with borage flowers and a sprig of chocolate mint.
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