• Link to Facebook
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to LinkedIn
Reset member access or visit Soil & Health NZ
Organic NZ
  • Articles
    • Features
    • Gardening
    • Health and Food
    • Farming and Horticulture
    • Building and Technology
    • News
  • Competitions
  • Donate
  • Login
  • Join Us
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

Gardening

Gardening Articles

Savoy cabbage

When cabbage is sexy!

29 Sep 26
Cabbage might not seem to be the most glamorous vegetable in the garden, but give it a little attention and it rewards you with versatility, nourishment and weeks of good eating, as Paula Sharp writes.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/pexels-pixabay-savoy-cabbage209482.jpg 427 640 membership https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png membership2026-09-29 17:11:292026-09-29 17:14:42When cabbage is sexy!

A life of plants, food and foraging

28 Sep 26
Plant-based chef, cookbook author, teacher, forager and passionate gardener Anna Valentine shares some of her knowledge, wisdom and passion for plants, foraging and delicious food in a new series of short videos in collaboration with Soil & Health.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Anna-Valentine-cropped.jpeg 615 1117 membership https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png membership2026-09-28 17:59:342026-09-28 17:59:36A life of plants, food and foraging

Biochar, black gold and bananas

28 Aug 26
What started as a simple experiment to improve soil in the direction of terra preta—a famously fertile, friable soil that seems to sequester carbon permanently—has become a national field trial for the use of biochar in New Zealand.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Phil-and-Jenny-Grainger-with-banana-trees-grown-in-compost-swales-photo-Betsy-KettleCOMPRESSED-scaled.jpg 2560 1920 membership https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png membership2026-08-28 13:50:342026-08-29 08:04:06Biochar, black gold and bananas
Hardening off seedlings in mid spring

Growing Vegetables: Mid spring — hardening off

28 Aug 26
By mid spring, you should have some lovely healthy seedlings. However, don't be tempted to plant them out — not yet. We Sarah O'Neil, author of Growing Vegetables, shares her tips.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ONLY-FOR-USE-WITH-BOOK-EXTRACT-p52-of-Growing-Vegetables-book-hardening-off-seedlings-LOWER-RES.jpg 491 655 membership https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png membership2026-08-28 13:47:502026-08-28 13:47:51Growing Vegetables: Mid spring — hardening off
Kumera slips - moon calendar 2026

Moon Calendar September-October 2026

26 Aug 26
One of the most satisfying elements of being with the land is learning new tasks, and folding them in in their entirety over the seasons. We have been growing kūmara on our block for a number of years now, but last year was the first time I grew our own tipu (slips).
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Monique_Kumara-2026.jpg 800 1500 Claire Flynn https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Claire Flynn2026-08-26 23:16:412026-10-12 14:26:35Moon Calendar September-October 2026
Cabbage and mulch strip-till field trial at IGZ

Clover under cabbage reduces harvest — rye mulch keeps yields

24 Aug 26
/
0 Comments
Clover under your cabbage sounds like a perfect organic win — soil cover, free nitrogen, fewer weeds. However a new temperate-climate field trial says pause before planting, as your yield may in fact be greater under cut and wilted rye mulch.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/rye-mulch-cabbage-igz.jpg 1200 1800 david.mcneill https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png david.mcneill2026-08-24 22:29:552026-10-05 09:04:10Clover under cabbage reduces harvest — rye mulch keeps yields
Full moon seen from Amberley, Canterbury, New Zealand

Your plants can see the moon: Science that deepens the Moon Calendar

24 Aug 26
/
0 Comments
Members already know the monthly Moon Calendar is one of Organic…
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/pexels-jarod-barton-amberley-canterbury-full-moon13548702.jpg 853 1280 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2026-08-24 21:27:052026-09-08 14:44:14Your plants can see the moon: Science that deepens the Moon Calendar
Lettuces and watering can in home garden

Worm juice and soil fungi: why compost alone isn’t enough for juicy lettuce

03 Aug 26
/
3 Comments
If your lettuce beds already get compost and still look a bit thin by midsummer, new research suggests the missing partners may be sitting in your worm farm and in the fine white threads of soil fungi.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Rosrath_Germany_Gardening-with-planting-box-01.jpg 640 960 david.mcneill https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png david.mcneill2026-08-03 15:00:232026-09-14 09:05:52Worm juice and soil fungi: why compost alone isn’t enough for juicy lettuce
2026 Example calendar covers

2027 Calendars

30 Jul 26
Our Calendars are coming back for 2027. Right now we're calling for submissions by 1 November, and pre-sales are now open!
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/calendars-2026-example-covers.jpg 1080 1080 Claire Flynn https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Claire Flynn2026-07-30 14:30:452026-10-22 09:10:302027 Calendars
Fantail on tree branch

Parable of the paddock edge

29 Jun 26
We are the ones who live beside the paddock. No one asked us whether the new substance belonged here. The question is: who is made to carry the cost? A parable for our times, by David McNeill
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/lolita-alekseeva-hvMyBVz-mzM-unsplash1.jpg 1440 1920 membership https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png membership2026-06-29 22:30:442026-08-14 17:13:25Parable of the paddock edge
Green kiwifruit

Kiwifruit: Treasures in red, gold and green

29 Jun 26
Kiwifruit has become so woven into our national identity that it’s easy to forget it isn’t actually native here at all, and its journey from a fuzzy Chinese curiosity to a backyard favourite is a story worth knowing, as Paula Sharp finds out.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/Kiwi_Actinidia_chinensis_1_Luc_Viatour-Wikimedia-Commons.jpg 656 960 membership https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png membership2026-06-29 22:23:112026-08-03 15:02:18Kiwifruit: Treasures in red, gold and green
matariki

Moon Calendar July-August 2026

23 Jun 26
As we pass through the natural ‘new year’ in the southern hemisphere, now is the perfect time to witness the tohu (signs) of the coming seasons. As the stars reappear on the horizon at dawn, take note...
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/matariki.jpg 562 1030 Claire Flynn https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Claire Flynn2026-06-23 21:59:442026-08-08 17:50:03Moon Calendar July-August 2026
Seed saving with Monique

Moon Calendar May-June 2026

28 Apr 26
As we descend into the cooler months, the time has come to start to envisage our gardens for the following seasons. I remind people when they are starting out growing their own food, to plant what you love to eat.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/seed-saving-monique-header.jpg 843 1500 Claire Flynn https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Claire Flynn2026-04-28 23:33:132026-04-28 23:33:14Moon Calendar May-June 2026
Monique Macfarlane - planting by the moon in NZ.

Moon Calendar March-April 2026

25 Feb 26
Successful food and flower growing starts well before seedlings or seeds are planted in the ground. Planning, preparation, soil care, and nutrition are all endeavours undertaken in the seasons before.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/Monique-Macfarlane-Mar25-header.jpg 818 1500 Claire Flynn https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Claire Flynn2026-02-25 23:04:312026-02-25 23:05:46Moon Calendar March-April 2026

Soil & Health Auckland – Meeting Announcement

07 Feb 26
Come and hear Savannah Carter-Green talk to the Auckland branch of Soil & Health
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Savannah-Carter-Green-Feb-26.jpg 782 552 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2026-02-07 21:19:362026-02-11 14:49:18Soil & Health Auckland – Meeting Announcement

Loving soil, but also learning soil

19 Dec 25
Jenny Lux, market gardener and former Soil & Health chair, tells her story of growing vegetables and continuing a path of lifelong learning.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/Jenny-Lux-2025-low-res-scaled.jpg 2560 2560 membership https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png membership2025-12-19 07:41:332026-09-14 09:06:00Loving soil, but also learning soil

Peace lilies

18 Dec 25
The peace lily is a favourite among indoor plant enthusiasts. In this excerpt from The Plant Book, author Tammy Huynh offers tips for care of your peace lilies: watering, light, fertilising, dividing them and more.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/Peace-lily-4-cropped-lower-res.jpg 1953 1969 membership https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png membership2025-12-18 22:54:502025-12-18 22:54:52Peace lilies
Seed saving with Monique

Moon Calendar January-February 2026

17 Dec 25
Seed saving is one of the most beautiful acts of resilience and nourishment we can do for ourselves, our communities, our future, and the ecosystems we find ourselves in.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/seed-saving-monique-header.jpg 843 1500 Claire Flynn https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Claire Flynn2025-12-17 23:27:022025-12-17 23:27:04Moon Calendar January-February 2026

Homegrown Fruit: Pests and disease-reducing strategies

28 Nov 25
Here are some organic strategies to reduce pests and disease in the home orchard, from the book "Homegrown Fruit: A practical guide", by Kath Irvine and Jason Ross.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/HomeGrownFruitcropped.jpg 876 2241 membership https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png membership2025-11-28 12:49:372026-10-05 09:04:10Homegrown Fruit: Pests and disease-reducing strategies

2026 Calendars For Sale!

31 Oct 25
Our Calendars are back by popular demand. We have the sought-after ‘N*de Gardening’ calendar, and the ‘Beautiful Gardens’ calendar (for those who prefer to hang a calendar that doesn’t get so much attention!). Both calendars include the moon phases.
Read more
https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/socials-buy-now-calendar-gardens-cover2.jpg 1080 1080 Claire Flynn https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Claire Flynn2025-10-31 09:25:122026-02-25 23:09:192026 Calendars For Sale!
Page 1 of 6123›»

Categories

  • All Articles
  • News
  • Features
  • Gardening
  • Health and Food
  • Farming and Horticulture
  • Building and Technology
  • Free Online

Latest Articles

  • Green herb dressing being poured over salad
    Green Goddess Dip or Sauce
  • The Health Detective’s Handbook
  • Savoy cabbage
    When cabbage is sexy!
  • Peter Butler
    Plant fiend
  • A life of plants, food and foraging
  • Ross Vintiner of Dali Olives holding a handful of Johnson-Su compost
    Organic probiotic for the soil
  • Biochar, black gold and bananas
  • Parsley on chopping board with knife
    Parsley: More than just a garnish
  • Hardening off seedlings in mid spring
    Growing Vegetables: Mid spring — hardening off
  • Kumera slips - moon calendar 2026
    Moon Calendar September-October 2026
Soil & Health Association of NZ Established 1941

Proudly published by the Soil & Health Association NZ

  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Help us
  • Sign up to the Newsletter
© Copyright OrganicNZ | Soil and Health Association NZ.
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Policy
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top