Gardening

Gardening Articles

An Aunty to all: supporting those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle

26 Apr 23

When disaster strikes, the basics of food and shelter become challenging. Meghan Read hears from Arohanui Lawrence about how her spray-free community garden demonstrates the strength of local food resilience.

Conquer the cold: seasonal gardening tips and tasks for late autumn

26 Apr 23

With autumn settling into winter, what better advice than turning to the sun and letting the shadows fall behind you could gardeners take? Especially those who have lost so much in recent weather events. Wherever you are in the country, make the most of the little heat that still lingers, by trapping it in cunning ways

Azolla: a simple and sustainable biofertiliser

22 Feb 23

It is the ultimate fertiliser for your garden. It is free, only needs a bucket of water, removes greenhouse gases, fixes nitrogen, and enriches your soil. Sheryn Dean describes a simple and sustainable biofertiliser.

Growing good food: seasonal gardening tips and tasks for autumn

22 Feb 23

March and April are such surprising and exciting months in the garden. Just when it seems the world is winding down and our edible beds are readying themselves for sleep, a whole new season of opportunity presents itself. That’s because, apart from a few of the coldest spots in the country (and even then, there is potential for growing undercover or indoors), nature never sleeps. So while autumn is very much the season for harvesting and storing, it’s also a time to be out with the fork, the seeds and the seedlings – and to start growing all over again!

Successful summer gardening: hot composting, time away, and seedling tips

20 Dec 22

Mid to late summer in the garden is a hectic time. All the edibles are coming ready at once, the weeds are running to seed, and you really need that summer break you planned back in September! But don’t fret – we’ve got your back, with some fail-proof plans to keep the garden ship-shape and super- productive!

Summer gardening: maximising space, plant protection, and more

20 Oct 22

Most māra around the country are now in full swing, and keen gardeners are keeping up with succession sowings and plantings. While that’s wise, it also behoves us, as sustainable growers, to look for new ways to make the most from every plant we already have in the māra. Through meticulous maintenance and careful coaxing, we can all hope to increase production from our allotted growing space, while at the same time, reducing waste.

Meet the locals: Vagabond Vege

22 Aug 22

Vagabond Vege is a market garden in Te Hūpēnui/Greytown, started by four friends, Lise, Elle, Sheldon, and Saskia.

Untame your herb garden

17 Aug 22

Enough with the spick and span, says Sara Mertens. Instead, go a little bit wild and take advantage of the smorgasbord of nutrition our gardens have to offer, especially from those plants with reputations for being weeds.

Spring gardening: kai waste, seedlings, and other tips

17 Aug 22

Nothing announces the start of spring more than the bright yellow blossom of te kōwhai! Kōwhai blooms also signal the beginning of some seriously hard mahi in the māra as we strive to give our seeds and seedlings the best, and earliest possible, start in life.

Kids’ activities for Matariki

20 Jun 22

Get the kids outside and into the garden with these fun activities.

Winter gardening: fruit trees, new beds, and other tips

15 Jun 22

Your winter māra may be resting, but that doesn’t mean you can do the same! July and August are preparation months, and the mahi you put in now is essential if you are to reap rewards down the track. Act without delay because spring is just around the corner.

Talking food and wahine with Sophie Merkens

04 May 22

What do you do when your passions are photography, food and the environment? If you’re Sophie Merkens you quit your job, buy a van and set off on a road trip around Aotearoa to interview and photograph 35 inspiring wāhine growers and gatherers. Then you turn it into a beautiful book.

Autumn gardening

26 Apr 22

As autumn rolls on into winter, it’s so easy rest on our laurels and leave the edible beds and orchard to their own devices. But I find that activity now, brings the reward of fresh produce right through the coldest months, and healthy food-bearing trees in spring.

Keep your garden growing

16 Feb 22

In the cooler months it’s tempting to wind down the edible beds, but try sowing and growing all over again for months of bountiful harvest at a time when store-bought veges command a premium price.

Sanctity of the soil with Maanu Paul

15 Feb 22

Maanu Paul feels two responsibilities keenly and they are intertwined: to provide food for his whānau, and to do it with the utmost respect for Papatūānuku, Mother Earth.

A potted garden of Asian veges

14 Dec 21

Nathan Shiu has created an oasis of plenty in his steeply sloping garden on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, including many Asian vegetables not seen in most back yards. This grandad has hit upon a great model to make gardening easier for older people while also supporting the health of the younger generation. Dee Pignéguy pays a visit to find out more.