Your Garden Coach NZ

We enjoy a cup of Dried Yarrow and Mint tea today - it’s a winner, Jen loves it. Dr Compost joins us for a chat about… composting! He’s a mine of information and has a few ideas to help Jen get started with composing. Take a look at Ben’s Socials @dr_compost & Dr Compost on fb, Ben talks about Bokashi composting in his latest video. We learn about two lesser-known Vitamins G & G. That’s ri...

Postgraduate Researcher Daniellé du Plooy shares with us her studies into The Future of Food Systems in Aotearoa New Zealand and the role of key stakeholders’ in shaping that future. Daniellé aims to highlight the diversity of values, opportunities, visions and concerns about the future of food in NZ,  Danilellé has so much valuable knowledge to share, so we sat back and gave her free rein to open...

What a week for competitions woohoo! The winner of our Kings Seeds Seasonal Gift Pack is Rebecca Teonea The NZ Bulbs Pack goes to Linda- Marie Stokke And the $20 Weekly Gift Voucher from Kings goes to Rachel Chamberlain  Congratulations to you all, and huge thanks to Kings Seeds and NZ Bulbs Yarrow Tea today - We dried the flowers when they were in peak bloom and have stored two jars for use over...

In this week's episode: Beetroot - grow lots, it's so good for your blood. We focus on this vegetable today. We talk to Paul Hoek from NZ Bulbs, what a delight, Paul tells us everything we need to know to grow gorgeous Spring bulbs. It’s ordering time for bulbs. Paul has a wonderful gift pack for us to give away in this week's competition. Jane Wrigglesowrth’s Tummy-Taming Tea was s...

I might take a moment to thank our listeners for joining us each week and for the lovely feedback you give us. Each message is welcomed and helps us to write the stories you’d like us to tell. Please keep your emails coming.  Building this gardening community is heartwarming and very fulfilling. You are appreciated. In this weeks episode we talk to Charlotte from Kings Seeds. A family-owned small...

Podcast Episode 24 What a week! - The Wanaka A&P Show was a huge success, Jen and Ali won a few prizes in the Home Industries Sections Including 1st Place for our Scarecrows. This week we talk about Wildlife in the Autumn Garden We bust some Tomato Myths And we have quite a long list of jobs this week. The Moon is Waxing which is ideal sowing and planting time. So make yourself a cup of Ginger...

It’s Autumn, and there's lots happening in the garden and kitchen. Harvesting is in full swing, pickling, preserving, and so much fresh produce to share. Autumn tasks include mulching, and choosing bulbs for Spring colour, always a favourite pastime. Keeping those roses going - deadheading and removing any diseased leaves from the area. Your pumpkins will need plenty of water, and mound up th...

Robert Owen is a delight to listen to, a gentleman beekeeper. With a PhD in Varroa, and having been a beekeeper for 25 years, Robert is a mine of common sense beekeeping advice. Roberts publishers, Exile Publishing, have kindly donated a copy of ‘Honey Bee Pests and Diseases’ - A Complete Guide to Prevention and Management. Detailed chapters, illustrated with numerous photographs and diagrams, as...

This week we enjoyed talking with Keren Mackay, aka The Professional Country Woman. Keren designed a wonderful Crop Rotation Poster that Ali has been referring to for about 10 years - it’s a gem Keren has kindly gifted a poster to one of our listeners - Listen in to hear how you can win. Jen and Ali enjoyed fresh apple tea - this delicious drink made with fresh apple juice, a splash of lemon juice...

Hamish from Seacliff Organics @seaclifforganics joins us and talks all about the variety of products we can add to improve our soil. We mentioned the book - 'The Intelligent Gardener' by Steve Soloman Seed libraries - all you need to know  Garden tasks this week - Sowing and Planting for winter crops. Tea - Bee balm… not one of our favourites Chelsea chop - Jen discovers this is not a da...

Are you still confused about gardening by the moon? Let’s talk a bit about why we promote this age-old practice. Liz Buggs joins us to talk about the Wanaka A&P Show schedule - Do get involved with your local A&P Show, they are a wonderful annual event that reminds us of the benefits of getting together as a community in a very wholesome way. 'Edible Flowers' that brighten our pl...

Today we discuss Soil Testing and soil amending. A fascinating subject, we barely scratch the surface of the topic but we will have a follow-up discussion with Hamish from Seacliff Organics later in the month. Garden tasks this week - we are in the Barren Period until the 6th & 7th when it’s the ideal time to direct sowing root crops. Todays Tea is a 'blend', suited to enjoying after...

Podcast Episode 17 now available A little late uploading this time so the dates are slightly off (apologies - Life got in the way)  Today we talk about water retention in your Summer garden - water restrictions are now in place here in Central Otago, we find out how to make the most of every available drop (and Ali gets a bit grumpy at the excessive irrigation mismanagement around here!) We enjoy...

A soothing Chamomile Tea to enjoy whilst listening to Jen and Ali ramble on about - Bitter lettuce issues Seed germination tests Vegetable of the week - Cucumber What is happening in the garden this week Windfall apples - don't waste them Book of the Week - Herbs - Herb Gardening from the Ground Up - Sal Gilbertie & Larry Sheehan Instagram of the Week - @almaverde.permacultura (based in C...

In today's episode  We interview  Erin Allison, Grower, and owner/operator of Harvest Homegrown in Hawea. Erin generously shares a wealth of vegetable-growing knowledge gained over the last eight years growing food for her weekly subscribers. Erin talks about her regular hands-on workshops where attendees learn season-relevant, vegetable garden tasks and tricks Our tea of the day is delicious...

Happy New Year to our lovely listeners. Gosh, it’s hot, gardening is happening early in the morning and after dinner these days, definitely not during the day. Our big concern here in Central Otago is WATERING!!! We’re parched and any rain we have been receiving has barely wet the surface. This is why we MULCH liberally, it really does help retain moisture around the roots. In today's episode...

We wish our listeners a very Merry Christmas and a happy start to the New Year. Many listeners have told us they will be binge-listening to catch up on our podcasts. Do remember to listen to the most recent podcast first. Stats show You Garden Coach is now in the top 25% of podcast ‘tune-ins’ in New Zealand - for this, we thank you all. Do keep sharing our Instagram and FB posts to “Grow” the list...

Foraged Tea - today we try Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium) which grows abundantly in our district. I think I've found a new favourite. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding, and if surgery is coming up. We talk about this week's garden jobs - be sure to listen to the most current episode first. From the 15th of December, we are back into sowing and panting. Our vegetable of the week is Kale W...

Feeding the soil that feeds your tomatoes - we learn how to make homemade tomato fertiliser. Garden happenings for this week according to the moon calendar. Aphids - what do we do about them? Instagram account of the week - @she.grows.stuff  Glossary - Cloche - a bell-shaped cover that protects your seedlings from birds and rabbits (and dogs). The not-so-secret life of goats - little troublemakers...

Season 1 Episode 10- Globe Artichoke   In todays episode: - Elderflower Tea - Does birdsong stimulate plant growth? And we talk with the wonderful Leah Evans about her first book 'Hands in the Dirt' - there's a competition to win a copy.  Garden Happenings this week -succession planting -catmint mosquito repellant -cabbage white butterflies -tomato care Vegetable of the week - Globe...

Season 1 Episode 9-  Today we talk to Jane Mahoney, Jane, along with her daughter Sophie Bannan has written a beautiful book 'Secret Gardens of Aotearoa. Ali has a personal attachment to this book as her garden, Crosshill, features along with eleven other New Zealand gardens. Stunning photography, and plenty of tips from humble home gardeners. We know you'll love it as much as we do. We...

Season 1 Episode 5- Square Metre Gardening  Today we talk about -  Borage Tea What are Cucurbits? Square Meter Gardening We have the privilege of talking to Yotam and Niva Kay from Pākaraka Permaculture Book - One Magic Square - Lolo Houbein Our very first Giveaway book - The Abundant Gardener published by Allen and Unwin Listen to the podcast for competition details (open to NZ listeners only - s...

Season 1 Episode 7- Square Foot Gardening   In this episode, we discuss Square Foot Gardening  We share recipes for Weed Tea Fertiliser and Compost Tea fertiliser. Todays tea is made from spring Hawthorn leaves and blossom It’s Root Crop sowing time on 9th & 10th November 2023 Jen tells us just how many seeds the sunflower can produce on each head. Book - Square Foot Gardening - Mel Bartholome...

Season 1 Episode 6- Hugelkultur  In this episode, we place the spotlight on Leeks  What on earth is Hugelkultur?  And it’s Tomato Time…  We take a look at  Garden tasks this week Gardening by the Moon Calendar   Glossary Term – Square Foot Gardening   How to buy your tickets for the ‘Secret Gardens of Aotearoa’ book launch at Crosshill Garden  https://humanitix.com/nz/search?skipPrefillLocation=tr...

Season 1 Episode 5- Spinach & Guild Planting  In this episode we talk about -  Garden tasks this week - planting time Spinach - growing notes Food Forests and the Layering System Codling Moth treatment for fruit trees Companion Planting Garden Tea recipe - Lemon balm, rosemary, ginger and lemon.  Book of the Week The Joy of Gardening Lynda Hallinan Glossary - Hugelkulture - Mound or Hill Cultu...