Fruit Gardener’s Diary for the Year in New Zealand

New Zealand’s diverse climate allows for a wide range of fruiting plants to be grown throughout the year. Here is a month-by-month guide to help you plan your fruit garden, including planting, caring, and harvesting activities for the most common fruiting plants grown in New Zealand. January Planting: Citrus trees, passionfruit vines. Care: Water regularly, mulch to retain moisture, and p...

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Flower Gardener’s Diary for the Year in New Zealand

New Zealand’s diverse climate allows for a wide range of flowering plants to thrive throughout the year. Here is a month-by-month guide to help you plan your flower garden, including planting, caring, and enjoying the blooms of the most common flowering plants grown in New Zealand. January Planting: Summer annuals such as petunias, marigolds, zinnias, and sunflowers. Sow seeds for autumn flo...

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Vegetable Gardener’s Diary for the Year in New Zealand

New Zealand’s temperate climate allows for a wide variety of vegetables to be grown throughout the year. Here is a month-by-month guide to help you plan your vegetable garden, including planting, caring, and harvesting activities for the most common vegetables grown in New Zealand. January Planting: Beans, cucumbers, zucchinis, corn, pumpkins, and late tomatoes. Care: Regular watering, mu...

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red and yellow flowers in the garden

Fruit Tree, Vegetable, and Gardening Planting Calendar – A Broad Brushstroke for our NZ climate

The Bay of Plenty region enjoys a temperate climate with warm summers and mild winters, making it ideal for growing a wide range of fruit trees, vegetables, and other garden plants. Here is a comprehensive planting calendar to help you plan your garden activities throughout the year. Fruit Tree Planting Calendar January: Harvesting summer fruits such as plums, peaches, nectarines, and early ...

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Citrus Growing Guide for New Zealand: From Seed to Juicy Success! 🍋🌿

Get ready to transform your garden into a citrus wonderland! Growing citrus trees in New Zealand is a rewarding adventure, offering delicious fruit and a burst of vibrant color to your outdoor space. Whether you're dreaming of juicy lemons, sweet oranges, or zesty limes, our fun and comprehensive guide will take you through every step to ensure your citrus trees thrive. Let’s dive in and get growi...

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Feijoa Growing Guide for New Zealand: Sweet, Tangy, and Easy to Grow! 🌿🍈

5 Steps to Feijoa Success Autumn and spring are an ideal time to plant feijoas in most areas of New Zealand. Plant at least two different varieties. Even self-fertile varieties will produce a better crop if pollinated by other varieties.  Prepare your soil with organic matter like compost and sheep pellets. Add a layer of citrus & fruit mix to plant into.  Feed fejioas regularly from spring to harvest. Water deeply and regularly from mid to late summer when the fruit is developing and ripening. Follow our full guide below to a bumper crop of homegrown feijoas.

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Cucumber Growing Guide for New Zealand: Fresh and Crunchy Success! 🥒🌿

5 Steps to Cucumber Planting Success Create a support structure or frame for cucumbers to grow up. Choose a warm, sunny spot. Spring and summer are the best times to plant cucumbers in New Zealand.  Prepare your soil with organic matter like compost and sheep pellets, then add a layer of vegetable mix to plant into. Water and feed your cucumbers regularly as they grow in spring and summer. Also ensure good ventilation around plants. Harvest cucumbers regularly to encourage flowering and fruiting. Follow our full guide below to a bumper crop of homegrown cucumbers.

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Beetroot Growing Guide for New Zealand: From Seed to Sweet Success! 🌱🌟

5 Steps to Beetroot Planting Success Choose a spot in full sun and prepare your soil with organic matter like sheep pellets and compost.  Add a layer of vegetable mix to plant into. Beetroot can be planted year round in New Zealand.  Plant beetroot in rows about 50cm apart.  Feed beetroot with vegetable food throughout the growing season.  Water regularly and keep the soil moist.  Follow our full guide below to a bumper crop of homegrown beetroot.

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Bulb Growing Guide for New Zealand Gardens: Your Path to a Blooming Paradise 🌷🌿

"Ready to achieve bulb planting brilliance? 🌷✨ Start by picking up your favorite bulbs from a garden centre between mid-February and early April – it’s prime bulb-planting time in New Zealand! 🍂 Prep your soil like a pro by mixing in some rich organic goodies like compost and sheep pellets. Lay down a cozy layer of bulb mix and plant your bulbs at a depth that's twice their diameter – think of ...

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Pear Growing Guide for New Zealand: Juicy Delights from Your Garden! 🍐🌿

5 Steps to Pear Planting Success Choose an open, sunny position sheltered from strong winds for your pear tree. Pears are partially self-fertile. Prepare your soil with organic matter like compost and sheep pellets.  Add a layer of citrus and fruit mix to plant into. In New Zealand winter is the optimum time to plant pear trees. Feed your pears in spring and summer to encourage maximum flowering and fruiting. Mulch and water well, particularly over the warmer months. Follow our full guide below to a bumper crop of homegrown pears.

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Dahlia Growing Guide for New Zealand: Your Path to Stunning Blooms 🌸🌟

5 Steps to Dahlia Success Choose a sunny spot with plenty of room for dahlias to flourish. Spring, after frosts have passed, is the best time to plant dahlias in New Zealand.  Prepare your soil with organic matter like compost and sheep pellets. Add a layer of rose and shrub mix to plant into.  Feed in spring and autumn for optimum flowering. Water regularly to keep the soil moist, and deadhead to prolong the flowering season. Follow our full guide below to vibrant beautiful dahlias.

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Camellia Growing Guide for New Zealand: Blooming Beauties in Your Garden! 🌸🌿

5 Steps to Camellia Success Choose a sheltered spot, protected from harsh midday sun, strong winds and frosts. Spring is the best time to plant camellias in New Zealand. Prepare your soil with organic matter like compost and sheep pellets. Add a layer of rose & shrub mix to plant into.  Feed after flowering and once again during its growing season. Water regularly to keep the soil moist, and mulch around the plants to protect its shallow roots. Follow our full guide below for quintessential camellias.

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Eggplant Growing Guide for New Zealand: From Seedling to Scrumptious! 🍆🌿

5 Steps to Eggplant Planting Success Choose a sunny, sheltered spot in your garden. Prepare your soil with organic matter like compost and sheep pellets. Add a layer of vegetable mix to plant into. Eggplants need a long, hot summer to produce and are best grown from spring after frosts. Feed every four weeks with vegetable food. Add a layer of mulch and keep your eggplants well watered. Follow our full guide below to a bumper crop of eggplants.

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corn, black corn, food

Growing Guide for Mini Black Heirloom Popping Corn in New Zealand

Mini black heirloom popping corn is a unique and fun variety to grow in your garden. This type of corn is not only decorative but also produces delicious popcorn. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you successfully grow mini black heirloom popping corn in New Zealand. Choosing the Right Location Corn needs a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Choose a location that receives at least 6-8 hours...

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Blueberry Growing Guide for New Zealand: Sweet Berries, Happy Plants! 🌿🍇

5 Steps to Blueberry Success Plant a combination of blueberry varieties of the same type to ensure good cross pollination. Choose a sheltered, well drained position in full sun and prepare your soil with organic matter like compost or sheep pellets. Add a layer of strawberry mix to plant into. Blueberries can be planted year-round in New Zealand.  Feed blueberries in spring and summer with citrus food, and prune dead or diseased wood and branches in winter. Water to keep moist throughout the growing season. Follow our full guide below to a bumper crop of homegrown blueberries.

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Gladiolus Growing Guide for New Zealand: Spectacular Blooms in Your Garden! 🌸🌿

Tall, elegant and definitely stylish, Gladiolus (Gladys) are ideal floral centrepieces in both the garden and the vase. Once thought of as old-fashioned, these regal bulbs are finding new homes in gardens all over New Zealand. Grown for their amazing flowers, Gladys are perfect for picking. Little else has the form and structure that these plants do. Gladys come in a huge number of varieties and colours featuring most shades of the rainbow.

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December - Flower Gardener's Diary for the Bay of Plenty

December – Flower Gardener’s Diary for New New Zealand

December is the height of summer in New Zealand, and your flower garden will be bursting with color and activity. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you manage your flower garden during this vibrant month. Planting Summer Annuals: Continue planting summer annuals such as marigolds, zinnias, sunflowers, petunias, and impatiens for vibrant color. Perennials: Plant perennials like dahl...

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Marble Queen Pothos Care Guide: Your New Leafy Best Friend! 🌿👑

5 Steps to Growing Marble Queen Pothos Select a suitable sized pot with good drainage  Add a layer of indoor plant mix to plant into  Choose a spot in bright, indirect light Don’t water too frequently, allow the soil to dry out between watering  Apply a general purpose fertiliser once a month during the growing season  Follow our full guide and plant care tips to growing Marble Queen Pothos below.

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Gardening Checklist for December in New Zealand

December is a busy month in the garden as the weather warms up and plants thrive. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you stay on top of your gardening tasks and ensure your garden flourishes throughout the summer season. General Garden Maintenance Watering: Ensure all plants receive adequate water, especially during hot, dry periods. Water early in the morning or late in the evening to...

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Gardening Checklist for November in New Zealand

November is late spring in New Zealand, and it's a bustling time in the garden as the weather warms up and plants enter a vigorous growth phase. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you make the most of your gardening activities this month. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to prevent them from competing with your plants for nutrients and water. Mulch garden beds...

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Gardening Checklist for October in New Zealand

October marks the middle of spring in New Zealand, and it's a busy time in the garden as plants begin to grow vigorously. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you stay on top of your gardening tasks this month. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to prevent them from competing with your plants for nutrients and water. Mulching: Apply mulch around plants to conse...

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Gardening Checklist for September in New Zealand

September marks the beginning of spring in New Zealand, and it’s a vibrant time for gardeners as the weather warms up and plants begin to flourish. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you manage your garden tasks in September. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to prevent them from competing with your plants for nutrients and water. Mulching: Apply mulch aroun...

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Gardening Checklist for August in New Zealand

August is the tail end of winter in New Zealand, and it's a crucial time to start preparing your garden for the upcoming spring. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you get your garden ready for the new growing season. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Keep on top of weeds to prevent them from competing with your plants for nutrients and water. Mulching: Apply mulch around plants t...

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Gardening Checklist for July in New Zealand

July is mid-winter in New Zealand, and while the weather can be cold and wet, there are still plenty of gardening tasks to keep you busy. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you maintain and prepare your garden during the winter months. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Keep on top of weeds to prevent them from taking over and competing with your plants for nutrients and water. Mul...

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Gardening Checklist for June in New Zealand

June marks the beginning of winter in New Zealand, and it's a time to protect your garden from the cold while preparing for the upcoming spring season. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you manage your garden tasks in June. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Keep on top of weeds to prevent them from competing with your plants for nutrients and water. Mulching: Apply a thick la...

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Gardening Checklist for May in New Zealand

May marks the beginning of late autumn in New Zealand, and it's time to prepare your garden for the upcoming winter months. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you keep your garden in top shape during May. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to prevent them from competing with your plants for nutrients and water. Mulching: Apply a thick layer of mulch around pl...

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Gardening Checklist for April in New Zealand

April marks the middle of autumn in New Zealand, and it’s a crucial time to prepare your garden for the cooler months ahead. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you maintain your garden and get it ready for winter. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to prevent them from competing with your plants for nutrients and water. Mulching: Apply mulch around plants to ...

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Gardening Checklist for March in New Zealand

March marks the beginning of autumn in New Zealand, and it’s a time to start transitioning your garden from the summer heat to cooler autumn weather. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you maintain and prepare your garden during March. General Garden Maintenance Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to prevent them from competing with your plants for nutrients and water. Mulching: Apply a...

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Gardening Checklist for February in New Zealand

February is the last full month of summer in New Zealand, and it’s an important time to keep your garden thriving and start preparing for the cooler months ahead. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you manage your garden tasks in February. General Garden Maintenance Watering: Ensure your garden is well-watered, especially during hot, dry periods. Water early in the morning or late in t...

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Gardening Checklist for January in New Zealand

January is the height of summer in New Zealand, and it's a busy time in the garden. The warmer weather and longer days mean plants are growing vigorously. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you manage your garden tasks in January. General Garden Maintenance Watering: Ensure your garden is well-watered, especially during hot, dry periods. Water early in the morning or late in the evenin...

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