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 ...

Continue reading

Going troppo with bananas

Banana Dreams: Cultivating Tropical Beauty in Winter You might be wondering why I have bananas on my mind in the midst of winter. Well, after five days of relentless rain, I’m yearning for something to lift my spirits and make me feel a bit more tropical. 🌴 Bananas have always fascinated me, although my experiences with growing them have been a mixed bag. The Abyssinian bananas in my garden gr...

Continue reading

Whanganui’s Banana Bonanza: Going Tropical in Style!

Whanganui Goes Bananas: From Backyard Wonders to Fruity Feasts! Back in 2014, Steve Clotworthy’s 10-year-old banana tree in Aramoho made headlines when it fruited for the very first time. Today, bananas popping up in Whanganui backyards are hardly news. 🌴 Gareth Carter of Springvale Nurseries explains that Whanganui’s warming climate is transforming the way we garden. "In areas like Springvale...

Continue reading