This whole growing journey really began with vegetables. We didn’t have a garden, or much experience, but we set a bold family challenge: to go an entire year without buying vegetables from the supermarket.
That one decision sparked a complete lifestyle shift.
What started with a few seed packets and some raised beds quickly grew into something much bigger. I’ve learned that growing vegetables is part science, part art, and a whole lot of trial and error. Some crops thrive, others fail completely, and every season brings its own lessons. But nothing beats the feeling of harvesting food you’ve grown yourself.
This section is where I share what’s worked for us so far, including tips on growing from seed, improving soil health, rotating crops, and making the most of whatever space you have. I’ll also cover composting, companion planting, and how we plan out each growing season to get the most from our garden.
Whether you’re growing in pots on a balcony or digging into a backyard plot, vegetable gardening is one of the most empowering and rewarding skills to learn. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth it. Start small, stay curious, and enjoy the process as much as the produce.
How to grow Spaghetti Squash
July 6, 2025
Oh you South Islanders are sly. You’ve been holding a foodie secret close to your chest and haven’t said a ...
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Lady Godiva Pumpkins – ‘Naked’ Seeds
April 1, 2024
Last season I was introduced to the Lady Godiva pumpkin. What’s all the fuss about? They are ‘naked’ seeds! One ...
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Making a Cloche Growing Tunnel
November 1, 2023
From elaborate designs to individual plant protectors made from plastic bottles, cloches (pronounced kl-oshes) provide handy protection from insects, pests ...
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The Seed Files – Saving Seeds
October 1, 2023
Gathering and saving seeds from a homegrown harvest is easy, cost effective and rewarding. Once you have saved enough for ...
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Choko: Growing from Seed
September 2, 2023
Growing choko from seed is easy! All you need is a choko… Whether you have a huge garden, a shade ...
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Super Celery – All for the Eating
April 9, 2022
This blog is to honour the humble celery – all of it, from top to tail. Celery takes a while ...
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Potato Season: chitting & seeding varieties
August 9, 2020
Are your potatoes well chitted and ready to be planted? With so many varieties of potatoes to plant, it’s fun ...
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Grow Your Own
March 21, 2020
With the ramifications of Covid-19 in New Zealand, from stockpiling to food rationing, we should now, more than ever, embrace ...
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Broad Beans: standing tall
January 2, 2018
It’s broad bean season and they are providing faster than I can pick them. While I have already covered how ...
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Garlic: How to grow in NZ
June 20, 2016
Traditionally garlic is planted on the shortest day of the year and harvested on the longest. For Kiwis, that means ...
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Pumpkin: Growing Vertical Gardens
January 26, 2016
I didn’t plant a single pumpkin seed this year yet my garden beds are springing up surprises EVERYWHERE. I certainly ...
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Asparagus: How to Grow
December 16, 2015
Have you ever tried growing your own asparagus? It grows from a seed into a crown and takes several years ...
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Sprouts: How to grow in a mason jar
February 5, 2015
I have a great little garden outside, but there’s something wonderfully satisfying about growing something edible right on your kitchen ...
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Mint: Grow from Cuttings
December 15, 2014
Growing mint is almost the easiest trick in the gardening book. This super useful herb grows like a weed and, ...
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Native Spinach
July 31, 2014
Native Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonoides): The Unsung Hero of My Winter Garden If there’s one vegetable that’s outshining the rest in ...
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Brussels Sprout: Grow from Seed
June 9, 2014
The (Surprisingly Entertaining) Life Cycle of a Brussels Sprout OK, I’ll be honest. I only bought a packet of seeds ...
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Spring Onions: Grow from Seed
May 11, 2014
Spring onions are simply easy to grow and a staple for so many meals you may put on the table. ...
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Rhubarb: a vege with fruity chic
April 13, 2014
Growing rhubarb is ever-so-easy. While most definitely a vegetable, this classic compost-lover is hailed as an honorary fruit in our ...
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Corn: How to Grow from Seed
April 13, 2014
If you’ve got the space in your garden, don’t go past growing sweet corn. As first-time corn growers, we found ...
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Onions: Grow from seed
March 2, 2014
Looking at those tiny, flaky onion seeds, you’d be forgiven for wondering how they’ll ever become juicy, golden slices in ...
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Basil: How to Grow from Seed
December 8, 2013
Basil is one of those must-have herbs in the garden, on the kitchen windowsill, or in a sunny pot on ...
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Broad Beans: How to Grow
November 10, 2013
Diary of a Broad Bean Three months ago, I didn’t think I’d be writing a blog about how to grow ...
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Rediscovering photosynthesis!
November 3, 2013
Having come to grips with containers and trays, the next thing to consider is soil and water. Seems pretty simple ...
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Growing from seed – containers or trays?
November 3, 2013
Whether you are growing seeds in trays on your windowsill, on your back deck or in a backyard greenhouse, I’ve ...
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Radish: Grow from Seed
November 3, 2013
Diary of a Radish These colourful little vegetables were never a favourite of mine as a child. Peppery, watery, and ...
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Potatoes: Where to Plant
October 27, 2013
Growing potatoes is heaps of fun and so easy! We’re kicking ourselves for not planting them earlier (years earlier) and ...
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Potatoes: preparing seed potatoes
October 6, 2013
If your potatoes resemble a wild forest more than a staple pantry fodder, then you have discovered seed potatoes. The ...
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