Nothing beats the satisfaction of growing your own fresh food. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced gardener, there are plenty of options, with spring being a great time to plant all kinds of crops for a supply of delicious homegrown veges.

PREPARATION

Choosing what veges to grow

For the best chance of success, plant vegetables at the appropriate time of year. Across New Zealand, there are differences in climate and soils, so planting times vary depending on the region.

Think about what you and your family like to eat and cook with. Spring staples include beetroot, kale, lettuce, peas, potatoes, rocket, radish, spinach and spring onions. Add herbs for flavour, with coriander, parsley, mint, and thyme options for meals.

Once you have selected your plants, it is time to prepare the soil. The better the soil, the better your veges will grow. Choose a spot that is sunny, sheltered from the wind, and easy to access for harvesting and watering.

If you are starting with an existing garden bed, dig in Tui Compost or Tui Blood & Bone to revitalise the soil and encourage healthy plant growth. Then, add a layer of Tui Vegetable Mix, containing the right blend of nutrients to provide your veges with the best start and sustained growth throughout the season.

If you have got space close to the kitchen, fill pots and containers with Tui All Purpose Potting Mix and plant with greens and herbs.

PLANT

The ideal times to plant are early in the morning or late in the day, so the plants are not exposed to the hot sun straight away.

When planting, a good rule of thumb is to allow at least two hand spaces apart between crops.

Directions for garden beds

• Water plants well before planting.
• Dig a hole, approximately twice the depth and width of the root ball of the plant.
• Gently loosen the root ball of the plant and position it in the centre of the hole.
• Press the soil gently around the base of the plant and water.

NOURISH

Plants use nutrients from the soil as they grow, so replenishing the nutrients regularly ensures your veges grow to their full potential. Feed with Tui Blood & Blood during the growing season.
Lightly fork into the soil around the plants and water in well after application.

Top tips

• Keep your garden weed-free and water regularly.
• Leafy crops like spinach, rocket, and lettuce can be harvested a leaf at a time, so you can pick as you need.
• Apply Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic fortnightly for healthy plant and root growth to make plants more resilient to frost, heat, pests and diseases.
• Plant flowers to encourage bees and other pollinators into the garden.

To purchase from Tui’s range of garden supplies, go online to store.pggwrightson.co.nz.

Supplied by Tui