Your Garden Coach NZ – Details, episodes & analysis

🌼 Spring Season 2, Episode 2 is LIVE! 🎧

Catch us on Buzzsprout, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts for this week's gardening goodness! 🌱

🌿 Episode Highlights:

🏡 Planting Your Glasshouse: Got a new glasshouse and not sure where to start? We've got tips to help you! 🍅🥒

👧 Gardening with Children (Part 2): Learn how gardening can build self-image and empower kids. 🌻

🥬 What's Harvesting in NZ? Find out what's in season right now!

🌾 Foraging Focus: It's time to hunt for Nettles, Chickweed, and Cleavers—nutrient-packed wild greens!

🌱 Windowsill & Container Gardening: Fresh ideas to get you started.

📅 Garden Planner: Sow and plant until the 15th, then it's time to cultivate. With our recent Spring rainfall, weeding just got easier!

🐞 Companion Planting Tips: Attract beneficial insects and control pests naturally.

🎉 Congrats to Brooke O’Connor: Winner of this week's Kings Seeds voucher!

🥗 Vegetable of the Week: Spring Leafy Greens!

📚 Book of the Week: The Compost Coach by Kate Flood.

🪱 Worm Wee: Myth or Truth? We uncover the answer!

💚 Tune in now and grow with us!  🌼

#GardeningPodcast #SpringGardening #OrganicGardening #YourGardenCoachNZ #ForagingFun #GrowYourOwnFood

Support the show

You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz

Seasonal listening tip: No matter where you are in the world, you can dip back into earlier episodes to match the season you’re in right now. Just look at the titles (e.g. Spring Ep3) and choose the ones that line up with your own garden season — that way, the advice will always be spot-on and timely for you.

🌿 Welcome to Season 2, Episode 1! 🌿

Jen and I originally set out to create a year’s worth of gardening podcasts, packed with tips and tricks for beginner gardeners and the skills we’ve picked up along the way. But thanks to your incredible support, we’re thrilled to keep going! 🎉

This season, expect fresh advice, inspiring guest talks, and maybe even a few local workshops! 🧑‍🌾

In today’s episode: ✨ We revisit our reasons for gardening by the moon. ✨ Begin a 5-part series on Gardening with Children — a topic close to my heart as a former Early Childhood Educator. Today’s focus: "Sowing the Seeds of Well-Being." ✨ Spotlight on @thegrizzlyforager — we love their posts! ✨ Veg of the Week: Peas! Tips on sowing and caring for them. ✨ Book feature: Futureproof Your Garden by Angus Stewart and Emma Stewart. ✨ Giveaway Alert! Caroline Quentin’s Drawn To The Garden is up for grabs! Enter by emailing us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz — winner announced on September 17th!

🌱 And a huge congratulations to Sam from @Clairesmaraintamakimakaurau, winner of the Kings Seeds Voucher! Sam’s beautiful story touched our hearts — tending her late mother Claire’s garden, a place filled with love and memories. 💚

Happy gardening, Ali & Jen 🌼

Support the show

You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz

Seasonal listening tip: No matter where you are in the world, you can dip back into earlier episodes to match the season you’re in right now. Just look at the titles (e.g. Spring Ep3) and choose the ones that line up with your own garden season — that way, the advice will always be spot-on and timely for you.

Happy Winter Solstice, by the time you are listening to this episode (late again), you will be on the right side of the season, heading straight towards Spring. On the other hand, here in France, where Summer is yet to arrive, we've received incredible quantities of rain every day. 
We fitted actual floodgates at a friends house this afternoon, a fabulous design used in many low-lying areas of the UK and Europe. Floods are becoming more common-place as I reported about one of the Garden designs at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
I digress, suffice to say my feet are now webbed and my hair has given up on ever looking tidy again!

This week  I report on our trip to Mottistone Gardens on the Isle of Wight.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/isle-of-wight/mottistone-gardens-and-estate Take a look if you have a minute. It's gorgeous.

We update you on your current garden tasks, and announce this weeks $20 Voucher winner. Aimee @yeoldsoul Congratulations Aimee.

Google, and take a look at my foraged French vegetable this week, Prussian or Wild Asparagus Ornithogalum Pyrenaium! It's delicious. 

Thank you to everyone who writes in with their garden stories, it is wonderful to hear what is happening around our beautiful country - do keep your emails coming.

Thank you again to those who financially support us via Buzzsprout and Patreon, we really appreciate your support.

Happy gardening,
Ali and Jen

Support the show

You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz

Seasonal listening tip: No matter where you are in the world, you can dip back into earlier episodes to match the season you’re in right now. Just look at the titles (e.g. Spring Ep3) and choose the ones that line up with your own garden season — that way, the advice will always be spot-on and timely for you.

Once again we apologise for the delay in releasing this episode. We will try harder.

This week we take a look at the moon calendar. It’s’ sowing and planting time and we have a few suggestions for your vegetable and flower gardens.

Ali visited Eltham Palace and grounds just after visiting RHS Chelsea, this garden is definitely one to visit if you find yourself in London. 

Boyhood home to King Henry VIII. The Palace was modernised in the 1930’s in Art Deco style.

Congratulations to our $20 Kings Seed Voucher winner. Emma Wood.

If you have a minute the link below will take you to the Eltham Palace website.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/eltham-palace-and-gardens/

A helpful tip if you are a gardener or into history, and traveling to the UK The Heritage New Zealand Card (about $50) gets you into every National Trust and English Heritage property and Gardens for Free! 

Normal entry fees range from £10 to £30. 

Support the show

You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz

Seasonal listening tip: No matter where you are in the world, you can dip back into earlier episodes to match the season you’re in right now. Just look at the titles (e.g. Spring Ep3) and choose the ones that line up with your own garden season — that way, the advice will always be spot-on and timely for you.

Apologies once again for the delay in uploading the podcast - I am definitely on French time.
Another RHS Chelsea report today. Hope you enjoy it.
Stay warm, but do get your hands in the dirt as often as you can, it will make you feel good. 
Ali

Support the show

You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz

Seasonal listening tip: No matter where you are in the world, you can dip back into earlier episodes to match the season you’re in right now. Just look at the titles (e.g. Spring Ep3) and choose the ones that line up with your own garden season — that way, the advice will always be spot-on and timely for you.

A special report from RHS Chelsea Flower Show this week. 
Ali was incredibly fortunate to be invited into one of the Show Gardens to interview the designers. 
 What a surreal experience to be recording the very talented Dido Milne and Sophie Parmenter in the garden they designed for The National Autistic Society. An enveloping, safe and calm garden in the midst of a bustling show. Upon stepping into the garden, this girl from the countryside who prefers peace and quiet, was completely rejuvinated. This garden will be relocated to a National Autistic Society site at Catrine Bank in Scotland, where, I am certain, many clients will benefit greatly.

Web links below
 
Su Hoskin is back to talk about the Hāwea Food Forest - Community Food Forests are buzzing with activity and camaraderie, and participants get to enjoy the fruits of their labour, it’s a win - win.

Dandelion root tea is the flavour of the day - actually it’s more a coffee substitute, will Jen like this one??

Barren period until 2nd June then its Root crops 3rd & 4th… Keep planting bulbs for Spring colour.

The winter crops are being harvested now, the last of the pumpkins, Jerusalem Artichokes and NZ Yams. Plus your winter greens, Kale, spinach, winter lettuce.

Micro greens are very fashionable, and so easy to grow on your window sill.

Book of the Week - My Garden World, Monty Don - an audio version for me as I am travelling and as we only tale carry on luggage there is no room for books (actually I am hand delivering a copy of Secret Gardens of Aotearoa by Jane Mahoney and Sophie Bannan, to a friend in France - so I do have one book with me)

Congratulations to Sandie Jordan, Sandie won this weeks @kingsseedsnz voucher. 

And our very popular competition for the SustainaGrow Prize pack has been won by Rachel Chamberlain - Rachel said she loves the podcast - it starts her gardening day on Thursday’s nicely. 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/Gardens/2024/national-autistic-society-garden

https://cskarchitects.co.uk/

Support the show

You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz

Seasonal listening tip: No matter where you are in the world, you can dip back into earlier episodes to match the season you’re in right now. Just look at the titles (e.g. Spring Ep3) and choose the ones that line up with your own garden season — that way, the advice will always be spot-on and timely for you.

Hello listeners, 
I am currently in transit and technology is getting the better of me. I've finally managed to upload this week's podcast but... I cant get my notes to update you on what is in the podcast. So, you will have a lovely surprise.
Hoping to update this blurb when I get settled in France. 
In the meantime, happy listening and happy gardening, 
Ali

Support the show

You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz

Seasonal listening tip: No matter where you are in the world, you can dip back into earlier episodes to match the season you’re in right now. Just look at the titles (e.g. Spring Ep3) and choose the ones that line up with your own garden season — that way, the advice will always be spot-on and timely for you.

This week, by popular request, we give some tips on what to record in your diaries to make the most of your observations and assist with forward planning.

We have two guests this week, Phoebe Atkinson from @nga_kaupeka, Phoebe is a founding member of the Secret Gardens of Aotearoa group and the strength behind the very successful Forrest Hill Community Garden.
Our second guest is Rita Hammond from SustainaGrow - Rita talks about her innovative wool mats, and she has a fabulous competition available to our NZ based listeners.

Our Kings Seeds weekly competition winner is Sue Jones-Nicholson from @laurelwood_feilding

Tea Blend this week is Cecily's Blend
Linden leaves and flowers, lavender, lemon balm, and rose (you can also add licorice root if you enjoy that)

We review 'Six Inches of Soil' a documentary showing at cinemas around the country. Jen and I highly recommend you watch this heartwarming documentary.

Garden Tasks this week - Sow and Plant until 20th May. Cultivate from 21st June.

How are Jen's micro-greens growing?

Book of the Week Veg In One Bed - Huw Richards

Support the show

You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz

Seasonal listening tip: No matter where you are in the world, you can dip back into earlier episodes to match the season you’re in right now. Just look at the titles (e.g. Spring Ep3) and choose the ones that line up with your own garden season — that way, the advice will always be spot-on and timely for you.

Rosehip and Pine needle foraged tea

Erin Allison from Harvest Homegrown gives us a snapshot of her Hāwea Market Garden - she also teaches us how to grow micro-greens . @harvesthomegrown book your spot at Erin's Winter Workshop now.

We draw the winner of the 2nd NZ Bulbs Competition - huge thanks to Paul and Gemma for supporting our podcast.

Cultivate 8th & 9th May

Sow and plant from 10th - 20th May

Book - How to store your Home-grown produce - John and Val Harrison

The Money Saving Gardener @anya_the_garden_fairy How to take cuttings and multiply your plants for free.

Instagram account of the week and winner of the $20 @kingsseedsnz voucher - @beeleave.world Congratulations Lizzie, and thank you to Charlotte and the Kings Seeds Team

And for the-pet lovers, we interview Adam Ross and discover his fabulous new pet food @naturallypawsome.nz ask for a sample by emailing Adam via the website www.naturallypawsome.com   adam@naturallypawsome.com

Support the show

You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz

Seasonal listening tip: No matter where you are in the world, you can dip back into earlier episodes to match the season you’re in right now. Just look at the titles (e.g. Spring Ep3) and choose the ones that line up with your own garden season — that way, the advice will always be spot-on and timely for you.

Tea - Kānuka A New Zealand Native

Three gardening periods this week

Barron - 1st-3rd May - avoid planting. “Spoil your soil with goodness”

Sow Root Crops 4th & 5th

In temperate climates sow radish, onions, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, and try ginger too. 

In frosty zones sow radish, swedes Jerusalem artichoke, and turnips.

Cultivate period 6th - 9th Just do a few odd jobs - store away hoses and protect water timers if you intend leaving them in situ over winter, they will explode if frost gets to them, so cover with a box or some sacks.

We update you on your winter compost methods.

Windowsill gardening - guide to growing micro-greens

Main topic - New Zealand growing Zones

Be sure to post your garden photos on Instagram and Facebook and tag both @yourgardencoach.nz & @kingsseedsnz for your chance to win a $20 voucher from Kings Seeds every week.

We draw the @nzbulbs competition this Friday 3rd May EARLY! so get your entry in before 7am Friday.

Happy gardening everyone 

Support the show

You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz

Seasonal listening tip: No matter where you are in the world, you can dip back into earlier episodes to match the season you’re in right now. Just look at the titles (e.g. Spring Ep3) and choose the ones that line up with your own garden season — that way, the advice will always be spot-on and timely for you.