Your Garden Coach NZ
Guiding keen new gardeners to become confident vegetable growers no matter the size of your garden or your skill level.We aim to share tips and tricks to help you grow healthy, nutrient-rich vegetables.Based in the Central Otago region of New Zealand.Happy gardening
Late Spring - It's Tomato Time
Season 4, Episode 3 – Late Spring: It's Tomato Time!
November is here and the garden is gathering pace! This month we're talking tomatoes - from their fascinating history to getting our heat-loving plants established in the garden.
We'll also be enjoying lemon balm tea, looking for fresh ingredients for our Spring salads, observing nature's seasonal calendar, and meeting another Kiwi gardener.
And we're delighted to welcome Kings Seeds as an official sponsor of Your Garden Coach NZ. A big thank you to Charlotte and the team for their support.
November Moon Ga...
Inside the Victorian Kitchen Garden at Audley End House – with Gemma Sturges
This month we head to Essex, England, where I'm joined by Gemma Sturges, Kitchen Garden Supervisor at the magnificent Audley End House and Gardens.
Gemma has spent 15 years working in this extraordinary walled kitchen garden, where Victorian gardening traditions are very much alive.
Set within historic brick walls, the garden covers almost three acres and is home to an impressive collection of heritage fruit and vegetables, including more than 120 varieties of apples, 70 varieties of pears, and beautifully trained fruit trees.
We chat about what it takes to maintain a Victorian kitchen garden today...
Mid-Spring - And... GO!!!
Season 4 Episode 2.
You’ve waited patiently — now it’s time to get going!
But before you start sowing and planting, take a little time to understand your own microclimate.
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Early Spring - Is Your Garden Ready - or Are You Rushing It?
Season 4 Episode 1
Know your Microclimate - resist rushing in, tempting as it may be.
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You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Late Winter - Wait for it, and Go! S3 Ep 27
Maura is heading home! SO, I NEED A LITTLE HELP TO KEEP THE PODCAST GOING
Recently, we asked you whether you’d like Your Garden Coach NZ to continue.
The answer was a very definite YES — and I can’t tell you how much that meant.
But I also need to be open with you.
Producing the podcast takes a considerable amount of time, research, and work, and I simply can’t keep doing it without...
Mid-Winter - The Microbes Are Still Working
Season 3 Episode 26
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You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Early Winter - Maintenance & Planning
Season 3 Episode 25
00:00- Intro
07:20- Tea of the Month
09:09 Winter Tasks
11:20 Books for winter reading
14:24- Plant a tree
16:55- Moon Calendar
21:33- Chickweed
23:32- Gardening in Zone 1 in Early Winter
33:02- Hugelkulture & raised beds
33:42- Biochar Workshop
34:38- Hellebores (winter roses)
37:53- Winter flower sowing
45:24- Dishes with Del Jerusalem Artichokes
56:44- Final garden note
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You can contact us at coach@yourgarde...
Late Autumn - Pumpkins: Are You Setting Them Up for a Strong Harvest?
Season 3 Episode 24
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:30 Tea of the Month: Winter Orange Spiced Tea
03:31 Gardening in Late Autumn
11:23 Veg of the month: Pumpkins
18:32 Alpine Harvest Festival reminder
20:21 Dishes with Del- Pumpkin Recipes
27:54 Foraging in May
30:04 Outro
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You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Awakino Station Visit
Today’s episode is a little bit special.
Maura and I jumped in the car and headed over to Kurow, into the Waitaki Valley, to visit Awakino Station - a third-generation family farm run by Jaz Mathisen and her family.
And I have to say… this really is a homestead in the truest sense of the word.
From the kitchen garden and orchard, right through to the meat raised on the farm, everything comes together to feed not just the family, but the wider farm team - with everyone gathering around the table each...
Mid Autumn - Fejoa: A New Zealand Garden Staple
Season 3 Episode 23
00:00 Intro
04:29 Tea of the month: Apple, Beetroot, Rosehip & Ginger
05:54: Moon Calendar April 2026
11:13 Mid Autumn Phenology
20:22 Mid Autumn Job List
22:45 Feijoa
29:24 Dishes with Del- Feijoa Recipes
38:08 Growing Microgreens
43:38 Book of the Month- The Abundant Kitchen by Niva & Yotam Kay
44:43 Outro
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Bonus Episode: Dr Compost- Biochar
Enjoy this bonus episode with Dr Compost chatting all about Biochar
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Your Autumn Guide to Four-Bed Crop Rotation
Season 3, Episode 22
00:00 Intro
02:17 Tea of the Month: Blackcurrant leaf and Redcurrant fruit Tea
04:17 March Moon Calendar
07:24 Early Autumn Phenology
09:13 Main Topic: The 4 Bed Crop Rotation in Autumn
17:02 How Gardening Regulates the Nervous System
21:44 Vegetable of the Month: Tomatoes
29:52 Dishes with Del Recipe: Tomatoes
42:26 Tip of the Month: When to Sow Grass Seed
44:46 Interview with Anita from Growing Kiwi Gardeners
1:05:34 Outro
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You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us...
Supporting Soil Microbiology: Are You Feeding What You Can’t See?
Season 3 Episode 21
00:00 Intro
00:20 Podcast Update
01:57 Tea of the Week Raspberry, Peppermint, and Lemon
03:27 Moon Phase - Sowing and Planting until 4th March
08:07 Tasks of the Week
12:27 Phenology
15:25 Tip of the Week - Perennial Vegetables
19:41 Herb of the Week - Feverfew
25:58 Main Topic - Why we leave roots in the soil
36:50 Dishes With Del - Zucchini/Courgette recipe
46:00 Book of the Week - The Secrets of Great Botanists by Matthew Biggs
46:41 Glossary - Cultivar...
Planting a Tea Garden: Are You Growing What You’ll Actually Use?
Season 3 Episode 20
00:00 Intro
02:24 Tea of the week: Peppermint and Ginger
03:59 Moon Phase: 14th and 15th root crops, then cutivate until 19th
06:04 Tasks of the Week
09:02 Tip of the Week
09:59 Veg of the Week: Kale
15:16 Dishes with Del: Kale recipes
19:40 Main Topic: Planting a Tea Garden
30:21 Book of the Week: Wild Tea by Nick Moyle and Richard Hood
30:35 Glossary Word: Infusion
30:50 Outro
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and follo...
Winter Tunnel House: Are You Preparing Now or Catching Up Later?
Season 3 Episode 19
00:00- Intro
01:08 - Tea of the Week Lemon Bee Balm
03:58 - Moon Phase Root Crops 7th & 8th then Barron Phase to 13th Feb
05:00 - Task for the Week
06:46 - Phenology
07:49 - Tip of the Week - Lettuce
09:44 - Veg of the Week Sweet corn
19:00 - Dishes With Del - Sweet Corn recipes
24:36 - Main Topic - Preparing Your Winter Tunnel House
43:49 - Garden Journalling Workshop
44:58 - Outro
Support th...
The Summer Harvest: Are You Picking, Pruning, and Using It All?
Season 3 Episode 19
00:00- Intro 00:36- Tea of the Week: Sage 02:51- Moon Phase: Sowing and Planting until 2nd February then cultivate 03:45- Planting guide for February 10:07- Dr Compost teaser 11:18- The Summer Harvest: picking, pruning and preventing waste 18:58- Veg of the week: Cucumber 21:52- Dishes with Del: Cucumber recipes 28:53- Book of the week: The Abundant Gardener by Niva & Yotam Kay30:32- OutroSupport the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Leafy Greens – Why Every Garden Needs a Steady Crop Like This
Season 3, Episode 17
00:00 – Intro
01:10 – Herbal Tea of the Week: Apple & Lemon Balm
02:54 – Moon Phase: Sowing and Planting
03:15 – Garden Tasks
03:58 – Powdery Mildew
09:29 – Phenology
10:23 – Microclimate
10:50 – Main Topic: Leafy Greens
20:39 – Vegetable of the Week: Beetroot
22:20 – Dishes with Del: Beetroot Recipe
25:48 – Book of the Week: Your Own Garden Diary
27:20 – Glossary Word: Veriditas
28:54 – Outro
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Garlic - A Slow Crop With Big Rewards
Season 3 Episode 16
00:00 – Intro
01:23 – Herbal Tea of the Week: German Chamomile & Lavender
03:34 – Introducing Maura
10:11 – Moon Phase: Cultivate until 20 January, then Sowing and Planting
10:36 – Garden Tasks
13:15 – Phenology
13:56 – Microclimate
15:01 – Guest: Vera Yakzhik from Alpine Blooms Flower Farm
16:26 – Tip of the Week: Soft Pruning
17:26 – Vegetable of the Week: Scallopini
19:04 – Dishes with Del: Scallopini Recipes
25:29 – Main Topic: Garlic
32:11 – Book of the Week: Horticurious
32:44 – Glossary Word: Permaculture
33:14 – Outro
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Strawberries – What Keeps Them Happy All Summer Long?
Season 3 Episode 15
00:00 – Intro
01:24 – Herbal Tea of the Week: Mullien
03:41 – Interview with Vera Yakzhik from Alpine Blooms Flower Farm
20:48 – Moon Phase: Barren until the 14th, then 15th–16th for Root Crops
21:28 – Garden Tasks
22:38 – Phenology
23:14 – Microclimate
24:22 – Tip of the Week: Stress + Fertiliser = Problems
25:53 – Main Topic: Strawberries
34:22 – Vegetable of the Week: Eggplant (Aubergine)
35:57 – Dishes with Del: Eggplant Recipes
40:29 – Book of the Week: Future Steading by Jade Miles
41:02 – Glossary Word: Future Steading
41:25 – Outro
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and...
Strawberries: What Keeps Them Happy All Summer Long?
Season 3 Episode 15
00:00 – Intro
01:24 – Herbal Tea of the Week: Mullien
03:41 – Interview with Vera Yakzhik from Alpine Blooms Flower Farm
20:48 – Moon Phase: Barren until the 14th, then 15th–16th for Root Crops
21:28 – Garden Tasks
22:38 – Phenology
23:14 – Microclimate
24:22 – Tip of the Week: Stress + Fertiliser = Problems
25:53 – Main Topic: Strawberries
34:22 – Vegetable of the Week: Eggplant (Aubergine)
35:57 – Dishes with Del: Eggplant Recipes
40:29 – Book of the Week: Future Steading by Jade Miles
41:02 – Glossary Word: Future Steading
41:25 – Outro
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and...
Heat-Proofing Your Summer Garden – What Helps Plants Cope When the Heat Arrives?
Season 3 Episode 14
00:00 – Intro
01:00 – Herbal Tea of the Week: Lemon Verbena iced tea
03:20 – Moon Phase: Sowing and Planting, Cultivate & Root Crops
04:48 – Garden Tasks
07:04 – Phenology
08:30 – Microclimate
11:05 – Tip of the Week: Dry Soil Test
12:29 – Vegetable of the Week: Beans
18:47 – Dishes with Del: Beans
23:13 – Main Topic: Heat-Proofing Your Summer Garden
26:06 – Guest Interview: Jo Wakelin on her Dry Garden
35:58 – Glossary Word: Xeriscaping
36:25 – Book of the Week: Soil by Matthew Evans
38:51 – Outro
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Mast Years: Are We Paying Attention to One of Nature's Most Powerful Cycles?
Season 3 Episode 13
00:00 – Intro
01:16 – Herbal Tea of the Week: Echinacea
03:33 – Moon Phase: Sowing and Planting
04:18 – Garden Tasks
06:39 – Phenology: Zone 3
08:15 – Microclimate: Zone 1
09:38 – Secret Gardens: Host Jo at Greenhills Paradise
10:43 – Tip of the Week: Harvesting and Storing Chillies
12:35 – Dishes with Del: Chillies
15:34 – Vegetable of the Week: Chillies
18:01 – Book of the Week: Red Hot Chilli Grower RHS
18:44 – Glossary Word: Scoville Scale (measures chilli heat)
20:02 – Main Topic: Mast Year
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Zucchini: Are You Growing More Than You Can Use?
Season 3 Episode 12
00:00 – Intro
00:33 – Herbal Tea of the Week: Cherry
01:58 – Interview with Costa Georgiadis
09:17 – Moon Phase: Sowing and Planting
10:41 – Garden Tasks
11:30 – Phenology
12:58 – Tip of the Week: Regional Sowing Guide
14:31 – Vegetable of the Week: Zucchini
17:53 – Dishes with Del: Baba Ganoush & Zucchini Salad
21:38 – Book of the Week: The Hidden Life of Trees – Peter Wohlleben
25:19 – Glossary Word: Mycorrhiza
Happy Gardening!
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Bonus Episode: Farm My School - How a Regenerative School Farm Brings Community Back to Life
The background story of the Farm My School project which Ali had the pleasure of taking part in on her recent visit to Victoria, Australia.
Farm My School is a not-for-profit organisation which collaborates with schools to transform their underutilised grounds into regenerative farms that nourish, educate and connect communities.
Huge thanks to James McLennan for making time to share this incredible passion project with Your Garden Coach NZ.
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Tomatoes – Do You Know Whether Yours Are Determinate or Indeterminate?
Season 3 Episode 11
00:41 – Herbal Tea of the Week
02:05 – Plastic Tea Bags: What You Should Know?
05:03 – James’ Interview Introduction
06:50 – Moon Phases
09:05 – Tasks of the Week
11:11 – Phenology
12:00 – Coastal Microclimate
12:50 – Maintaining Tomato Plants
14:50 – Vegetable of the Week
16:48 – Dishes with Del
20:33 – Summer Foraging
23:37 – Book of the Week: Foraging – Peter Langlands
24:12 – Glossary Word: Foraging Hook
24:57 – Wrap Up / Outro
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Fruit Tree Pruning: Are You Helping or Hindering Your Orchard?
Season 3 Episode 10
00:18 – Intro
00:44 – Herbal Tea of the Week
02:44 – Moon Phase
04:44 – Garden Tasks
07:02 – Phenology
09:13 – Microclimate
10:36 – Tip of the Week
15:00 – Fruit of the Week
22:26 – Jason Ross Interview
29:32 – Book of the Week
30:30 – Glossary Word: Spur
31:25 – Del’s Christmas Cake
35:06 – Wrap Up / Outro
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Dead Soil in Pots: Can You Bring It Back to Life?
Season 3 Episode 9
00:05 – Intro
00:42 – Herbal Tea of the Week: Yarrow Leaf Tea
02:22 – Glossary Word: Umbelliferous (umbrella-shaped flower head)
04:52 – Microclimate: Late-spring cues & what’s flowering/fruiting
07:11 – Foraging Guide
10:33 – Moon Calendar
12:52 – Reviving Tired Potting Mix
20:26 – Dishes with Del: Oregano – chimichurri, salsa verde & walnut pesto
24:31 – Tip of the Week: Glasshouse vs outdoor zucchini
29:01 – Book of the Week: Your Asian Veggie Patch – Connie Cao
30:29 – Outro
Support the show
You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
Parsnips: Tough, Sweet and Slow to Germinate… But Worth the Wait?
Season 3 Episode 8- Parsnips
00:00 – Intro
00:52 – Herbal Tea of the Week: Lemonbalm
04:30 – Phenology
06:55 – Moon Calendar:
• Cultivate phase until 21st
• 22nd onward: Sowing & planting
13:09 – Vegetable of the Week: Parsnip
23:38 – Perennial Pick: Chives
26:38 – Dishes with Del: Homemade Boursin Cheese
30:48 – Microclimate
34:30 – Tip of the Week: What to do if your compost tea smells sour
35:58 – Book of the Week: Veg in One Bed - Huw Richards
39:58 –...
Rhubarb and Hügelkultur: A Reliable Perennial and a Resilient Bed System… Are They in Your Garden Yet?
Season 3, Episode 7- Rhubarb, Hugelkultur & The Health of the Earth
Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
01:18 – Herbal Tea of the Week: Rhubarb Tea — tart, refreshing, and surprisingly versatile
03:48 – Dishes with Del: Poached Rhubarb (absolutely divine)
07:10 – Vegetable of the Week: Rhubarb — how to grow it well, myths busted, and why it's such a great perennial investment
16:30 – Moon Phases This Week:
• Barren phase
• 16th–17th: Root crop window
• 18th–21st: Cultivate phase — get beds ready for sowing & transplanting
18:55 – Our Health, Her Health: how the heal...
Pumpkins: Compost, Heat, and Space… Are You Giving Them What They Need?
Season 3 Episode 6- Pumpkins
From mint in your teacup to pumpkins in your patch, Ali and Hannah guide you through what to plant, pick, and plan for this late-spring moon cycle.
Time stamps
0.00 Intro
1.23 Mint Tea
2.08 Mint History, uses, varieties, how to grow and store
8.05 Dishes with Del- Mint Syrup, Mint Chutney.
10.00 Vegetable of the Week – Pumpkin and Squash
25.00 Should we plant out at Labour Weekend?
27.19 Garden Tasks this week – Late Spring – Moon Cycles
31.20 More Garden tasks
38...
Spinach
Season 3 Episode 5- Spinach
Thank you for your lovely feedback, and suggestions for content - it's so good to know what you'd like to learn, or refresh in your memory.
00:09 Intro
00:35 Tea of the week: Nettle Tea
05:22 Phenology
07:43 Moon Phases
08:18 What to plant
08:59 Spring Rains
10:37 Vegetable of the week: Spinach
15:50 Spinach Dishes with Del Green Shakshuka & Sag Panneer - www.disheswithdel.com/blog/saag-halloumi-aka-saag-paneer-but-with-halloumi
17:56 Annuals vs Bi-Annuals vs Bi-ennial
18:52 Perennials
26:50 Micro Climates
...
Potatoes
Season 3 Episode 4- Potatoes
This week we talk to Del, from Dishes with Del, our super chef with a bubbly 'can do' attitude to using up a glut of produce.
Timestamps
We begin with a nice cup of Sage leaf tea
3.50 Dishes with Del
6.33 Veg of the week - Potatoes
11.35 Crop Rotation
21.00 Phenology - Dandelion
24.05 Garden Tasks - Frost reminder - Waning phase - Barren Period
35.20 Food Forest guidelines
38.52 Book of the Week - The Self-Sufficiency Garden...
Blueberries and Raspberries
Season 3 Episode 3- Blueberries and Raspberries
In this episode, It's the October full-moon gardening phase — a perfect time to cultivate soil and sow root crops across all four NZ planting zones. You’ll learn what to plant now, how to get the best results in your region, and why this phase of the moon is ideal for “spoiling your soil.”
Our Fruit of the Week takes a closer look at blueberries and raspberries — where they came from, how they’ve adapted, and why their specific soil and clim...
Getting ready for Spring
Season 3 Episode 2- Getting ready for Spring
Spring has to be one of the four best seasons - and we’ve packed this episode with ideas to get you motivated in the garden.
Hannah, my new co-host, has learned the ropes quickly, and I’m so grateful for her company, editing skills, and lively garden conversations.
Today’s tea is Rosemary - known for its stimulating, energising qualities. In the Language of Flowers (Floriography), rosemary symbolises affectionate remembrance, memory, love, and friendship. Traditionally, it’s been used as a token of...
Spring Equinox and a New Beginning
Season 3 Episode 1- Spring Equinox & a New Beginning
Episode Summary: Season 3 kicks off with a heartfelt farewell to Jen and a warm welcome to Hannah as our new co-host. We jump into spring gardening with cucumbers, kawakawa tea, and homemade fertiliser hacks using weed, manure, and compost teas. Plus, we explore the history behind The Apothecaries’ Garden at the Chelsea Physic Garden, highlight seed libraries, and reflect on the Spring Equinox.
Timestamps:
00:10 - Introduction
00:37 - Farewell to Jen
02:10 – Introducing Hannah
04:55 - Tea of the Week: Kawa...
Autumn Season 2 Episode 28
🎉🌿 New Episode Out Now! 🌿🎉
We’re thrilled to announce the winners of our latest giveaways!
Congratulations to the winner of Foraging by Peter Langlands
And congratulations to the winner of the Autumn Hamper from Kings Seeds!
A huge thank you to Penguin Books and Kings Seeds for making these prizes possible.
In this episode, we’re also sharing 12 fantastic book suggestions to keep you inspired and cosy through the winter months.
Wishing you a wonderful winter full of warmth, good reads, and garden dreams!
#New...
Autumn Season 2 Episode 27
🍂🎧 New Podcast Episode Out Now! 🎧🍂
Brew yourself a cup of Warming Autumn Spiced Tea and settle in!
This week, we’re:
Catching up on the week’s "to-do" list
Sharing our top vegetable planting recommendations
Starting the delightful winter task of planning your spring garden — using all those notes you jotted down in your garden diary!
Take a moment for yourself, press play, and dream of the beautiful season ahead.
Enjoy!
#NewEpisode #GardenPodcast #SpringGardenPlanning #AutumnTeaMoments #YourGardenCoach
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Autumn Season 2 Episode 26
🌿 Let's Chat Gardens Over a Cup of Kawakawa Tea! 🌿
Join us for another exciting episode where we’re sipping on a fragrant Kawakawa tea blend
Episode Highlights:
Bulbs, Bulbs, Bulbs: Time to choose your spring colour scheme and plant them for a stunning display.Other Flower Seeds: We’ll share which flower seeds to sow right now for that vibrant garden you've been dreaming of.Garlic Talk: We’re diving into the reasons why we grow our own garlic—some of these might shock you!Leaf Co...Autumn Season 2 Episode 25
🎧 New Episode Out Now!
Sorry we’re a little late this week, but we’re back with another jam-packed episode of the podcast! 🙌
This week we’re talking all about: Cultivating and sowing root crops during the full moon phase
The importance of sowing cover crops + why keeping your soil covered year-round is a game-changer for your garden
A little chat on late autumn rose care to keep those beauties blooming strong next season.
Leaf Curl!! A few tips for dealing with this di...
Autumn Season 2 Episode 24
🎧 New Podcast Episode Out Now! 🌱
It's sowing and planting time, and we've got you covered with inspiration for your winter food garden
Vegetable of the Week: Spaghetti Squash – a versatile, fun-to-grow staple for colder months!
PLUS: We’re launching a brand new competition with our friends at Kings Seeds – tune in to find out how to enter!
So pop your headphones on, head outside, and give your health a boost while listening to NZ’s No.1 gardening podcast
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