Grow your Own

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Grow your Own

ApplesApples are easy to grow and you do not need a lot of room for an apple tree or two. They come in avariety of shapes, forms, heights and sizes. As well as a wide range of varieties. Up to the 1970's most New Zealand backyards had at least one apple... + Full article	ApricotsApricots The flavour of fresh, tree ripened Apricots is unbeatable. A wide range of varieties are available. New dwarf hybrids have been developed for the smaller garden. Winter is the perfect time to plant and prune your trees.... + Full article
Asparagus - Grow Your Own Asparagus always signals that spring is here. The juicy sweet spears are bliss covered with butter or a light white wine sauce. If you are going to grow your own Aparagus you need to know it’s a long term crop. The first 2 years... + Full article	BasilThe flavour of fresh Basil is hard to match. It is quick and easy to grow, so easy in fact; you do not even need a garden as it grows happily in a pot or container. However, what it does need is plenty of heat. Basil will not grow in cold... + Full article
Beans Beans are quick and easy to grow. They come in a wide range of varieties. If you do not have, a lot of room try planting the climbing beans. If you want to grow some in a pot, French and butter beans are the best... + Full article	Beetroot Beetroot is one of the easiest vegetables to grow. It's versatile, quick and has a range of uses in the kitchen. + Full article
Bok Choy Bok Choy and Pak Choy are members of the Asian green family. These quick growing vegetables can be grown all year round in gardens throughout the country. In very cold areas avoid planting in mid winter. Bok Choy is a quick and easy to... + Full article	Broad BeansBroad Beans: Love or hate them, Broad beans are a favorite with many. They are quick and easy to grow and seem to thrive in most fertile soils around the country. Varieties: Dwarf early Green – on grow to 50cm... + Full article
Broccoli Once known as New Zealand’s favorite vegetable this popular green is easy to grow and if well looked after will provide you with produce for up to 5 months. Varieties: Generally, you will find the sprouting and head forming... + Full article	Brussels Sprouts Brussels sprouts look like little baby cabbages. Brussels sprouts are named after the city of Brussels in Belgium from where they are thought to originate. Varieties: Brussels sprouts are among the same family that... + Full article
Cabbage Cabbages come in a range of shapes, sizes, colours and have a range of uses in the kitchen. For a long time the cabbage took a back seat to other Brassicas like Broccoli and cauliflower but now, it is making resurgence with vegetable gardeners old... + Full article	Carrots Carrots are one of the oldest recorded vegetables and once ready will hold in the ground for months until harvested. Varieties and types: Long tapering – Scarlet Nantes, Topweight, Touchon Small round –... + Full article
Cauliflower The flavour of a crisp white cauliflower is hard to match. Varieties and types: Large Head types – these are the most common garden varieties. Look for Cauliflower ‘All Year’ hybrid – it’s... + Full article	Cavolo Nero - Cabbage This old world variety of cabbage is now all the rage with cooks and chefs round the country. It is widely available in seeds www.kingseeds.co.nz or as plants in some garden centres. Looking like a cross between Cabbage and Kale,... + Full article
Celeriac - Grow Your Own Celeriac is related to the more common celery. The flesh has a texture similar to that of potatoes with a definite taste of celery. It's an easy to grow vegetable with a long cropping time. The bulb is generally the part that is eaten but the... + Full article	CeleryCelery: Celery is one of those vegetables that never seems to go out of fashion. Maybe it because of its versatility and its ability to be used in a wide range of dishes. + Full article
Cherries Cherries : Prefers well drained soil, rich in potash and lime. PLANTING SITE: Warm, sunny, dry and sheltered site is best, protected from Spring frosts. Plant 4-5m apart from other large trees. WATERING: Water well... + Full article	ChilliChilli Chillies are part of the capsicum family and are eaten in almost every culture and, with their gloriously colored fruit, also make fantastic ornamental plants. The heat in chilli’s comes from a compound called capsaicin.... + Full article
CorianderOne of the world's most popular herbs is actually very easy to grow at home in the garden. So easy you don’t even need a garden as it will happily grow in a pot. + Full article	Corn Harvest - Pick of the crop Corn Harvest - Pick of the crop The trick when growing your own corn is knowing when and how to harvest it. Mother Nature is a clever lady and often gives us hints and tips on how to know when crops are ready. You can tell... + Full article
CucumberQuick and easy vegetables to grow, cucumbers will reward you with long juicy produce for months on end. + Full article	Feijoa The aroma and flavour of fresh Feijoas is unbeatable. These fruits are easy to grow and will provide you with oodles of fruit late autumn. + Full article
From Brussels with love I just love Brussel Sprouts, each year I wait with anticipation for them to arrive in the shops and ripen in the garden. If you haven’t planted your sprouts yet you need to get a move on. Generally we encourage you to plant in... + Full article	Garlic - How to grow One of the world's most popular flavors is easy to grow and full of nutrients that help keep you healthy. When, where and how to plant: Garlic is Many say plant your garlic cloves on the shortest day of the year. Which is fine,... + Full article
Grapes How rewarding is it to be able to pick your own grapes and enjoy them handful at a time in mid summer. Grape vines can live for hundreds of years so think carefully about where you plant a vine or two. + Full article	Herb Power.... Herb it up. Herbs have long been used to add flavour and taste to our food. Growing your own fresh herbs is easy, inexpensive and very satisfying. What’s just as satisfying is that once you start growing your own herbs you will never have to ... + Full article
Kale - Natures super food In just one cup of raw Kale you can consume nearly 90% of the recommended daily amount (RDA) of vitamin C. That same cup of Kale also delivers 10% of your RDA of calcium When, where and how to plant: Soil needs to be well dug over... + Full article	Kiwifruit These furry fruits are an icon of New Zealand. The clean, green or yellow flesh is sweet and packed full of vitamins and minerals that it nutritious and good for you. + Full article
Kumara: Sweet PotatoesKumara: Sweet Potatoes - Ipomoea batatas In most countries they are called sweet potatoes, but in New Zealand they are known by their Maori name kumara. Kumara are one of the most popular vegetables in New Zealand... + Full article	Lettuce Lettuces have been round for centuries and are so easy to grow you don't even need a garden as they will happily grow in pots and containers. + Full article
Lettuce be friends! Lettuce Lettuce and more lettuce, I simply adore Lettuces and have 9 different varieties planted in my garden this spring. I grow them all year round and enjoy giving any excess ones to friends and family. At the moment there is are not... + Full article	Mint: Grow your own Mint is a hardy reliable herb that will grow in all parts of the country. How to Grow: Mint will easily grow from a cutting or snippet taken from a healthy plant. Alternatively you will find mint for sale in garden centres.... + Full article
Mizuna - Grow Your Own Mizuna is a wonderful salad green – it is also known as Japanese Greens. The fine leaves are a decorative, light green, with deeply jagged leaves. Mizuna has a mild mustard flavour. Ideal for salad... + Full article	Nectarines – Harvest Tips What I struggle with is getting to the fruit before the birds do and I am sure the neighbours wonder who I am cursing when I am out in the orchard sometimes. Tips for success; Let fruit ripen on the trees wherever possible If... + Full article
Parsley Parsley is a bright green herb also used as spice. + Full article	Parsnip A firm favorite with many, this sweet root crop is making a come back and crop numbers are increasing all over the country. + Full article
Parsnips - Yummo ScrummoParsnips - Yummo Scrummo Parsnips are a personal favorite of mine, which I just adore roasted with Lamb. I have obviously got a few issues I need to deal with as far as my passion for parsnips go. Recently whilst cooking a roast for... + Full article	Peaches: Grow your own The flavor of fresh, tree ripened peaches is unbeatable. A wide range of varieties are available. New dwarf hybrids have been developed for the smaller garden. Varieties: April White - white fleshed large peach. Heavy... + Full article
Peanuts: Grow your own Growing your own Peanuts is easy according to people who grow them. The peanut is a perennial plant belonging to the pea family. Peanuts are similar to dwarf beans to grow but with a quirky twist. What’s unusual is that after flowering,... + Full article	Peas Yum yum, fresh peas! Or even better peas and rich roast meat gravy. + Full article
Potatoes Spring is the time to get your seed potatoes. By purchasing them now you should have fresh spuds for Christmas Day. Potatoes are one of the easiest and rewarding crops to grow and with so many varieties available for gardeners everyone can... + Full article	PumpkinsPumpkins The flavour and satisfaction of growing your own pumpkins is immense. They are an easy to grow vegetable that even the most novice of gardeners will have success with. Varieties: Common eating... + Full article
Radish One of the quickest growing vegetables around, the radish has been a constant favourite amongst vegetable growers. The radish is an edible root vegetable which is grown & consumed nearly everywhere in the world. + Full article	Rhubarb - Grow Your Own Rhubarb is a firm favorite of mine and will be for a long to come. It conjures up many wonderful memories for me. Most of which are around recipes of how I like to eat it, as you have guessed I am fond of what’s on my plate and Rhubarb... + Full article
Rocket - Sweet Rocket Rocket is a wonderful salad green. The deliciously mustard – peppery taste adds flavour and depth to salads dishes, in sandwiches or even as a pizza topping to give an interesting combination of flavour.. Used either on its... + Full article	Spinach Spinach is relatively easy to grow in cool climates and it is packed with nutrients such as iron, protein, vitamin A and chlorophyll. + Full article
Spud bags pass the test! - Potatoes Last spring I decided to trial the new potato planter bags and planted up 3 bags with Jersey Bennie potatoes with the hope being that they would be ready for Xmas. Being from a long line of spud eaters it was important to me that I succeed... + Full article	Strawberries - Grow Your Own It’s impossible to match the taste of home-grown strawberries versus supermarket bought ones. The flavour and sweetness just doesn’t compare. Strawberries do not require a lot of space to thrive and are the quickest and... + Full article
Sweet Corn Sweet corn is a favorite with many for its sweet juicy taste. It is one of the world's oldest food crops being traced back to roman times. + Full article	Sweet Corn: Grow your own Sweet corn is a firm favorite with many for its sweet juicy taste; it seems to be one vegetable children don’t throw too many tantrums about eating. Personally, it’s one of my favorites as I get to smoother the cobs with real... + Full article
TamarillosTamarillos Tamarillos (Cyphomandra betacea) are generally fairly easy to grow. However, they can be very susceptible to frosts, and also cold winds. They are a self fertile fruit that will reward you with mountains of fruit if... + Full article	ThymeThyme Thyme comes in a range of different shapes, sizes and colours. The flavour and uses vary too. It is a hardy perennial that will withstand the driest and coldest of conditions. It is a must for all edible gardens.... + Full article
Tomatoes Fresh home grown Tomatoes can't be beaten for flavour and taste. Nothing you find at the super market will ever match your home grown crops. Mid to late spring is the perfect time to plant out tomatoes. These versatile fruits are easy... + Full article	Top Tomatoes Labour weekend is traditionally Tomato planting time and with it being just around the corner its time to be getting ready to get your crop planted. The flavour and rewards of producing your own tomatoes is hard to match. If you only grow... + Full article
Walnuts TreesWalnuts Years ago it was not unusual to find a walnut tree in most back yards. Walnut trees are easy to grow but need plenty of room to grow. The most common walnut trees are the English or Persian varieties. The Black Walnut is grown... + Full article	Yams - Grow your own Yams are a root crop that many people love. Technically they are not a true yam as they belong to the Oxalis family but in New Zealand we call them yams. The true yam is a potato-like tuber. The sweet tubers are quite small, often... + Full article