Tips from Garden Club Members
Julia Merritt, Orakei, Auckland
Get children to help with all aspects of gardening. This helps them appreciate where produce comes from, is a good form of exercise and passes the love of gardening and knowledge onto the next generation.
Kelly Curtis, Miramar, North Island
Finished corn stalks make great teepees for beens, peas and roses.
Ali Irving, St Andrews, Hamilton
Have the kids catch white moths around the vege garden with their nets. Keeps them amused and I pay them 5c per moth.
Frank Brough, Manurewa, North Island
I use the flower stalk part from my flax bushes as stakes for my snow peas and broad beans to grow up. This gives it a unique natural touch and encourages extra growth from the veges.
Ashleigh Visser, Sunnynook, Auckland
The birds have stayed away from my vegetable patch this year as I’ve dangled old CDs with string above the plants.
Charlotte Thornley, Wellington
Protect tomato seedlings by cutting the bottom off softdrink bottles and using as miniature glass-houses.
Tina booth, Kihikihi, North Island
Grow cucumbers along two wires attached to a fence forming an X. Plant at the bottom of each wire. Saves heaps of space. No ground rot and straighter fruit.
Glenys Kearns, Cashmere, Christchurch
Place inners of paper towels, wrapping paper or toilet roll inners over LEEKS to help create longer whites!!!
Kristy Dekker, Paihia, North Island
When growing tomatoes, planting garlic and marigolds around them reduces pests.
Andrea Bennett, Stokes Valley, North Island
The veg garden doesn’t have to stay in neat rows. I plant my broccoli next to the front door between the flowers and herbs.
Christine McDonald, Hamilton
Find a neighbourhood gardening buddy to share costs such as garden magazine subscription, compost, plants and petrol for trips to garden centers.
Mandy Buller, Springston, Christchurch
In the winter I like to grow a pot of salad lettuce as a house plant for a quick addition to my sandwich.