Hello Lovely Gardeners

I don’t know what it was like where you are over the weekend, but we had such lovely weather.  I managed to get a little bit of gardening work done, but for the most part the weekends are family time for us.  It came to a nice end with a lovely walk and talk along the beach.  As the weather improves we need to do this more often as I was able to bounce all of my crazy ideas for the garden off Hubby the Un-Gardener.  I think he thinks I’m mad, but he certainly didn’t discourage me! 

This is an exciting time in the Vegie Growing Challenge as I get to let everyone know who the first recipient of our Encouragement Award is.   Firstly, I want to say we are really enjoying everyone’s posts and all of the gardens are coming along so nicely and there are other Encouragement Awards up for grabs along the way, and who knows what the future holds and who will need a little pick me up or reward in the coming weeks. 

But this time the team at Yates want to offer a little bit of extra encouragement to Caryn.M As a new gardener, who has faced the challenges of cold snaps and slugs and snails, we want to inspire Caryn to keep going and reap the rewards and joys of growing food.  Congratulations Caryn, your prize pack will be sent out to you shortly.   

I would also like thank everyone else for your encouraging and supportive comments under Caryn’s posts and also under everyone else’s.  It really helps to make this community something really special. 

And in the spirit of giving this week’s lucky free seed recipient is Simone15nz.  We’ll get the seeds off to you in the post as soon as we can.

Last week Yates sent out an information packed email with loads of great gardening advice for across the garden, so if you haven’t had a chance to read it, make yourself a big cuppa tea and have a look.  It is well worth it.  If you didn’t receive it then check your spam folder.

This week in my garden I am deciding whether or not to just put on a raincoat and work in the dodgy weather in the hopes it isn’t as bad as the forecast suggests it will be or be sensible and focus on computer gardening activities indoors.   But the garden is almost there… and I have a few medium sized projects I’d also like to get done before the main growing season starts…  Little and often is a great way to garden but if it rains little and often, then decisions need to be made.

If it does stay rainy then this week I will most likely be in the greenhouse repotting seedlings and for this my favourite Yates product is Seaweed Tonic.  It helps with transplant shock and encourages healthy root growth, so it just makes sense.  https://www.yates.co.nz/products/fertilisers-tonics/certified-organic/yates-thrive-natural-seaweed-tonic/

Happy gardening and as always – if you want to get in touch leave a comment below. 

Sarah the Gardener  : o)