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 climate needs truly reinforce our mantra: right plant, right place.
Discover the fascinating history of these berries, from Roman gardens and North American forests to New Zealand’s modern orchards — now spanning around 800 hectares and up to two million blueberry plants nationwide!                                                                                                                                

This week’s Tea of the Week is Dandelion Tea — the humble lawn weed that doubles as a spring cleanser — and we review two brilliant books:
📘 The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith – rediscovering nature in the modern world.
📗 The 1000 Most-Asked Gardening Questions by Daphne Ledward – packed with seasonal soil and planting wisdom.00:08 - Introduction 
00:34 - Tea of the week: Dandelion 
05:43 – Recapping last week – cover Brassicas
06:54 – If you haven’t got a garden 
09:07 – Tasks of the week 
09:43 -  Preparing Root Crop beds
12:45 – What Root crops can you sew in your zone?
16:53 – The Secret to a really good compost?
22:09 – Where to build your compost
23:56 – Hot vs Cold Compost
25:23 – Seasonal reminders
26:55 – Lawn Care
28:37 – Inviting in Beneficial pests
29:39 – Fruit of the week - Blueberries
37:13 – Second Fruit of the week – Raspberries

44:57 – Book of the week, the Well Gardened Mind

50:26 The 1000 most asked gardening questions

51:51 Episode Round Up

Support the show

You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

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 remembrance at funerals and as a sign of love and loyalty at weddings. Students in ancient Greece even tucked sprigs behind their ears to sharpen memory during exams. Modern science now confirms that rosemary may gently boost memory and focus, thanks to its unique brain-protective compounds.

Timestamps

We will update this asap

Links Mentioned in this Episode

• Beth Chatto – www.bethchatto.co.uk
  We discuss Beth Chatto’s Essex garden and nursery. Ali visited in May and was especially inspired by the Dry Garden, bringing home many tips to reinforce Beth’s mantra: “Right plant, right place.”

Book of the Week

The Dry Garden by Beth Chatto
Available to order at Next Chapter Bookshop, Wānaka. https://www.nextchapterwanaka.co.nz/

Next Episode

Testing the pH in your soil and how to amend it for different crops.

Support the Show

Contact us with your questions and topic requests: [email protected]
Follow us on Instagram: @yourgardencoach_nz
Facebook: Your Garden Coach
Explore more gardening advice, book a personal consult, and browse podcast archives: www.yourgardencoach.nz

Support the show

You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

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: Kawakawa 
07:44 - Sowing & Planting 
10:55 - Seasonal Jobs 
15:03 – Vegetable of the Week 
15:38 – Plant History 

16:50 – Book Review 

22:03 – This Week’s Garden Hacks 

27:07 – September Round-Up 

27:50 - Pumpkin Power Competition 

29:06 – Wrap Up 

Links mentioned in this episode: 

In this episode, we discussed the Chelsea Physic Garden, London's oldest botanic garden - home to over 4,500 medicinal, edible, and useful plants
www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk  Ali couldn't leave the gift shop until she'd bought a copy of:

 Sue Minter’s Book – The Apothecaries’ Garden 

A New History of the Chelsea Physic Garden. Sue Minter examines its history and many notable achievements. 

 Available to order at Next Chapter Bookshop, Wanaka 

 Next Episode:.... 

 Beth Chatto: Ali shares observations from her visit to this Essex, UK garden 

 Support the show 

You can contact us with your questions and topic requests at [email protected]  

Follow us on Instagram @yourgardencoach_nz and Facebook, Your Garden Coach  where we regularly upload interesting gardening tips and share our podcast community’s successes 

And don’t forget to head to our website www.yourgardencoach.nz for more in-depth gardening advice, to book a personal garden consult, and to search topics in the podcast archives. 

Happy Gardening! 

Support the show

You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

🎉🌿 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!

#NewEpisode #YourGardenCoachNZ #GiveawayWinners #WinterReadingList #ThankYou #GardenPodcast #WinterWellness

Support the show

You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

🍂🎧 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

Support the show

You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

🌿 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 Collection: Don't forget to collect nature’s gift of leaves—perfect for composting and soil health.

Happy gardening,

Support the show

You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

🎧 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 disease.

PLUS! 

A reminder to enter the draw for the Kings Seeds Autumn Hamper

And go in the draw to win Peter Langlands’ stunning new book ‘Foraging’ – a must-have for nature lovers!

Have a listen wherever you get your podcasts – and let us know what you're sowing this week, we love your feedback.

#YourGardenCoachNZ #GardeningPodcast #SowGrowEat #CoverCrops #RootCrops #RoseCare #KingsSeeds #ForagingBook #PeterLanglands #NZGardening #AutumnGarden

Support the show

You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

🎧 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

Support the show

You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

🌿🎙️ This Week’s Podcast! 🎙️🌿

Sowing & Planting Phase – It’s time to get Leafy Greens, Brassicas, Legumes, Lettuce, and Mizuna in the ground! 

Special Guest: Peter Langlands – Foraging guru & author of the new book Foraging. He joins us to chat about wild food and what you can forage in your area.

A must-listen for gardeners & nature lovers! 

Support the show

You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

🌿🎙️ Today's Podcast Episode! 🎙️🌿

Jen's verdict on today's cuppa? Not a fan! 😆 Chilli & Rosemary tea might not be making it into her regular brew! ☕🔥🌿

🌘 We're in the Barron phase until March 23rd – perfect for weeding, mulching, pruning, and garden maintenance. 🧑‍🌾✨ Then, get ready to plant root crops on the 24th & 25th! 🥕🧄

🌳 Plus, we’re diving into seasonal tasks for the Food Forest – what to do now to keep it thriving! 🌱

Tune in now! 🎧 

#GardeningPodcast #MoonGardening #FoodForest #HerbalTeaFails #ChilliAndRosemary

Support the show

You can contact us at [email protected] and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz