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Your Garden Coach NZ
Your Garden Coach NZ
Author: Ali Soper and Hannah Twiss
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© 2026 Your Garden Coach NZ
Description
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
95 Episodes
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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 - Int...
🌿✨ New Podcast Episode! ✨🌿 This week, Ali takes a trip to her "Sopermarket" (aka her garden!) to harvest the abundance of food growing right now. 🍅🥕🥬 If you’re wondering what tasks to tackle this week, we’ve got you covered! 🍂 Get Autumn-Ready! What can you do now to set your garden up for success as the seasons shift? ✂️ Pruning Time! We chat about why now is a great time to tidy up your fruit trees—and which ones need attention. 🍐 Pear Perfection! How do you know when your pears are perfect...
Season 1 Episode 10- Globe Artichoke In todays episode: - Elderflower Tea - Does birdsong stimulate plant growth? And we talk with the wonderful Leah Evans about her first book 'Hands in the Dirt' - there's a competition to win a copy. Garden Happenings this week -succession planting -catmint mosquito repellant -cabbage white butterflies -tomato care Vegetable of the week - Globe Artichoke Glossary - Floiar Feeding We draw the winners of the Secret Gardens of Aotearoa book&n...
Season 1 Episode 9- Today we talk to Jane Mahoney, Jane, along with her daughter Sophie Bannan has written a beautiful book 'Secret Gardens of Aotearoa. Ali has a personal attachment to this book as her garden, Crosshill, features along with eleven other New Zealand gardens. Stunning photography, and plenty of tips from humble home gardeners. We know you'll love it as much as we do. We have a copy to giveaway - listen to the podcast for the question you need to answer and enter by emai...
Season 1 Episode 5- Square Metre Gardening Today we talk about - Borage Tea What are Cucurbits? Square Meter Gardening We have the privilege of talking to Yotam and Niva Kay from Pākaraka Permaculture Book - One Magic Square - Lolo Houbein Our very first Giveaway book - The Abundant Gardener published by Allen and Unwin Listen to the podcast for competition details (open to NZ listeners only - sorry) send your answers to coach@yourgardencoach.nz Glossary - Biointensive - A...
Season 1 Episode 3- Root Crops In this episode, we talk to Jess and Anna, Two sisters, One garden in Hawea Flat We’ll take a look at: Garden tasks this weekGardening by the Moon CalendarTips for growing great carrotsChop and DropBook of the week - Hands in the Dirt: Grow your own Kai - Leah Evans. Publisher Allen & Unwin Instagram account of the week @mrs.evan.garden Glossary - Dibber - A dibber is a long, stick-like tool used to make holes for seeds and seedlings to make su...
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 the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follo...
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- Outro Support the show You can contact us...
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 coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow ...
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...
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 S...
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:...
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) 20:0...
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...
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 coach@your...
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 ...
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 coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz
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 &nb...
Season 3 Episode 8- Parsnips00:00 – 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 – Outro If you’re growing wit...
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 — ge...



