Whether you live in a section, a townhouse, or an apartment, growing your own garden has many benefits. From giving you a constant supply of fresh produce to improving your mental health, a home garden can be a money saver and a mood booster.
Growing your own garden isn’t as hard as some people may think. A few helpful tips will help you gain the tools, knowledge, and confidence to get started.
So, if you’re keen to start growing your own fruit, vegetables, or herbs but don’t know where to start, our guide is here to help.
If space is an issue, a great place to start with gardening is by growing herbs.
If you are growing herbs in New Zealand, you’ll want to choose a spot that gets plenty of sun and is close to your kitchen. If you live in a townhouse, a sunny patio or courtyard will do the trick. If you live in an apartment, choose your sunniest room or windowsill.
Choose a selection of herbs that you enjoy cooking with the most. That way you’ll pick them more often, which is good for their growth and long-term survival.
Herbs, especially ones grown indoors, need quality soil. Whether you’re planting your herbs in a garden, raised bed, or indoor pots, make sure you use a quality potting mix.
Whether indoors or out, herb gardens need plenty of drainage; otherwise, your plants will wilt and die. Mix in organic matter or perlite to help the soil drain and make sure any pots or containers have drainage holes drilled into the bottom.
The main difference between growing your herbs from a NZ$2 packet or a small leafy seedling is the initial growth stage. If you’re growing herbs from seeds, they can take 4-6 weeks to sprout. You should also grow them somewhere warm and sheltered, like a garden shed or indoor room, before transplanting them to a larger pot or garden bed.
Overwatering refers to how often you water your plants, not how much water they get in one sitting. Test the soil of your herb garden by inserting a finger into the soil or by lifting up your small pots. If the soil is dry or the pot is light, it’s time for another watering.
Herbs are made to be used! Herbs like coriander and parsley respond well to being heavily cut back. You can use ⅓ of the plant each time you harvest, and this will actually help it grow.
When harvesting your herb garden, don’t just pick off the leaves you want to use. Harvest the tallest stalks each time. For herbs like coriander, you can cut them 1 inch above the ground. For basil and parsley, cut any stalks you want to use just above the leaf node. This will encourage your plant to grow bushy.
@maarakai Ive used this method for the majority of my gardens. 💚 Its labour intense but its also budget friendly. ✅😉🙌 Nothing wrong with using what you have and then building from there. When it comes to replenishing the soil you will not have to dig it up again. 🙌 Comment “GARDEN” and Ill send this method through to you. Pm me instead if your settings are on private. 🌱🌱🌱 Lets mahi maara! Grateful 🙏 #howtostartagarden #nzgarden #gardentok #maarakai #grateful ♬ Mountain Life - Art Music
If you’ve got a bit more space, you may want to consider growing an outdoor vegetable garden. You’ll need:
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If you’re brand new to gardening, it’s a good idea to take things slow. You don’t need to go all-in building multiple garden beds or buying fancy watering or growing equipment. A few initial tools will go a long way:
@lids.minigarden Curious about how much you can fit in a 50L pot / container? Heres what i did in my garden to maximise my space also help my garden to thrive ☺️☺️ #nzgarden #nzgardening #gardening #vegetablegarden #containergarden ♬ ♡ ᶫᵒᵛᵉᵧₒᵤ ♡ - SoBerBoi
To get the most out of your garden, make sure you are designing for your space. Start by:
Once you’ve got a garden up and running, regular maintenance can help you get the most out of your plants and your produce:
Summer is in full swing. Now is the time to harvest your fruit and summer vegetables, and prevent the soil from drying out between waterings.
As the summer growth comes to an end, it’s time to think about planting for autumn. Watering, weeding, and mulching should be on your calendar along with enjoying, preserving, or freezing any excess summer harvest.
Start preparing your winter garden. Start planting while the soil is warm and keep your soil moist if you’re in a dry area.
Autumn harvesting is in full swing. Now’s a great time to finalise any final winter plantings.
With frosts on their way in the winter months (in central and southern locations), make sure you protect the roots of any fruit trees. Harvest, freeze, or preserve any late Autumn produce.
Now is the time to start planting new season arrivals for early Spring.
Focus on soil preparation and winter harvesting. Roses, fruit trees, and camellias can all be planted this month.
Late winter is a great time for tool maintenance and planning your Summer garden.
Get into your late spring and summer planting for your vegetable garden.
Now is peak planting season for the summer, especially for tomatoes and summer vegetables.
Focus on garden maintenance such as weeding and watering as the weather gets warmer.
Summer harvesting and regular watering in the early morning or late evening.
If you have an outdoor garden, you’ll most likely have pests. Common ways to control pests are through store-bought toxic solutions. While these methods are effective at killing insects, they should be used sparingly as they also kill bees:
If you have pets, want to protect bees and other pollinators or just prefer non-toxic solutions, you can try:
Companion planting is a great way to protect your plants from pests. Pairing different plants, herbs, and flowers together can also amplify growth! Here’s what you should pair together:
Leeks, onions, and even chives are great to plant near carrots as they mask their scent, hiding it from the carrot rust fly. (Prevalent in warmer parts of the North Island).
The White Butterfly is the nemesis of winter crops in New Zealand, especially brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, and kale. To prevent them from laying eggs near your winter veggies, plant woody herbs like sage, rosemary, thyme, or mint next to your brassicas.
Nasturtiums are known as a sacrificial crop – one you plant because it attracts bugs and you don’t mind if it gets eaten. Aphids, whiteflies, and caterpillars love nasturtiums.
Planting a border of this bright orangey-red flower can protect your produce. Once the nasturtium gets heavily infested, you can simply pull it out and throw it away.
Starting your own garden in New Zealand doesn’t need to be complicated, expensive, or reserved for people with big backyards. Whether you begin with a few herbs on a sunny windowsill or map out your first raised vegetable bed, the best garden is one that suits your space, your routine, and the food you actually like to eat.
Start small, learn as you go, and don’t worry if everything doesn’t grow perfectly the first time. With the right sunlight, good soil, regular care, and a bit of patience, your garden can become one of the most rewarding parts of home life – fresh, practical, calming, and very satisfying when dinner includes something you grew yourself.
