Your Garden Coach NZ

Season 4 Episode 1 Know your Microclimate - resist rushing in, tempting as it may be. Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

Maura is heading home! SO, I NEED A LITTLE HELP TO KEEP THE PODCAST GOING Recently, we asked you whether you’d like Your Garden Coach NZ to continue. The answer was a very definite YES — and I can’t tell you how much that meant. But I also need to be open with you. Producing the podcast takes a considerable amount of time, research, and work, and I simply can’t keep doing it without more support from our listeners. My lovely WWOOFer, Maura, is heading home in a month - My search for her replacement means I will have to pay for the expertise she has brought to the podcast I want to keep bringing you practical, independent New Zealand gardening advice - advice that understands our seasons, our climate and the way we garden here. So, if the podcast has helped you grow better vegetables, understand your soil, garden with the seasons, try something new - or simply kept you company while you’ve been out in the garden - would you consider helping us keep it going? Even a small regular contribution from more of our listeners would make an enormous difference. There’s absolutely no pressure if supporting us financially isn’t possible. Listening, sharing the podcast, and telling another gardener about us all helps too. But if you can support us, now is the time we really need you. Link below https://www.buzzsprout.com/2256022/support Thank you for listening — and for helping us work out what the next chapter of Your Garden Coach NZ might look like. Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

Season 3 Episode 26 Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

Season 3 Episode 25 00:00- Intro 07:20- Tea of the Month 09:09 Winter Tasks 11:20 Books for winter reading 14:24- Plant a tree 16:55- Moon Calendar 21:33- Chickweed 23:32- Gardening in Zone 1 in Early Winter 33:02- Hugelkulture & raised beds 33:42- Biochar Workshop 34:38- Hellebores (winter roses) 37:53- Winter flower sowing 45:24- Dishes with Del Jerusalem Artichokes 56:44- Final garden note Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

Season 3 Episode 24 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Tea of the Month: Winter Orange Spiced Tea 03:31 Gardening in Late Autumn 11:23 Veg of the month: Pumpkins 18:32 Alpine Harvest Festival reminder 20:21 Dishes with Del- Pumpkin Recipes 27:54 Foraging in May 30:04 Outro Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

Today’s episode is a little bit special. Maura and I jumped in the car and headed over to Kurow, into the Waitaki Valley, to visit Awakino Station - a third-generation family farm run by Jaz Mathisen and her family. And I have to say… this really is a homestead in the truest sense of the word. From the kitchen garden and orchard, right through to the meat raised on the farm, everything comes together to feed not just the family, but the wider farm team - with everyone gathering around the table each day. We spent time walking through the most beautiful kitchen garden, surrounded by these incredible shoulder-high stone walls, and just soaking in what felt like a very grounded, very real way of living. Jaz speaks so thoughtfully about generational farming - the history, the stability, and what it means to carry that forward - and she also shares some lovely stories about the women who’ve helped shape this place over time. And something else really special - Jaz has written a beautiful book, A Year at Awakino Station , which follows the rhythm of the four seasons and includes recipes from the farm kitchen. It’s now available in bookstores, and it’s one we’d really encourage you to get your hands on. It was one of those days that will stay in our memories Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

Season 3 Episode 23 00:00 Intro 04:29 Tea of the month: Apple, Beetroot, Rosehip & Ginger 05:54: Moon Calendar April 2026 11:13 Mid Autumn Phenology 20:22 Mid Autumn Job List 22:45 Feijoa 29:24 Dishes with Del- Feijoa Recipes 38:08 Growing Microgreens 43:38 Book of the Month- The Abundant Kitchen by Niva & Yotam Kay 44:43 Outro Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

Enjoy this bonus episode with Dr Compost chatting all about Biochar Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

Season 3, Episode 22 00:00 Intro 02:17 Tea of the Month: Blackcurrant leaf and Redcurrant fruit Tea 04:17 March Moon Calendar 07:24 Early Autumn Phenology 09:13 Main Topic: The 4 Bed Crop Rotation in Autumn 17:02 How Gardening Regulates the Nervous System 21:44 Vegetable of the Month: Tomatoes 29:52 Dishes with Del Recipe: Tomatoes 42:26 Tip of the Month: When to Sow Grass Seed 44:46 Interview with Anita from Growing Kiwi Gardeners 1:05:34 Outro Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

Season 3 Episode 21 00:00 Intro 00:20 Podcast Update 01:57 Tea of the Week Raspberry, Peppermint, and Lemon 03:27 Moon Phase - Sowing and Planting until 4th March 08:07 Tasks of the Week 12:27 Phenology 15:25 Tip of the Week - Perennial Vegetables 19:41 Herb of the Week - Feverfew 25:58 Main Topic - Why we leave roots in the soil 36:50 Dishes With Del - Zucchini/Courgette recipe 46:00 Book of the Week - The Secrets of Great Botanists by Matthew Biggs 46:41 Glossary - Cultivar - Cultivated Variety 47:27 Outro Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

Season 3 Episode 20 00:00 Intro 02:24 Tea of the week: Peppermint and Ginger 03:59 Moon Phase: 14th and 15th root crops, then cutivate until 19th 06:04 Tasks of the Week 09:02 Tip of the Week 09:59 Veg of the Week: Kale 15:16 Dishes with Del: Kale recipes 19:40 Main Topic: Planting a Tea Garden 30:21 Book of the Week: Wild Tea by Nick Moyle and Richard Hood 30:35 Glossary Word: Infusion 30:50 Outro Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

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 follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

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 Kay 30:32- Outro Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

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 us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

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 Week: Horticurious 32:44 – Glossary Word: Permaculture 33:14 – Outro Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

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 Steading by Jade Miles 41:02 – Glossary Word: Future Steading 41:25 – Outro Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

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: Soil by Matthew Evans 38:51 – Outro Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

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) 20:02 – Main Topic: Mast Year Support the show You can contact us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

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 us at coach@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz

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@yourgardencoach.nz and follow us on socials @yourgardencoachnz