When it comes to growing your own herbs and vegetables, there’s a lot of things to take into consideration. You need to figure out how much time you’re willing to dedicate to your garden, what time of year are you planning to plant? What are your local weather conditions? Do you have enough space?

Some herbs can grow quite happily indoors in pots on your window sill, others will need to start their germination process indoors and then be transferred to the garden.

The three herbs in this issue - basil, parsley and chives - will grow best if they start their growing process indoors. Most herbs are relatively low maintenance, they can thrive in most types of soils and are often not the target of disease or insects. But they do need plenty of sunlight, well-draining soil and moderate temperatures. If you’re in a location that can get a little nippy over winter, it might be best to plant in pots or trays so you can move your herbs indoors if temperatures drop.

Growing your own veges has many advantages. First off, you’ll have a much wider selection than what’s on offer in the supermarket, you’ll save money, and you’ll always have fresh produce ready and waiting. There’s also the feel-good factor of growing your own.

While most vegetables only need about 15-20 centimetres of well fertilised soil, others, such as carrots, will need deeper soil as they grow downward. Carrots, broccoli and lettuce all thrive in slightly cooler temperatures. You just need to keep the soil free of rocks and weeds. Lettuce can withstand light frosts and just like carrots and broccoli will grow in a little shade. This means that they can be planted with taller crops such as tomatoes.

You could learn a little about growing your own, gather some handy tips on how to care for the range of herbs and veges in this issue, and even gain some insight into the best combinations for your new garden.

First Day Cover

Planning is key when it comes to planting your vegetable or herb garden. Choosing the right location and knowing in advance how much space each plant will need will reduce the risk of having an overcrowded vege patch.

Miniature Sheet First Day Cover

Transferring your herbs can be it of a tricky business, but if you live in a temperate climate then it is worth it. Make sure your seedlings reach the right size before you move them, water them frequently following replanting and make sure that the soil is appropriate and accommodating for young seedlings.

Miniature Sheet

For a successful crop, regardless of the type of plant, you must have a nutritious base to start. Make sure that your soil is free of any rocks or obstacles and that you’re using a fertiliser suitable for your plants.

Presentation Pack

If you were still not convinced that growing your own herbs and veges is for you, then you definitely needed to check out this fun and educational presentation pack. You could read about why growing your own is good for your health, wellbeing and wallet. And find out more about each individual plant with cute descriptions as told by the plants themselves.

Grow Your Own - Sustainable New Zealand Non-seed

Take a look at the range of non-seeded stamps that were also a part of this issue. Click here to find out more.

Grow Your Own Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have some questions as to why we could not send the seeded products overseas? Click here.

Product Listing for Grow your own - Sustainable New Zealand

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