Andrew Steens

Normally in early February we would be experiencing relatively dry conditions, but this year it seems we have been blessed with an over-abundance of rain!...

It looks like our summer is going to be characterised by warm and humid conditions interspersed with intense rainfall and periods of glorious sunny days....

We’ve just had our first ever infestation of fall armyworm, a new pest blown over on wind from Australia, and first detected in New Zealand...

A sure sign that spring is here is the strong flush of asparagus spears that are shooting up with great vigour. We get lots of...

Hydrangea are one of the most versatile, easiest and fastest-growing shrubs. They are brilliant for filling a neglected corner, massed planting for low-maintenance gardens, as...

One of the highlights of our winter garden are the cymbidium orchids, which start flowering in May and continue through to November. We have half...

As a child, brassicas were my nemesis – cauliflower was marginal if it came with lots of cheese sauce, broccoli was tolerable if drowned in...

In mid-winter it’s always nice to dream of the tropics, and for a touch of tropical colour and elegance in my garden, I love my...

One of the natural flow-on effects of gardening is the inevitable excess of produce that arises. This is where various food preservation techniques come into...

The short, grey, cold, damp days of winter can be a hard time for both gardeners and their crops. With some preparation, it is possible...