In the garden with Lianne

As one of Tui’s Garden Gurus, Lianne has helped thousands of Kiwi gardeners grow successfully at home. 

She shares her journey of establishing a new garden after a recent move, embracing the opportunities and lessons that come with starting fresh.

By Lianne Wilson

Tell us a little about your garden: We have recently downsized to a smaller coastal property with sandy soil in Pāpāmoa. I feel like I’m learning to garden all over again, when to water (often), when to feed (all of the time) and adding as much organic matter to the soil as possible! My goal is year-round colour - I love adding seasonal potted colour to the garden and pots, and embrace easy care options including bromeliads, gardenias and vireya rhododendrons. I enjoy continuous seasonal harvests from the raised garden bed, and my favourite fruit trees including persimmon, feijoa, a large lemon tree in a pot. I also have special legacy plants in pots from my grandmother and mother-in-laws garden.

How did you start gardening? My grandparents were keen gardeners, they had a large garden with cacti, roses and proteas, a vege garden, and a glasshouse full of bromeliads. My grandfather bought me a tuber rose wrapped in sawdust to plant, along with erlicheer daffodils. I love the challenge of growing through the seasons. Going out into the garden every morning to see how everything is growing, creating a mental list of things to be done or changed.

What are some of your proudest gardening successes? I’m still learning, but success is flowers to pick every day, homegrown fruit through the seasons and something out of the vege garden all year round.

Why do strawberries deserve a place in every Kiwi garden? They say summer in every way. My grandchildren love picking them, even when green!

What's your favourite way to grow strawberries? I feel the best way is in the garden if you have space. At the moment I have them growing in 30cm pots due to limited space.

What are the biggest mistakes gardeners make when growing strawberries? Not planting enough plants for the household, you need at least five plants per person! Prepare the soil well by digging in generous amounts of compost then plant into Tui Strawberry Mix.

What's your favourite way to enjoy homegrown strawberries? I make a pavlova roulade which has a strawberry coulis mixed with cream in the centre – delish. Picked straight from the plant is pretty good too.

Finish this sentence: "Anyone can be a gardener because..." You don’t need a large space to be a gardener, and there is no right or wrong way. Just start.