The Sun: Your Helpful Garden Ally

Most vegetable plants need at least 6 hours of sunlight. Choose a sunny spot or use pots if garden space is limited. Pots are ideal if your space doesn't get a lot of sun.

Water: Is Vital

Healthy plants need regular watering to thrive. Keep a tap and hose available, as summer rain in Christchurch may not be dependable. Water your seedlings in the early morning or late evening. If they are watered during a hot day the water can sit on the leaves and the sun can burn the plant.

Soil Mix: Preparation before Planting

Choosing the right planting mix affects your plant's development.
Invest in growing mix if you are planting vegetables. Vege Grow, is ideal it contains all the nutrients for your seedlings roots to produce strong, healthy plants.

When to Plant: Dates are important

New to gardening? Start seedlings by sowing seeds indoors. You will need a tray, seed raising mix, a water mister, and your selected seeds. Planting outdoors should wait until there's no chance of frost. In Christchurch, this often occurs around Labour Weekend. You do not want to be disappointed planting out too early only to set the seedling backwards due to cold weather.

What to Plant : Endless Choices

Start with a mix of seedlings and seeds that you strike yourself. Once you have success in seed striking, you will enjoy the rewards of growing right from the beginning, and the selection is much wider. Portstone stocks Kings Seeds and Yates Seeds. We do regular orders with Kings in the height of the growing season, so you can view their catalogue and place your order with us, or choose from the top 100 seeds in store.

Nourish Your Plants : They feed you so you want the best

When your vege plants have at least four leaves, you can begin feeding them. Actively growing plants need extra nutrients. You can use a liquid fertiliser which the leaves and roots will absorb and/or a slow release fertiliser that breaks down into the soil and is absorbed through the roots. Come talk to us about the best fertilisers to use.

Good Vegetables to start off your gardening ;
Broccoli, Silver Beet, Spinach, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Beetroot, Carrots, Potatoes, Lettuce, Beans

The team at Portstone want you to succeed with your new passion. Talk to us about your garden, what you want to achieve and we can work together to create it!

Let Portstone help you

We're here to help you create an outdoor space you'll love. Visit Portstone for plants, gardening advice, and assistance. If you have questions, need help with your plants, or want to find a specific plant, please contact us.