The Tui NZ Vegetable Garden
- The complete guide to growing vegetables in New Zealand
Sally Cameron, with an introduction by Tony Murrell
Penguin Books - $45

Growing your own vegetables is undergoing a resurgence – from families in the suburbs to professionals in the city – people have become aware of the benefits, both financial and health-wise of growing their own food. However many new gardeners have little hands-on experience and need some guidance.

The Tui NZ Vegetable Garden is a practical, highly illustrated guide to planting and maintaining a vegetable garden that will become an essential reference for gardeners of all skill levels seeking to grow some or all of their own food.

It contains all the essential information you need, from how to condition the soil to how and where to plant, sprouting schedules, what kind of yield to expect from each plant variety and tips on harvesting. There is also a section on how to combat pests and diseases in order to build a healthy and thriving garden – whether you aim to grow just a few tomatoes in pots on your balcony or enough food to feed a family.

The Tui NZ Vegetable Garden includes 74 common and more exotic vegetables and herbs, and each entry concludes with ideas for turning produce into a tasty meal.
The Tui NZ Vegetable Garden is by New Zealanders, for New Zealanders and our local climate. Complete with a PVC clear plastic sleeve The Tui NZ Vegetable Garden is a gardening companion suitable for use both inside and out in the garden.It is also most attractive, easy to read and to follow.

Chapters include:
• Three steps to a great garden
• The basic life of a plant
• Building a garden
• Preparing an edible garden
• Garden management
• A to Z of vegetables
• A to Z of herbs
• Problems and nasties in your garden
• Garden diary and planting calendar

About the author:
Sally Cameron is an experienced vegetable gardener who has been growing a wide variety of vegetables for years and she’s figured out what works. When Sally is not in the garden she is cooking – or writing about it. She has been a food writer, stylist and editor in both New Zealand and the UK.
Most recently, Sally has authored a number of cookbooks, including Grow It, Cook It, and runs a popular catering company. Sally has been an enthusiastic gardener most of her life, drawing inspiration from her grandmother and father. Sally has her own plentiful garden on Auckland’s North Shore which she enjoys with her family.

Tony Murrell who wrote the introduction is New Zealand’s leading landscape designer. His work can regularly be seen in garden magazines and on TV in shows such as the hugely successful Mucking In, Ground Force and Road To Ellerslie or you can listen to Tony every Saturday morning on the Radio Live Kitchen and Garden Show.

“Sally Cameron and I invite you to embrace growing and cooking your own food. Maybe you have grown veggies in the past and want to rediscover this ‘lost art’. We are here to help. The trick is to start small. If you have never grown your own food before, consider trying just one or two varieties first and master growing them. Read this book for the information to get you started.” — Tony Murrell

“Your garden is an extension of your home. It is just as valuable an asset as the garage, kitchen or bathroom. It is a working, living, breathing environment from which you can supply many staple foods necessary for your daily diet. Prepare, cultivate and harvest your way to a healthy, happy lifestyle.”
— Sally Cameron

I have included a spread, below, to give an indication of the attractive, user-friendly layout of the book.
It is too small to read but it will give you an idea of the book's inside appearance. It is prolifically illustrated in full colour throughout. The perfect Christmas gift for the would-be or lapsed gardener in your family. Reading it makes you want to go out to the garden and start digging!