Knowledge Base
Garlic, saffron, seed potatoes, winter gardening and answers to the questions we hear most often.
Why plants stop growing in winter: day length, soil temperature and dormancy
A seed that sits unchanged for six weeks in winter is usually not a bad seed. Here is what day length, soil temperature and light intensity are actually doing to your garden, and how to plan around them.
Frost hardy or frost tender: how cold is too cold for each crop
Hardy, half hardy and tender describe how a plant copes with freezing, not with cold in general. Here is what each group tolerates, why a July frost is easier than a March one, and why a forecast of 2 degrees can still mean frost on the ground.
Staying Safe in the Garden: Sun, Soil, Tools, Chemicals and Wildlife
The short list of things that actually hurt Australian gardeners, and the simple habit that lowers each risk, from potting mix and UV to snakes, sprays and ladders.
A Beginner's Guide to Vegetable Plant Families
Tomatoes and potatoes are siblings, cabbage and rocket are cousins. Knowing the families makes crop rotation, pest control and seed saving make sense.
Annuals, Perennials and Biennials: Plant Life Cycles Explained
Whether a plant lives for a season, two years or decades changes how you sow it, where you put it and what to expect. The three life cycles, with Australian examples.
A Beginner's Guide to Botanical Names on Seed Packets
The Latin on a seed packet is not there to confuse you. How botanical names are built, what the words tell you, and why they matter.
Growing from Seed with Kids: Why It Works and Where to Start
Big seeds, fast results and a few safety habits. How to get children growing from seed, which seeds to start with and what to keep out of small hands.
Twelve Common Vegetable Gardening Mistakes (and the Easy Fixes)
Most disappointing vegetable gardens fail for the same dozen reasons, and none of them are hard to fix. The mistakes we see most often, from sowing out of season to never thinning.