Beginner Gardening in New Zealand - Kings Seeds

We Answer Common Garden Growing Questions

Gardening can feel a little daunting when you're starting out. Rows of seed packets, advice from well-meaning friends, and a tangle of "do this, don't do that" online can leave you wondering where to begin. The truth is: anyone can grow food. It just starts with a seed, a bit of patience, and the willingness to get your hands dirty, and learn from your mistakes, because we ALL make mistakes.

In New Zealand, our climate zones play a big role in when and how we grow - what thrives in Northland in August might shiver in Southland until October. But no matter where you are, these beginner crops are reliable, forgiving, and rewarding. Let's walk through the easiest herbs, vegetables, and summer stars to grow from seed in your own backyard.

Easy Seeds for Beginners

When it comes to beginner gardening in New Zealand, the best place to start is with easy seeds to grow. For new gardeners, that means choosing varieties that don’t need special treatment like pre-chilling or long germination. 

1. Herbs for Beginners

If you want quick wins, herbs are the place to start. They grow happily in pots, windowsills, or tucked into the veggie patch, and reward you with fragrance and flavour in a matter of weeks. Basil is a favourite beginner plant.

• How to grow basil: Basil loves warmth and well-drained soil. Sow after the last frost, or start indoors earlier. Keep it in a sunny spot and water regularly.

• How to harvest basil: Pinch off leaves from the top to encourage bushier growth. Harvest little and often - the plant loves it.

• How to pick basil: Always take leaves above a pair of smaller leaves. This triggers new shoots.

• Basil companion plants: Basil is best friends with tomatoes, capsicum, and chillies. It helps repel pests and brings out tomato flavour.

Beginner tip: If basil flowers, pinch the blooms off - it keeps the leaves tender and tasty.

2. Beans & Broad Beans

Beans are the workhorses of beginner gardens - quick to sprout, easy to grow, and generous with their yields.

• Should I soak bean seeds before planting? A short soak can speed up germination, but it isn't essential.

• How to germinate beans: Most beans germinate within 7–10 days if the soil is warm enough.

• How to grow beans: Give them a sunny position and something to climb. They prefer direct sowing once the soil is 20-28°C.

• When to plant beans NZ: From late spring through summer. Broad beans, however, are a cool-season crop sown in autumn or early spring.

• Growing broad beans NZ: They grow tall and sturdy - stake them early and watch them climb, and the pollinators visit.

• When are broad beans ready to pick? Pods are ready when they feel plump but still tender. Younger beans taste sweeter.

Beginner tip: Beans fix nitrogen into the soil, so they improve your soil while feeding you.

3. Root Crops: Carrots & Beetroot

There's magic in pulling food from beneath the soil. Carrots and beetroot are iconic starter crops - just remember they need loose soil to grow straight.

• How to grow carrots: Sow directly into fine, stone-free soil. Carrots dislike being transplanted.

• When to plant carrots NZ: Most zones can plant in spring through summer; warmer areas often grow year-round.

• When to harvest carrots: They're ready when shoulders peek above the soil and look about the right size.

• How to germinate carrot seeds fast: Carrot seeds are slow. Cover rows with a damp board or hessian sack until seedlings emerge.

• How to grow carrots in pots: Choose shorter or round varieties such as Paris market, and use deep containers with free-draining soil. Don't let the pots dry out.

• How to grow beetroot: Sow directly where they'll grow. Thin seedlings to give roots room.

• When to harvest beetroot: Harvest while golf-ball sized for sweetness, or leave longer for hearty roasts and juicing.

• Planting beetroot NZ: Sow in early spring and succession-plant for regular harvests.

• How long does beetroot take to grow: Usually 8–10 weeks in spring-autumn.

Beginner tip: Use the thinnings! Carrot tops make pesto, and young beet greens are delicious in salads.

4. Brassicas: Broccoli & Cabbage

Brassicas are cool-season staples, packed with nutrients. They are known to teach every gardener the art of patience, and pest prevention.

• How to grow broccoli: Sow in trays, then transplant into firm, fertile soil. Mulch with wool to stop slugs and snails.

• When to plant broccoli NZ: Autumn and early spring are best.

• How to harvest broccoli plants: Cut the central head before flowers open. Side shoots will keep coming on some varieties.

• How to deter cabbage white butterfly: Fine insect netting or sheer curtains is your best defence.

• How to prevent caterpillars on cabbages: Companion planting with nasturtiums and regular checking helps along with insect netting.

Beginner tip: Don't wait too long to harvest broccoli - once yellow petals show, flavour is lost.

5. Spicy Stars: Chillies & Capsicum

These colourful crops add heat and sweetness to your garden - and are easier than you think.

• How to grow chillies from seed: Start indoors on windowsills, heat pads and warm areas. Germination can take 2–3 weeks.

• How to know when chillies are ripe: They change colour (usually from green to red) and feel firm.

• Growing chillies NZ: Best started in early spring inside, thriving in sheltered sunny spots.

• How to grow capsicum: Similar to chillies - warmth, shelter, and plenty of compost are keys to healthy plants.

• Planting capsicum NZ: Plant seedlings outside after frosts are finished, or in a warm greenhouse.

Beginner tip: Capsicum and chillies are perennials in frost-free climates. Keep them alive in pots protected from the cold to fruit year after year.

6. Sweet & Crunchy: Corn & Cucumbers

Summer wouldn't be summer without sweetcorn and cucumbers climbing in the patch.

• When to plant corn NZ: Sow in late spring to early summer once soil is warm.

• How to know when corn is ready to pick: Kernels release milky juice when pressed, they will feel firm and the silks turns brown.

• How to grow cucumbers: Plant in rich soil, give plenty of water, and let them climb.

• When to plant cucumber NZ: From early spring in warm areas; late spring in cooler zones.

• Cucumber growing tips: Mulch well, keep evenly watered, and harvest young for the best crunch. The more you pick the more will grow.

Beginner tip: Plant corn in blocks (not rows) for better pollination.

7. Tomato & Zucchini Favourites

Tomatoes and zucchini are Kiwi classics - abundant, versatile, and a true confidence booster.

• How to grow tomatoes: Sow indoors, transplant after last frost, and give strong stakes when planting.

• When to plant tomatoes NZ: September-December, once frosts have passed you can plant outside.

• How to prune tomato plants: Remove side shoots ("suckers") to channel energy into fruit. Especially for indeterminate varieties.

• How to grow zucchini in a small space: They thrive in pots or even grown vertically.

• When do you harvest zucchini: Pick while small (15–20 cm) for tenderness. The plants will grow more as you pick them.

Beginner tip: Tomatoes and zucchini are hungry plants - add compost, mulch, and liquid feed for bumper crops.

Gardening Tips for Beginners at Kings Seeds

• Start small: Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to grow everything at once. Pick a few easy crops and grow your confidence along the way.

• Learn from mistakes: Every gardener makes them - expect a hiccup or two each season and see them as lessons, not failures.

• Focus on soil health: Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden, so learn how to build and care for it.

• Have fun: Take time to enjoy the little wins - watch the bees visit your flowers, or taste the crunch of a cucumber you grew yourself.

Start Gardening with Kings Seeds

Gardening is equal parts patience, observation, and delight. Your first seedlings may be slow, or your beans may take their time, but don't let that put you off. Every gardener learns by trial and error. Start small, grow what excites you, and celebrate each harvest, even if it's just a handful of basil leaves for your pasta.

At Kings Seeds, we believe growing is for everyone. Our monthly sowing guide gives zone-specific advice. Sign up for our newsletter to get that delivered straight to your inbox. At the same time, our beginner-friendly seed collection takes the guesswork out of starting your own veggie patch.

So grab a packet of seeds, plant a row, and watch your confidence grow alongside your garden - we’re rooting for you! For more tips and beginner gardening advice such as garden location, seasons & zones, soil, beginner plants, seed vs. seedling, watering your garden, weeding & feeding, then harvesting check out our reels and videos on Kings Seeds social channels.