I’m Matt, a newbie gardener based in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Here, I share my experiences in the garden – with greenhouses, indoor plants, vegetables, fruit, natives and more.
I hope others can learn from my mistakes in the garden as I try to create a water-efficient, sustainable garden which supports native wildlife while decreasing the need to buy produce from the supermarket.
Growing vegetables
Great capsicum debate
I’ve failed countless times at growing capsicums from seed. But this season, I’ve successfully harvested the elusive vegie*! Here’s the…
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First time growing pumpkins
We harvested our first Waltham Butternut pumpkin of the season this week – coming in at 911 grams. Plus, there’s…
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Use netting to protect your produce from Queensland fruit fly
The Queensland fruit fly is just as much of a threat to Victoria as it is to Queensland. Despite their…
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Tomato season delayed due to lack of consistent, warm weather
It’s almost time for tomatoes… or at least it should be. The delayed start to spring and summer means I’m…
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Growing lettuce from seed
Lettuce is one of the easiest plants to grow from seed, and it’s also one of the most versatile! You…
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How to start a vegetable garden
Starting a vegetable garden is a great way to get more fresh produce into your diet and save money. If…
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Natives and exotics
Fast-growing, January flowering: Leptospermum Copper Glow
The Leptospermum Copper Glow looks great year-round, but its flowers are a hit over Summer. I’ve got six Leptospermums out…
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Hardy Bottlebrush an easy addition to any garden
The Bottlebrush’s hardiness and evergreen nature makes it a perfect addition to any garden. The Bottlebrush, or Callistemon, is native…
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Indoor plants
I’m great at killing indoor plants
Indoor plants are unique a pain in the backside. You move them 1cm to the left, and suddenly they’re turning…
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The dramatic Peace Lily
It’s been a busy few days but I wanted to briefly touch on the Peace Lily. It’s an indoor, dramatic…
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Rubber Fig: A great houseplant with intriguing origins
The Rubber Fig works well as an indoor plant, with its year-round greenery bringing life into dark corners – similar…
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How to take care of a Monstera deliciosa
The Monstera deliciosa is great for those new to taking care of indoor plants. Their popularity stems from their looks…
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Tips and tricks
DIY projects in old gardening magazines
The sun is shining… and the birds are singing… making it the perfect day to get out in the garden.…
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How I’m using less water in the garden
I’ve wasted loads of water in the garden. Sometimes I will forget to turn off the tap when using the…
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Garden photos
GALLERY: Growing pumpkins, carrots and pak choi
Although spring is generally heralded as the time when everyone gets in the garden, autumn can be as equally productive…
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GALLERY: Raising seedlings, garlic and blueberries
Thanks to a bit of sunshine and lots of rain, the garden is full of tomato, leek, bean, rocket and…
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Latest comments
Yes I agree! Sometimes if we let nature do its thing, it all works out and plants pop up when…
Where I live, the growing season is short, so unless you want to turn your basement into a grow operation,…
I am thinking about sowing sow lettuce seed in early winter – I spilled seed last year, and I got…
Oh what a lovely memory!
Matt's Plants & Co - Australia 
Oh fascinating – yes, nothing like seeing a newly-planted seed reach for the sky!