Tag Archives: New Zealand
Vector Group Charitable Trust: Tender for Bulk Pineapple Plants
Vector Group Charitable Trust, a charitable organization based in Te Puke, is seeking tenders from suppliers for the bulk purchase of pineapple plants. This initiative is a core part of our mission to enhance kai resilience and food security within our community.
Plant Specifications: We are seek...
Rain Can’t Dampen Spirits at Sirens and Services: Koha Ice Cream Day!
What an incredible afternoon we had today at the Welcome Bay Community Hall for the Sirens and Services: Koha Ice Cream Day! Despite the steady drizzle outside, the hall was absolutely buzzing with keen families, creating a truly heartwarming atmosphere. It was a testament to the incredible spirit o...
From Kiwifruit to Jackfruit: A Tropical Paradise Blooms at French’s Farm
French's Farm: A Slice of Tropical Paradise Flourishing in Te Puke
Just a stone's throw from Waitangi, on the verdant fringes of Te Puke, you'll discover a true local treasure: French's Farm. While the Bay of Plenty is globally celebrated for its vibrant green kiwifruit, a visit to Michae...
Nurturing Tomorrow’s Green Thumbs: A Te Puke Community Collaboration
Here in our vibrant Te Puke community, something truly special is taking root. We're witnessing a remarkable surge of enthusiasm among our rangatahi, our young people, for self-sustainability and the incredible potential of epic gardening. This isn't just about planting seeds; it's about nurturing a...
Ditch the Screens, Discover the Wild: Introducing ‘Kids Unplugged’ – A Kiwi Web Series Inspiring Tamariki to Thrive Outdoors
Okay, I've integrated the bio information for Anton and Kylie Steel into the blog post. Here's the revised version:
Ditch the Screens, Discover the Wild: Introducing 'Kids Unplugged' – A Kiwi Web Series Inspiring Tamariki to Thrive Outdoors
In an age where digital devices seem permanently attach...
CROP SWAP TE PUKE – Sunday June 29th
Te Puke gardeners, get ready to swap and share! Join us for Crop Swap Te Puke, a gathering for our community's garden lovers. Bring along your extra treasures from the garden – think seeds, baby plants, delicious produce, homemade preserves, tasty baking, inspiring gardening books, and even your cra...
A Whisper of Wild Freedom: Hope Echoes Through the Kaimanawa Ranges
If you felt a stirring in your soul this April, a quiet sense of triumph amidst the rugged beauty of the Kaimanawa Ranges, you weren't alone. The latest news from the annual wild horse muster wasn't just a press release; it was a testament to compassion, a vibrant chord struck in the ongoing harmony...
Epic Te Puke’s Picture-Perfect Easter Trail: A Community Celebration and Economic Boost
Despite the weather, the Epic Te Puke event was a resounding success, bringing the community together for a day of fun and creativity. Held at Jubilee Park, the Picture Perfect Easter Trail showcased the talent of local photographers along the scenic Te Puke Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway. This free commu...
More Than Just a Day Off: Pausing to Remember Anzac Day in Te Puke
Anzac Day 2025: Te Puke Remembers | A Tribute from Troppo.nz
Today, April 25th, 2025, the familiar rhythms of life here in Te Puke take on a different cadence. The usual bustle associated with our orchards and the title of 'Kiwifruit Capital of the World' gives way to a quieter, more reflective atm...
Cultivating Passionfruit in Te Puke: Tips for Abundant Harvests (Including My Favourite!)
Welcome to the lush world of passionfruit growing right here in our beautiful Te Puke! At Troppo.nz, we're passionate about helping you bring the taste of the tropics to your own backyard. Passionfruit, with its vibrant flavour and exotic aroma, thrives in our Bay of Plenty climate, offering the pot...
The Ultimate Guide to Growing Bananas in Your Bay of Plenty Garden
Dreaming of harvesting your own sweet, creamy bananas right here in the Bay of Plenty? You might be surprised to learn that with a little know-how, this tropical delight can thrive in our beautiful corner of New Zealand! While we're not exactly the tropics, our warm summers and relatively mild winte...
Growing Avocados Successfully in Te Puke: A Comprehensive Guide
Welcome to the ultimate guide for growing luscious, creamy avocados right here in our beautiful Te Puke! Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this comprehensive resource from Tropo.nz will walk you through everything you need to know to cultivate your own avocado bounty. Te Puke'...
How to Maximize Sunlight in Your Te Puke Garden for Tropical Fruit Production
Welcome, fellow fruit enthusiasts, to the Troppo.nz blog! Here in sunny Te Puke, we're blessed with a fantastic climate for growing all sorts of delicious tropical and subtropical fruits. But even with our abundant sunshine, understanding how to make the most of it is key to a truly thriving garden ...
Understanding Te Puke’s Rainfall Patterns for Efficient Irrigation
Welcome to the Troppo blog! Here in sunny Te Puke, the heart of kiwifruit country, water is life. Whether you're a seasoned orchardist or just starting out with your own patch, understanding our local rainfall patterns is key to using water wisely and keeping your plants happy and healthy. This post...
Cyclone Tam’s Fury Brushes Te Puke: Northern Communities in Our Thoughts
Well, Cyclone Tam has certainly made its presence felt here in Aotearoa! While we in Te Puke haven't borne the brunt of its full force like our whanau up in the Far North, let me tell you, that wind has been something else!
For the past day or so, a constant, howling gale has been whipping through ...
Identifying and Managing Common Pests and Diseases in Te Puke Gardens
Identifying and Managing Common Pests and Diseases in Te Puke Gardens
Welcome to all our fellow green thumbs in beautiful Te Puke! Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting to dig in the fertile Bay of Plenty soil, you'll know that along with the joy of watching your plants thrive comes t...
Choosing the Right Aspect for Your Garden in Te Puke’s Unique Terrain
Choosing the Right Aspect for Your Garden in Te Puke's Unique Terrain
Welcome, fellow green thumbs, to the wonderful world of gardening in Te Puke! Known as the Kiwifruit Capital of the World, this region boasts a rich horticultural heritage and a climate that can support a fantastic array of plant...
Using Mulch to Regulate Soil Temperature in Te Puke’s Variable Climate
Welcome to the Troppo blog! Here in beautiful Te Puke, we know all about the ups and downs of our weather. From scorching summer days to chilly winter nights, our soil can experience quite a temperature rollercoaster. But there's a simple yet incredibly effective tool that can help your garden thriv...
A Community Building Toolkit for Bay of Plenty, New Zealand: Cultivating Edible Landscapes Together
1. Introduction: Sowing Seeds for Community Resilience
The Vision of Community Food Forests in the Bay of Plenty
Community food forests, also referred to as forest gardens, represent a holistic approach to land management that draws inspiration from natural forest ecosystems.1 Unlike conventional ...
Cultivating the Future: Jared’s Food Forest Tour in Rural Te Puke – Inspiring Youth and Kai Resilience
Here at Troppo.nz, we're passionate about showcasing initiatives that build a more sustainable and resilient future for Aotearoa. Our recent collaboration with Jared on a visit to his burgeoning food forest in rural Te Puke was a truly inspiring experience. We witnessed firsthand his dedication to c...
Permaculture Principles for a Thriving Home Garden in Bay of Plenty
Welcome to the wonderful world of permaculture gardening! Here at Troppo.nz, we believe that creating a flourishing and productive home garden in our beautiful Bay of Plenty doesn't have to be complicated. Permaculture offers a simple, yet powerful, set of principles that work with nature, not again...
Creating Your Own Urban Food Forest in Te Puke, NZ: A Step-by-Step Guide
Imagine stepping out your back door and into a lush, edible paradise. A place where fruit trees, berry bushes, and useful herbs grow in harmony, providing fresh, nutritious food right at your fingertips. This isn't a far-off dream – it's the reality of an urban food forest, and you can create one ri...
Integrating Native Plants into Your Urban Food Forest for Enhanced Biodiversity
Welcome to the Troppo.nz blog! Today, we're diving into a fantastic way to make your urban food forest even more vibrant and beneficial: by weaving in some of our amazing native New Zealand plants. You might be thinking, "Food forest? Native plants? Do they even go together?" The answer is a resound...
How to Build a Vertical Food Forest for Limited Space in Te Puke
Living in beautiful Te Puke often means enjoying the outdoors, but what if you have limited garden space and still dream of fresh, homegrown produce? The answer might just be a vertical food forest! This innovative gardening technique allows you to grow a surprising amount of food in a small footpri...
Understanding Soil Health in a Permaculture Garden: Te Puke Edition
Welcome, fellow green thumbs and aspiring permaculturists! Here at Troppo.nz, we’re passionate about creating thriving, resilient gardens that work with nature, not against it. And at the heart of a successful permaculture system lies one crucial element: healthy soil.
Especially here in our beauti...
Composting Secrets for a Nutrient-Rich Food Forest in Your Backyard
Imagine stepping into your backyard and being greeted by a thriving food forest – lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and the promise of delicious, homegrown fruits, vegetables, and herbs. It sounds like a dream, right? Well, one of the biggest secrets to making this dream a reality lies right under you...
Understanding Te Puke’s Microclimates for Optimal Tropical Fruit Growth
Welcome to Troppo.nz! If you're passionate about growing delicious tropical fruits right here in Te Puke, you've come to the right place. While our region is famous for its kiwifruit, the diverse landscape also creates pockets of unique conditions – what we call microclimates – that can be perfect f...
Protecting Your Tropical Plants from Frost in Bay of Plenty: Practical Tips
Welcome fellow tropical plant lovers! Here in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, we're lucky to enjoy a generally mild climate that allows us to grow a fantastic array of lush, exotic plants. However, even in our little slice of paradise, the threat of frost can rear its icy head, potentially damaging or ...
Our Mission: Cultivating a Thriving, Regenerative Future
Our Mission: Cultivating a Thriving, Regenerative Future
We are committed to creating a thriving, sustainable food forest that not only nourishes our local community but also serves as a model for regenerative agriculture in the Bay of Plenty and beyond. By fostering deep connections between people...
Banana ‘Musa Acuminata var. Zebrina’ – The Striking Blood Banana
Grown in Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, NZ, the Banana Musa Acuminata var. Zebrina, popularly known as the Striking Blood Banana, has captivated plant enthusiasts with its vibrant foliage and unique appearance. Its striking red and green speckled leaves add a dramatic flair to any garden or indoor space, m...
Action Items for the Month of February Vege Planting in Bay of Plenty, NZ
Welcome back to the Tropo blog! February in the Bay of Plenty is a fantastic time to get your hands dirty and plant some delicious veggies. The heat of summer is starting to ease, and the soil is still warm, creating perfect growing conditions for a variety of crops. Whether you're a seasoned garden...
Brett’s Omanawa Food Forest Tour in the Bay of Plenty
Brett’s down-to-earth, true blue Kiwi approach to cultivating a thriving food forest in the Bay of Plenty is nothing short of inspiring. His philosophy revolves around keeping things simple, practical, and genuinely accessible, ensuring that anyone—whether a seasoned grower or a complete newbie—can ...
Get Growing in the New Year! Your January Veggie Planting Guide for Bay of Plenty, NZ
Welcome to the start of a new year, and for us green thumbs here in the sunny Bay of Plenty, that means it's prime time to get some delicious veggies in the ground! January offers a fantastic window for planting a variety of crops that will thrive in our warm, humid climate. This guide will walk you...
Pawpaw in Invercargill? Tropical Fruit Thriving Down South!
Growing pawpaw in Invercargill and bananas in the Waikato might have seemed unusual in the past, but not anymore, says Aaron McCloy, a tropical fruit tree grower. McCloy, who owns Far North Tropicals, has been shipping his warmth-loving plants across New Zealand, and demand has quadrupled each year ...
Plants Biosecurity Index
The Plants Biosecurity Index (PBI) is a searchable database of over 30,000 plant species. It provides information on whether they can be imported into New Zealand as seeds or nursery stock.
For a more in depth search please visit the MPI website.
Fruit Gardener’s Diary for the Year in New Zealand
New Zealand’s diverse climate allows for a wide range of fruiting plants to be grown throughout the year. Here is a month-by-month guide to help you plan your fruit garden, including planting, caring, and harvesting activities for the most common fruiting plants grown in New Zealand.
January
P...
Flower Gardener’s Diary for the Year in New Zealand
New Zealand’s diverse climate allows for a wide range of flowering plants to thrive throughout the year. Here is a month-by-month guide to help you plan your flower garden, including planting, caring, and enjoying the blooms of the most common flowering plants grown in New Zealand.
January
Pla...
Vegetable Gardener’s Diary for the Year in New Zealand
New Zealand’s temperate climate allows for a wide variety of vegetables to be grown throughout the year. Here is a month-by-month guide to help you plan your vegetable garden, including planting, caring, and harvesting activities for the most common vegetables grown in New Zealand.
January
Pla...
Fruit Tree, Vegetable, and Gardening Planting Calendar – A Broad Brushstroke for our NZ climate
The Bay of Plenty region enjoys a temperate climate with warm summers and mild winters, making it ideal for growing a wide range of fruit trees, vegetables, and other garden plants. Here is a comprehensive planting calendar to help you plan your garden activities throughout the year.
Fruit Tree Pla...
Holly Havoc: The Invasive Charm of Ilex aquifolium & Ilex cornuta in New Zealand
Greetings, fellow garden enthusiasts and nature warriors! 🌿 Today, we’re uncovering the prickly truth about Holly – specifically, Ilex aquifolium (English Holly) and Ilex cornuta (Chinese Holly). These festive-looking plants may conjure up images of holiday cheer with their spiky leaves and bright r...
