GET GARDENING | WESTGATE LIFESTYLE

I dutifully toddled along after hubby to an annual event the other day. He and his mates meet just before Labour Weekend each year to be given a potato (with sprouting bits) to plant over the long weekend.

It’s all part of an annual potato-growing competition that culminates at harvest time on Waitangi Day when the biggest potato and greatest potato yield are determined. (The inclusion of a most distorted potato category failed at vote this year).

Anyway… it got me thinking about how Labour Weekend is, for many, a time to get out in the garden. Unless of course you don’t have anything at all green about your thumbs, or – like us – you may actually have run away to make the most of the three-day weekend.

We, and a group of cool cat friends, biked Hawkes Bay trails and found a vineyard or two. Never fear, we were, however, back on time on Monday to plant the potato. I should mention too that the potato people also plant a paddock up a bit earlier in the piece, with the ensuing potato crop ready to give to Foodbank for Christmas – very cool.

So, with all this potato and planting talk front of mind, I went looking for garden-related product in our Westgate Lifestyle stores. Regardless of your gardening acumen, you may like the pots on frames I found, which are perfect for creating vertical gardens (especially great if space is an issue).

Gardening can be thirsty work, so I was delighted to find the cooler on stand to house a drink or two – perfect for heading off to the garden (or beach).

There are plenty of garden seating configurations and lighting options to illuminate beautiful garden areas too. Check out the LED flame light that includes a Bluetooth speaker – how very cool.

I found other product I’d never heard about too, namely the outdoor colour lightstrips (Harvey Norman notes these may need to be ordered in). These can be placed anywhere outside to light up your flowerbeds, pathways, vegetable gardens and include a whole spectrum of colour choices and a timing mechanism.

Amazing.

Planters of varying sizes, and a few sprinkler options were also discovered on my travels. Wishing you productive shopping and planting!

NB: Labour Weekend may be over, but the sales aren’t. There are still lots of good bargains in store. As case in point is the Kingsbury park bench at Briscoes – 50 per cent off.

1. Delmar outdoor café set, charcoal, 3 piece, $359, from NOOD |2. Six pots wall rack, metal, $199.00, from NOOD |3. Solen SWL 1.5w LED solar exterior light, $29, from LightingPlus |4. Philips hue outdoor coloured light strip, 5m, $334.99, from Harvey Norman |5.Seaside supplies Waihi tropicana colour on stand, $64.90, from Bed Bath & Beyond |6. Coastal classic Kingsbury 2.5 seat park bench, $200), from Briscoes |7. Hexad vertical garden, $169.00, from Freedom |8. Odell planter, large, $64.95, from Freedom |9. Nexus oscillating garden sprinkler, $7.99, from Briscoes |10. Flame IP65 flame Bluetooth speaker and spike, $129.90, from Lighting Direct.

Note: Prices mentioned, and availability of products featured are subject to change. If you love the look, we recommend you head in store to find out more.