Bring the taste of the Mediterranean to your kitchen this summer with an easy Italian-inspired garden.
"Now is the perfect time to plant tomatoes and herbs," says Awapuni gardening guru Tod Palenski.
"There's nothing like home-made pasta or pizza sauce with ingredients picked from your own garden."
To get started, Tod says find a sunny spot with good soil, either in your garden or use containers.
"Terracotta pots look great on porches and decks. Hanging baskets are also effective, you can plant cherry tomatoes in the middle and lots of herbs around the outside - then move it to wherever is sunniest."
Whatever you choose to use, Tod says it's essential to start with quality soil.
"Tomatoes and herbs like a high pH so add some lime and dig in lots of compost."
Once you've chosen a spot and prepared the soil visit your local supermarket, The Warehouse or garden centre and choose your plants.
"Awapuni has a variety of herbs and tomatoes in their Pop'n'Grow range which are easy to plant and guaranteed to grow."
Tomatoes need to be staked, and Tod recommends using three stakes and tying them at the top like a tepee then planting a seedling at the bottom of each.
"You can never have too many tomatoes - they're great fresh or preserved as sauces and chutneys - so plant as many as you've got room for."
When it comes to Italian herbs, there are lots to choose from. Tod recommends starting with basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary and thyme. Because they like a high pH soil, they're the perfect companion for tomatoes.
"If you want to try something new have a go at growing parcel, a hybrid herb that looks like parsley and tastes like celery. It's great for salads and sauces."
To keep pests at bay, plant marigold seedlings amongst your tomatoes. Their fragrance deters whiteflies, aphids and nematodes which live in the soil.
"Garlic is also a great deterrent, just plant cloves with pointed end up, about five centimetres deep. Each clove will produce one plant with a single bulb."
Once your garden is established it will benefit from a top dressing of fertiliser like Nitrophoska Blue, and a layer of mulch.
"Herbs and tomatoes prefer a constant supply of water, rather than the occasional drowning with a hose. Mulch will help to keep the soil moist.
"When watering, always water the base rather than the plants to avoid blight and rot."
In a few months you'll have all the ingredients for Tod's favourite Italian pizza or pasta sauce.
"Just slow roast tomatoes by cutting them in quarters, drizzling them in olive oil, throwing in some whole garlic cloves and baking them at about 120 degrees for a couple of hours.
"When they're cooked, throw them in a blender with freshly picked basil, oregano, parcel and thyme, add two tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper, and blend. Spread on pizza or pour over fresh pasta and enjoy the fruits of your labour!"