Growing things

A crossword puzzle that celebrates gardening and homegrown goodness.

Across

2 A method where you don’t turn over the soil because nature doesn’t use a spade (2,4) 4 Bok choy, broccoli and cabbage are part of this family (8)

7 When the hose can’t reach use this (8,3) 8 Tomato companion (5)

9 Founder of the biodynamic approach to agriculture (6,7)

10 The addition of these can make meals tastier (5)

14 Needing constant attention (5)

16 Used to gather fallen leaves (4) 21 Something to consider when planting out seedlings in the garden (7) 22 Author Katherine Mansfield has a garden named after her here (8,7) 24 Baby plants (9)

27 A gardening method that works with nature rather than trying to control it (12) 32 Plant sanitarium (8)

33 Small space gardening on the up (8,9) 35 Plants grow better when this is dug into the garden (7)

37 Small parcels of goodness (5)

38 Good gardening practice (4,8)

39 A garden pest (6)

Down

1 October 31 is its time to shine (9)

3 Something nutritionists always tell us to eat more of (10) 5 Makes gardening less back breaking (10)

6 Goes well with potatoes and mojitos (4) 7 Cabbage enemy (5,9)

8 Blue-flowered bee-friendly plant (6)

11 Author of Peter Rabbit (7,6)

12 Hardy leafy green vegetable (10)

13 Man-made to assist climbers (7)

15 Handy for pruning (9)

17 A type of gardening that shares its name with a type of pasta (7,9)

18 A virtue every gardener needs (8)

19 Climbing colourful edible flower (10)

20 Root vegetable (6)

23 The best time to plant zucchini (6)

25 A giant flower whose head follows the sun (9)

26 Used for digging (6)

28 Makes great passata (8)

29 The best place for seedlings to be in August (7) 30 Doesn’t like getting its leaves wet (8) 31 Quenches things (4)

34 Hand protectors (6)

36 Recommended to wear when handling store-bought compost (4)

38 Difficult dirt to grow things in (4)