Kerikeri sisters Willow and Tahlia de Ridder have won the Northland Budding Young Gardener title, part of the nationwide search for the Yates Budding Young Gardener 2019.
The green-thumbed sisters are fifth generation gardeners, and are following in the footsteps of their mother, Mirielle, and grandmother, Nana Di (Maxwell).
Every weekend they spend time with Nana Di, whose 2.4ha property features the best part of a rugby field in vegetable gardens and an orchard with more than 70 fruit trees.
The garden has recently been expanded to provide food for Nana Di's Kaikohe restaurant, which specialises in serving fresh local food.
"We love helping Nana Di in her garden, and learning to grow all sorts of different vegetables, but our absolute favourite is potatoes," Willow, 7, said.