Neutrog’s compost secret saved my harvest — here’s what most beginner gardeners get wrong.

May 28, 2025

Too Many Tomatoes, Not Enough Containers? Here’s What to Do With Leftover Veggie Harvests

Make Your Garden’s Abundance Work for You – And Others

Kale that’s bolting, cucumbers appearing like magic overnight, zucchinis growing into baseball bats while your back is turned—it's the classic sign of a veggie garden gone rogue in the best way. But what do you do when you’ve fed your household, treated the neighbours, and the cherry tomatoes are still coming like clockwork?

Once you’ve had your fill of summer salads and stir-fries, here’s how to turn garden excess into something useful, memorable, and surprisingly rewarding—no waste, no overwhelm, no complicated gadgets required.

1. Turn Extras Into Pantry Gold

Forget buying extra gear or spending weekends preserving like it’s 1943 wartime. You can start simple:

Herbs – chop and freeze in olive oil in ice cube trays for instant soup starters.
Chillies or cherry tomatoes – oven roast with olive oil, garlic and herbs; freeze in portions for an easy pasta upgrade.
Zucchini – grate and freeze for spongy muffins or sneaky lasagne filler.

“I used to feel guilty tossing wilted kale. Now I’ve got jars of green pesto in the freezer and never feel behind.”
– Candeece

Start with one small project. You’ll be surprised how ten cherry toms can turn into something you’re proud to pull out on a rainy Tuesday evening.

2. Swap, Share, and Surprise

You know that feeling when someone drops off a bag of lemons with a note? Pure joy. Be the giver of that joy.

Start or join a local produce swap – fresh eggs for silverbeet could be this week’s trade.
Fill a basket and take it to work, school, or playgroup – it disappears every time.
Leave a box at your front gate with a simple sign: “Free Veg – Please Take”.

Suddenly your garden feels bigger than your backyard – it becomes part of the community rhythm. One small act, many smiles.

3. Feed Future You (and Your Soil)

If your beans have gone stringy and your lettuce has bolted, don’t dump them – use them. Here's how excess turns into future wins:

Compost it – even without a fancy system, a tub of scraps layered with dry leaves becomes garden gold by next season.
Save seeds – dry out pods like beans or coriander heads and store them in labelled envelopes.
Make liquid fertiliser – especially from soft veg like lettuce or kale. Soak them in water in a bucket for a few days. Yes, it smells. And yes, your garden will love you for it.

4. Cook Once, Eat Forever

Your garden didn’t sweat so you’d only eat it once. Double-batch dinners use up produce fast and freeze beautifully:

Eggplant overload? Roast and blend with lemon and garlic for baba ganoush.
Heaps of pumpkin? Soup it, portion it, and freeze it flat in zip bags to save space.
Plenty of basil? Blitz with nuts and oil and freeze in logs or ice cubes.

Make the garden a part of your regular meal rhythm, not a once-a-month event.

5. Use It Creatively

Flourish isn’t just about food. It’s about creativity too. Turn excess into garden art:

Dry flower heads like fennel or dill – hang upside down for rustic decor or wreaths.
Press herb leaves into homemade paper or cards.
Infuse oils with chillies or rosemary for unique gifts.

It’s not “just gardening” – it’s beauty, nourishment, and kindness in green-thumbed disguise.

If You’re Still Unsure What to Do…

Walk into your local garden centre, chat with someone who knows the seasons, and say: "I’ve got too much going on—what do I do with it all?" You’re not alone. This is the moment when gardening goes from something you try to something you own.

And spoiler: those who grow enough to give some away? They're the ones who are growing in more ways than one.

Your garden doesn’t just feed you – it teaches you how to give back, plan ahead, and savour slow success.

See you in the tomato jungle 😉
Candeece

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