Experienced food gardener and Urban Food Garden author John Ditchburn will run a series of food gardening mini talks at Ballarat Community Garden Harvest Festival on Sunday.

The community garden will open its gates for its annual family day in the garden with pizza, sausage sizzles, live music, cakes, craft demonstrations and children’s entertainment. 

Talks and entry to the festival is free. Mr Ditchburn will be on hand to answer all food gardening questions during the festival from his stall near the front gate.

Mini-talk topics include: growing seedlings in single cell seedling trays; saving lettuce seedlings; planting seedlings in hot weather; protecting seeds and seedlings from birds; and, removing and keeping couch out of your veggie patch.

Mr Ditchburn first began growing vegetables at 16 years of age and since then, has always grown vegetables in one form or another and developed extensive experience working with community gardens and gardeners.

Ballarat Community Garden is on the corner of Queen Street and Dyte Parade, East Ballarat. Harvest Festival runs from 11am to 3pm on Sunday.