Whether you are seeking the best tips on what to grow in your backyard and how to cook it or you are simply after some great ideas to take your garden to the next level, the Horticultural & Gardening Festival is the place to be.

One of the largest spring events to be held in Melbourne in 2015, the focus is not only on gardening and sustainability, but also on gourmet cooking and growing edible plants.

The festival will be packed with events and demonstrations explaining to visitors what and how to grow for their kitchens, how to be more self-sustaining, or simply how to beautify their home garden.

Gardening enthusiasts and foodies will all have an opportunity to learn from their heroes and delve into the joy of growing, from edible to ornamental plants.

The long line-up includes former MasterChef winner Emma Dean, indigenous chef Mark Olive, paddock to plate passionista Louise Fitzroy, as well as current and former ABC TV Gardening Australia hosts Costa Georgiadis, Angus Stewart, Stephen Ryan and Peter Cundall.

A number of Australia’s favourite horticulturists, the likes of Attila Kapitany, Ian Barker and Simon Rickard have joined in, eager to share their amazing knowledge, as well as plant Q&A and free design consultations, in addition to creative display gardens where visitors can meet the designers and learn their best tricks.

It is safe to say that the Horticultural and Gardening Festival will be enjoyable for the whole family, catering from the mildly interested to the most passionate aspiring gardeners.

Parents will be delighted by the dirtgirl Activity Centre, where children will be able to garden and meet their gardening heroine.

Meanwhile, there will be plenty of opportunities to buy plants and tools, gifts or edible produce, as well as attend workshops and specialty talks.

Tickets are available from Ticketek or at www.gardeningfestival.com.au/tickets. Entry is $25 pp or $20 concession/senior; under 16s free with adults. Family tickets also available for $40 for two adults and two children and three-day tickets will be just $30 for adults and $25 for groups and concessions. Free entry for VET Gold Card holders.

For further information head to www.gardening festival.com.au

When: 9-11 October 2015
Where: Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Rd, Ascot Vale, Victoria