Victorian green thumbs encouraged to get gardening

Keen Victorian gardeners are being urged to embark on a garden DIY challenge this spring, with the annual public housing competition kicking off across the state.

Whether you want to add a burst of colour to your garden or try your luck with growing your own vegetable patch, spring is the perfect time to unleash your inner green thumb.

State minister for housing Wendy Lovell is encouraging tenants across the state to take part in this year's Victorian in Bloom competition, now in its eighth year.

"This is a great time of year to get out in the garden and we hope tenants will accept the challenge and showcase their gardening skills," Ms Lovell explained.

"There's a strong gardening tradition in public housing and I've seen some wonderful gardens at our estates across Victoria, including the many amazing communal vegetable gardens tenants tend together, so they can share produce."

With a category to cater for everyone, residents can try their luck at something as small as a herb garden, or as ambitious as a eco-friendly flower patch.

Categories for the competition include best balcony, small enclosed or container garden, best edible garden, best sustainable garden, best creative garden, best common area garden and best household garden.

Tenants have until December to register in the competition, with winners from each region competing in a state-wide event in Melbourne next year.