Topic: What varieties are best?. When best time to plant?

What varieties are best?. When best time to plant? 

WHat are the best/easiest varieties of lettuce, beans, tomatoes, silverbeet to grow and when is bext planting time for each?

Thanks

Re: What varieties are best?. When best time to plant? 

Depends where you are... it's still way to early for tomatoes. Wait till Labour Day to put these in the ground, although you can start of seeds inside earlier.

Also too early for butter /bush beans as the seeds will rot, try succession planting when it gets a bit warmer and sow direct as seeds, avoid transplants.

If you live in the north island, then yes you can plant lettuce, silver beet, spinach and broad beans now. Actually lettuce does pretty well in the damp cooler months as it tends to bolt in the hot and dry.

August is traditionally spud-planting time (once all frosts are passed), but you can also plant out broccoli cabbages and cauliflower. I tend to grow these in winter though as spring seedlings all to often end up as food for white butterflies.

Re: What varieties are best?. When best time to plant? 

We are starting our vege garden now and we are following the phases of the moon. We have a calendar which tells us optimum time for planting root veges, mulching/composting, pest control, above ground crops etc. 24th &26th Sept best time for planting potatoes or other root veges, we will be planting out seedlings of brocolli, lettuce, herbs (basil, rosemary, marigold) for pest control. Basically once the ground is warmer it's good for planting. Most seed packets tell you best time of year etc.