Help with choosing the right varieties of veg for lottie

[Cheezy]

OK this is the first time I'm going to be as ssish as pos in veg , now I've got me lottie. I've grown stuff at home for years but it's always been the more unusual. And the veg bag scheme has provided the "normal".I'm going to take ove rthe normal stuff in the lottie, keeping the more exotic at home.

I live in the NE so its cold , I could do with advice for"earlies" and good main crop storers in the following veg types, also some idea when the earlies should be planted:
Garlic
Onions (red and white)
potatoes
carrots
cabbage (white and savoy prefered)
parsnips
cellery
leeks
broccolli
cauliflower

[STHLMgreen]

I'm relatively new to growing things, but here are some thoughts...

I am growing 'Tropita' leeks here in Sweden, so they do well in the cold. They grow to supermarket size or bigger and have been quite hardy during an extra hot summer.

When I want to grow garlic I go to the supermarket and buy a bunch of organic garlic. I let it sprout in the fridge and plant what sprouts and eat what doesn't. (the organic garlic sprouts faster than the regular garlic and it has the plus of being organic)

Hope that helps. Surely someone who knows much more than me will come along with answers to other veg.

[hedgewizard]

It's a very big question Cheezy, and one that every single gardener asks themselves every single year. The answer has to be, get a seed catalogue. Or better yet, several catalogues!

For me, choosing my varieties is one of the most exciting events of the gardening year! This year I read Dobies, Garden Organic, and Moles (for bulk seeds) - if anyone else uses different ones, please post.

Most varieties will grow anywhere in the UK although of course your planting dates will be later. You can see how much later here (a good site generally). Some varieties are of course bred for northern gardens, and you'll see mentions of them as you read the catalogues. Being a soft southern nancy* I can't be any more help than that - but enjoy the search!

*although I grew up in Belfast which is just a smidgeon further north than Darlington so technically you're the soft southern nancy. Hah!

[Cheezy]

Yes I've placed my order through Dobbies since thats who our allotments get all the seeds from. If we get enough orders we apparently get a 50% discount!.

I've gone for AGM varieties since they should at least give good general results.

Unfortunately the digging is talking a lot longer than I wanted and if anything turns up from Dobbies it's going to be late before it gets put in.

Being a Soft Southern Shandy Drinker is a locational thing ergo yes you are!. But if it were not then you would win due to the fact that I was born in Tehran. However if you call me a Soft Southern Shandy Drinker due to this I may put a Fatwa on you*

*Well I would if in fact I was a muslim

[hedgewizard]

kewl