Vegetable sowing time has arrived. Gillian Vine suggests some to start with.
September could be said to signal the beginning of the gardening year, as seed sowing starts in earnest, especially in the vegetable garden.
That's not to say you cannot speed things along by starting with plants: punnets of kale, broccoli, cabbages and peas are among the offerings in garden centres now, as are herbs such as thyme and parsley, plus the first tomato plants.
Peas are one of the easiest vegetables to grow in a sunny place with well-drained soil.
Although the ground should be reasonably fertile, do not overdo the nourishment or the result will be fantastic-looking plants that have few flowers.
As well as tall varieties that can top 2m, there are low-growing (60cm-70cm) varieties like Dwarf Massey, Easy Peasy and Dwarf Sugar Snap that do not need staking.
Rather than sow a lot at once, put in short rows every couple of weeks and that way there will be a succession of fresh, tender peas that are eaten before they become hard.
Turnips, too, are best eaten young. Kohl rabi, another member of the vast brassica family of edibles, also needs to be grown in cool soil, tending to be stringy and slightly unpleasant if conditions get too hot.
The first carrots can be sown now. The small-rooted Ladies Finger and little round Baby are good early choices.
All brassicas like rich ground but none more so than the cauliflower. Those that produce larger heads (''curds'') can take four months or more from seed sowing to harvesting but smaller varieties like Snowdrop will be ready in three months.
Brussels sprouts need to be sown within the next month or so and planted out before Christmas to ensure crops next winter as they are very slow-growing.
For faster results, plant cabbages, broccoli and kale. Depending on variety, kale can be harvested in as little as 55 days or half that if cut at the baby-leaf stage.
Seed potatoes are now available, either singly (a good way to try a different variety) or in bags.
They can be grown in pots but generally crop better in open ground. They are a good choice for a new garden or one that has been neglected, as they help break up the soil.
Unfortunately, tomato potato psyllid (TPP), a North American pest first found in Auckland in 2006, now has spread throughout most of New Zealand.
The preferred hosts of TPP (Bactericera cockerelli) are Solanaceous species (capsicum, egg plant, potatoes, tomatoes and black nightshade) and although insecticides that control aphids will probably control psyllids, they also kill TPP's natural enemies including ladybirds and lacewings.
Good garden and greenhouse hygiene - especially not leaving plants in the ground over winter - and sticky yellow insect traps are considered helpful strategies.
Potatoes could be covered with mesh. One fine enough to keep out common aphids will keep TPP at bay and some commercial potato growers are experimenting with this as a non-chemical method of control.
For those wanting fast results, mesclun is ready within three or four weeks and being comprised of hardy plants, can be sown now. Mesclun is not a single vegetable but a mix of plants suitable for salads if cut young.
Typical mesclun mixes include endive, rocket, red and green lettuce, beet, spinach and mustard. They are ideal for growing in containers, so are perfect for those with limited space.
Two other vegetables that grow happily in large pots are silverbeet and spinach, while herbs are also useful for pot culture.
A selection could be grown in a frame like the one pictured. It was made out of old pallets, so would be an economical choice for a small garden.
Early-season choices outdoors could include flat and curled parsley, mint, oregano, thyme, sage and chives, but tender herbs such as basil in its numerous forms, Mexican mint and lemon grass should be started under cover and planted out only after all danger of frost has passed.
Start sowing now and reap the benefits in coming months.
