Choosing a cultivar...but how ?

[marialittlebzz]

Hi everybody !

Here is my problem : there is so many different cultivar of any given type of veg, but on the description ( online catalogue for exemple ) it only says about the taste or the resistance to such and such....
What about light requirement? or other more technical trait related to actually "growing" this one, and not the other?

Does any website can give this information or book, catalogue...?

Or am I just an anxious paranoid who needs to much re assuring before making a choice?

[lynda66]

i'm sure one carrot needs basically the same conditions as another .... some things need more sunlight than others like sweetcorn, but that should say on the packet...... but i think all sweetcorn need more sunlight than carrots.... hope that makes sense lol

[smallblueplanet]

I always google the variety I'm looking to buy to see what others have said about growing it. If there's something I'm really unsure of I'll ask on here to see if anyone else has grown that particular variety.

[Two_Sheds]

Light?
Everything needs light to grow (photosynthesise)

[Two_Sheds]

i think all sweetcorn need more sunlight than carrots...

Sweetcorn needs more warmth, not more light

[lynda66]

well yeah, but that warmth comes from the sunlight ..... see i knew what i mean

[Gwen11ian]

I would suggest going to the library and borrowing their entire collection of veg books. They'll give the ideal growing conditions for each type ie. broad beans, such as soil and water requirements, plus often recommend a few varieties they feel are most successful.

Once you found which book was most useful and suited your tastes, go out and buy yourself a copy. You will refer back to it again and again, and is so handy to have around to refresh yourself on a topic before going about it in the garden.

[marialittlebzz]

I meant between varieties of the same veg : like is there any tomato that will grow on partial shade??
Mmmm ... don't think so...

It's just that I have this nice patch but which receive, let's say a couple of hours of direct sunlight, and I wanted to plant lettuce, then pak choi and leef beet, then leek for the winter...
Does it sounds good ???

[sewer rat]

Although different types of veg will require different conditions, most cultivars will need the same basic requirements. There is unlikely to be much difference between varieties as regards light, warmth, moisture etc, so I wouldn't get into too much of a lather about it. That said, different cultivars may perform better than others in different sites, eg exposed sites may suit low growing compact Brussels sprouts as opposed to some of the older taller OP varieties but that, I am afraid, is just a case of trial and error til you find a variety that performs well and that you like the taste of.

[PAULW]

I am afraid, is just a case of trial and error til you find a variety that performs well and that you like the taste of.

And just as you find the cultivar of veg you like the most, the seed will disappear off the market never to be heard of again.

[Two_Sheds]

It's just that I have this nice patch but which receive, let's say a couple of hours of direct sunlight, and I wanted to plant lettuce, then pak choi and leef beet, then leek for the winter...
Does it sounds good ???

they sound fine. Lettuce in particular likes it cooler.
You'd have more problems growing fruiting crops that need heat to ripen, like squash, sweetcorn and tomatoes.

[Eyren]

The only plant that I can think of that does vary a lot between cultivars is tomatoes. All of them need sun to fruit and ripen, but some varieties are OK outdoors (at least in the south) whilst others need to be indoors. But it will usually say that on the packet or catalogue listing. The reason other types of veg don't say, is because they don't vary much from one cultivar to the next.

Lettuce, pak choi and leeks are good choices for a spot that doesn't get masses of sunlight: lettuce doesn't like the heat, and your pak choi may be less likely to bolt as well