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I am a novice at gardening except for growing beetroot/rhubarb/tomatoes and lettuce.  :-[
I would love to grow those hispi type cabbages/onions/potatoes/carrots but not sure which ones to get.
I've looked through some books but still not really sure which would be the best e.g. sets or seeds for onions. I would like to grow some potatoes but not sure when to plant. My soil is really wet at the moment and I'm sure if I put anything in there now, they might drown!

Hi HP

Not exactly an expert here but I would suggest waiting till March to put anything in but as for your other plants, be guided by the soil condition.

With regard to types, for carrots I would recommend Amsterdam Forcing for early carrots.  The choice of pots will depend on what you intend to use them for.  I tend to grow mostly earlies and salad types, although I am giving Picasso a go this year as we all like big potatoes and these are supposed to be monsters ;D

Hope that helps a bit and happy growing.

Hi I can't help you with  most of your queries but for the cabbage there is one out there  that is actually  called Hispi  and I love it ,it is a hybrid though,I used to grow Greyhound which is also pointed ,last year I grew both and the Hispi was my favourite by far,it was a little smaller which for me was a plus, it grew very quickly and was very sweet, start it now in flats in then transplant. It harvests June-August. I then have a couple of others that take over for later in the year. My favourite spud is Charlotte, technically a second early sadad spud, but I always start a raised bed really early protected by fleece and we are eating them in May.They get a decent size if left . My favourite carrot way beyond all others is a Mokum, T amM have it ,it is very very crisp,  it will snap if pulled out roughly. Good luck with your garden, I hope this has been some help. XX Jeannine

I take it you already have your potato seeds HP, the ground is not workable yet, I will wait until March and will probably plant if not too wet and the frosts have passed. Sets of onions go in about the same time under the same conditions it will depend on YOUR soil and where you are in the country.

Thanks for your really helpful suggestions.
Not got my potatoes yet  ::) but there are loads in the garden centre but need to suss out what they all mean - first earlys/second earlys/late earlys. Cor blimey, its like the Krypton factor!!
Im in Derbyshire by the way.

Whereabouts? We are in Normanton/Littleover area...
:)

Henny, First Early's will be ready hopfully for early June, or if you can get them in early and cover them with fleece you may,w with a little bit of luck have some ready for the end of May, second Early's will follow them on and lates can be left till be lifted in September/October time and stored in a cool frost Free place to use at your liesure.

hiya, henny..maybe try some of the smaller packs, one of the garden centres near us has packs of 10 tubers, then you can try a few and see if there's any you like best  :)

Getting very excited about the potatoes now thanks to you.
I am in Chesterfield saddad.

On onions I would go for sets as they are more reliable than seed, any of the varieties in the Garden Centres are ok.

On pots the advice on small packs is good if you can find them otherwise try Red Duke of York, it works as a first early for new potatoes but can be left in the ground to bulk up for baking, mash and roasting (a many other 1st earlies "go off) if not lifted early). Accent is good alternative but is in short supply this year.

Phil

Oh, and good luck!!