Hobart & Southern Tasmania
Seed to Harvest Guide

Depth: 2–3cm direct. Spacing: 5–8cm. Support: Needs trellis or sticks (grows to ~1.5m).
Peas love cool weather — perfect for Hobart! Sow in autumn (Mar–Apr) for winter/spring harvest, or start in your lean-to in July. Manages well in sandy soil with added compost.

Sow: July–Aug in lean-to at ~20°C. Prick out when first true leaves appear. Harden off 1–2 weeks before planting out in October.
Cherry tomatoes are your best bet in Hobart's short, mild summer — they ripen faster than beefsteak types.

Sow: Aug–Sep in lean-to, 2 seeds per large pot. Thin to 1 plant. Transplant out Oct when soil is warm. Space: Vines spread 2–3m.
Butternut matures in 90–100 days — fits Hobart's frost-free window well. Mulch heavily to retain soil warmth.

Sow: Start in lean-to Jul–Aug, or direct sow Mar–Apr for autumn crop. Transplant out 5–6 weeks after germination. Spacing: 45cm.
Cabbages are frost-hardy once established. Golden Acre is compact — ideal for smaller beds.

Important: Plant in a block (min 4×4) not a row — corn is wind pollinated. Spacing: 30–35cm each way. Start in toilet rolls Sep (corn hates root disturbance).
Hobart's summer is borderline for corn — choose the sunniest, most sheltered spot. Kelvedon is an early variety which helps.

Sow: Start in lean-to Jul–Aug, transplant out 5–6 weeks later. Or direct sow Mar–Apr. Spacing: 40–50cm.
Broccoli thrives in Hobart — cool temps produce sweeter, denser heads. Frost-hardy once established. Sprouting varieties give multiple harvests over weeks.

Spacing: 50–60cm. Key tip: Tie outer leaves over the curd to keep it white and prevent yellowing.
Cauliflower dislikes temperature fluctuations — consistent moisture and steady growth are key. Hobart suits it well.

Must sow direct — carrots hate transplanting. Depth: 5mm. Mix seed with fine sand for even sowing. Thin to 5–7cm when 3cm tall.
Sandy soil is ideal — produces long, straight roots. Remove all stones. "Every Season" means multiple sowings across the year.

Use fresh seed each season — parsnip seed loses viability quickly. Germination: Very slow, 21–28 days. Frost: Actually sweetens roots — leave in ground after frost hits.
Always direct sow. Thin to 15cm spacing. Deep, stone-free soil is ideal.

Sow small amounts every 3 weeks for continuous harvest. Surface sow — needs light to germinate. Spacing: 25cm or as cut-and-come-again at 10cm.
Mignonette is compact and bolt-resistant in cool climates. Great in pots, window boxes and even hanging baskets.

Note: Each "seed" is a cluster of 2–3 seeds — soak overnight, thin to best seedling. Spacing: 10cm. Harvest golf-ball to tennis-ball size.
Thrives in sandy, well-drained soil. Young beet leaves are edible as salad greens!

Not grown from seed — plant small "seed potatoes" or pieces of potato with at least 2 eyes. Chitting: Place seed potatoes in your lean-to Jul–Aug to sprout before planting out. Depth: 10–15cm. Spacing: 30–35cm.
Tasmania is one of Australia's best potato-growing regions — your cool climate is ideal. Earthing up (mounding soil over shoots as they grow) is essential to prevent greening and increase yield.
In beds: Add plenty of compost, dig deep. In containers: Use a deep pot, bucket or hessian bag — fill gradually as shoots grow.

Sow: Jul–Aug in lean-to in seed trays, very thinly. Transplant out as pencil-thin seedlings Sep–Oct, 10cm spacing. Harvest time: 24–30 weeks from sowing — a long haul but worth it!
Creamgold is a golden-skinned variety with mild, sweet flavour. Excellent keeper once dried. Can also grow from onion sets (small bulbs) for a much faster, easier crop — buy sets from garden centres Aug–Sep.
Soil: Well-drained is essential — onions rot in waterlogged conditions. Sandy soil with added compost is ideal. Avoid soil that had onions in the last 2 years (rotation).

Sow: July in lean-to propagator at 20–25°C — capsicums need warmth to germinate. Prick out into individual pots when true leaves appear. Harden off carefully before planting out in Oct after last frost.
Hobart reality check: Capsicum is more heat-demanding than tomatoes — Hobart's mild summers are borderline. Mini Belle is a compact variety which helps. Your best strategy: Keep in a large pot (30cm+) in the lean-to or the warmest, most sheltered spot in the garden all season. The lean-to may actually produce better results than outside.
Feed with liquid potassium fertiliser weekly once flowering. Water consistently — irregular watering causes fruit to drop.

How it differs from Cherry Red: Crimson Crush is a large beefsteak-type tomato — much bigger fruit, richer flavour, but takes longer (16–18 weeks vs ~12). The big advantage is its outstanding blight resistance — a very significant benefit in Hobart's cool, damp climate where late blight can devastate regular tomatoes.
Sow: July–Aug in lean-to propagator at ~20°C. Train as a single cordon (remove all side shoots). Stake to at least 1.2–1.5m. Plant out Oct in your absolute sunniest, most sheltered spot.
Growing both varieties? Cherry Red will ripen earlier and more reliably. Crimson Crush will reward patience with spectacular large fruits — grow it in your warmest bed.