goldhills - AS one of the most southern ( Vic is south but they can answer for themselves) we grow most of the year, about 2 months in winter (depending which microclimate we have) when nothing really grows, but apart from obviously tropical stuff like fruit, we can grow most produce.

You have to get a perspective on what you call cold. Only on top of the mountains where nobody lives does it get snow and so cold it's brass monkey land. That's like the Vic ski fields, nobody would be growing anything there anyway and that's not all there is to the state.
Tasmania is populated mainly along its coastal belt and the climate varies in pockets with their own microclimates but is classified 'temperate/cool'. Apart from a few severe frosts, about 6 in total in the winter, with plenty of warning because they occur when the wind is in a certain direction, maybe if we are lucky Hobart gets snow on the mountain 3 or 5 times in winter, the rest of the time is totally encouraging to grow most produce.

In my reply to Spatz, I list what I have planted for autumn - should give you an idea. Summer has been bountiful with all the fresh things you like and I grow lettuce and other salads all year round including winter! What I have planted now will see us through winter and none of it will spoil because of cold weather because I've planted cold tolerant things. We still have stored potatoes, onions and apples - enough to see us until we crop the next lot.

In summer I will be continuing with produce that would die of heatstroke up north, so please don't assume just because Tassie is south it is cold. Today was 25 degrees, the other day 28 .

July and August are generally out for planting not because stuff won't grow ( I plant my spuds and onions then) but because the days are short and so we have to select what to plant and I like my bed and it gets dark early. Daylight length has much to do with what can and can't grow and also location. In summer we get daylight from about 5.30 am until 10 pm so obviously there is a period of great bounty that sees us all maximising on the summer. Even now it is still light at 8pm but by winter it will get dark at 5. This is something to which we adapt.

There is a speed up in October and November when the soil warms up and daylight starts to lengthen due to the tilt of the earth pointing us at the Sun in its southern latitudes. We anticipate the December January flush of tomatoes and so on while eating lovely cool weather crops . but we do still grow and crop a big variety, more or less the same as we plant for autumn, that way we get two hits at it.

We are completely self sufficient in our garden - actually, I did buy some celery from the veggie shed only because mine was not a good crop. South North is not the only criteria for weather. At our latitude (42 south) we are on the equivalent northern latitude for Portugal. Elevation also has a part to play. Your friend should...

i live in Hobart and this year I will be lucky to get a decent crop of tomatoes. Mine are still ripening and the days are getting colder. If you want to grow tomatoes all year round you need a glasshouse and you may need it to ripen eggplant, capsicum and some chillis. Also figs wont ripen in the short summer unless shrouded in plastic. We can grow berries. I am just finished eating the autumn crop of Heritage and yellow raspberries. The everbearers have two crops one in summer and one in autumn. I found the autumn crop more tasty.

I have just visited qld and there is alot of fruit and veg that you can grow there successfully. I agree with Linda and suggest to come for a visit before moving down here. I didnt visit and would of thought about things differently if I had visited beforehand.

Helen

Thanks.

I've never been to Tassie (maybe when the kids leave home) but I've heard the summers are good but winters are cold. I'm a hot weather person so couldn't live down there. I was judging by your posts that for example you seem only to grow tomatoes and warm weather crops only during the few warmer months, I may be wrong there. I thought it got colder, more frosts.

We can grow throughout summer here but I don't bother as it is the Xmas rush, school holiday time, etc. It is a little harder to get the motivation when it is hot (35C+). I am far from self-sufficient as I don't have the time I would like but grow half to 3/4 of our needs. Cane toads aren't a big problem at my place but no doubt are at others and snakes aren't any worse here than other rural areas, urban areas generally aren't a problem. Yes, do have a few problems with high humidity & fungal diseases, etc but I've grown up with them and it is just natural to do what is needed to avoid these problems - heat tolerant, disease resistant just as you would plant cold tolerant, etc.

I suppose you would have your own set of problems with damping off for example? from wet weather?

I don't think it really matters where you are - everywhere has it's own problems, it would really just depend on your preferred temperatures, foods, etc.

Tassie looks a beautiful place but I think I will stick to here.