@cfaeve, as far as I can see, everyone has tried to give you some constructive suggestions, as you've pretty much dismissed this, I'm not sure there's anything more to add. Good luck with your gardening and I hope you find the answers you're after.
True on the first point, and irrelevant to me here in the UK. Leading on to your second "point", judgemental yeah again very true - if it smells like "it" it likely is "it"!
Yorkshire, ex Italy and North East coast. Growing too old for it!
in growing vegetables hardiness zones are pretty much pointless in both the USA, UK and anyplace else since hardiness zone just describes the average coldest winter temperature.
It sounds as if you are going to have to try different varieties of your chosen fruit and veg. until you find some that meet your extensive requirements. Looking at your list I wouldn't touch Moneymaker tomatoes with a barge pole, but that is my personal taste. I grow Bedfordshire Giant onions but would never grow Scarlet Emperor runner beans, just personal preference. I like long straight runner beans so Enorma is my choice. I do not worry about diseases as they are rarely a problem in this garden, mould, bolting, and rotting off are caused by weather conditions so out of my control. I doubt if you will find exactly what you are looking for but hopefully that will not put you off trying.
I’ve found the specific variety makes very little difference to pest/disease resistance, regardless of what it may or may not say on the packet. It’s more about providing well-prepared soil, the right conditions for each specific crop, choosing hardier varieties suited to your general climate, practicing good crop rotation to minimise soil-borne pathogens/diseases, understanding what grows and does not grow well together, protecting crops vulnerable to specific pests or late frosts, consistent watering and weather conditions being favourable.
Getting hung up on disease resistance at the expense of all of the above will cause you unnecessary frustration. And with the best will and the best planning in the world your biggest enemy will always be what you can’t control - the weather!
Any variety of leek will grow well in your area, they are largely untroubled by pests and diseases so that’s likely why you don’t see the ‘best’ disease resistant leek advertised - it’s irrelevant.
Carrots prefer light, fine, well draining soil with no stones to fork them so in heavier soils choose a round or short root variety. Protecting against carrot fly is a matter of sowing thinly to avoid thinning too much (this releasing that alluring aroma), interplanting with onions to confuse the fly or using barrier netting.
With aubergines, tomatoes etc., crops that need lots of warmth to ripen, choosing a fast-growing variety (cherry toms, baby aubs) suitable for growing outdoors is more important than seeking out the best disease resistance. Or grow them indoors where you can control the environment and stand a better chance of them ripening.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Absolutely @Nollie. Manchester isn't exactly very 'far north' either, so it wouldn't be difficult to grow many varieties of fruit and veg quite easily. The biggest difference is the amount of rainfall. West of the country is wetter than the east, whether in England or anywhere else. It's certainly the case up here. Weather is certainly the one thing that can't be controlled, other than by using a greenhouse or polytunnel etc, to create warmth and/or protection, but even so, the weather varies each year so it's about working with it and noting the differences. Timing for sowing and planting out depends entirely on location. Experience of the conditions, in other words, is what makes for success . It takes time and patience. Even then, there are times when nature can spring surprises. It's how any kind of gardening is.
Also, what one person finds sweet, another won't. There's no accounting for that kind of personal taste when it comes to fruit and veg.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Ah yes, no stopping the rain in Manchester, my SIL complains of it endlessly! It was dry and sunny when I was there in August, but I was assured that was freak weather 😆
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I always considered myself a Northener ( Cheshire born - not a million miles from Manchester ) until someone happened to say that Cheshire was practically the Midlands in real life Most of it is Greater Manchester now anyway - much like Greater London eating into the south east counties. As for the Manchester weather - it was hot and dry enough to sunbathe in the garden in August - admittedly that was 1976 tho - can't vouch for other years
Posts
in both the USA, UK and anyplace else since hardiness zone just
describes the average coldest winter temperature.
It includes tomatoes, cucumbers and turnips
Getting hung up on disease resistance at the expense of all of the above will cause you unnecessary frustration. And with the best will and the best planning in the world your biggest enemy will always be what you can’t control - the weather!
With aubergines, tomatoes etc., crops that need lots of warmth to ripen, choosing a fast-growing variety (cherry toms, baby aubs) suitable for growing outdoors is more important than seeking out the best disease resistance. Or grow them indoors where you can control the environment and stand a better chance of them ripening.
Weather is certainly the one thing that can't be controlled, other than by using a greenhouse or polytunnel etc, to create warmth and/or protection, but even so, the weather varies each year so it's about working with it and noting the differences. Timing for sowing and planting out depends entirely on location.
Experience of the conditions, in other words, is what makes for success . It takes time and patience. Even then, there are times when nature can spring surprises.
It's how any kind of gardening is.
Also, what one person finds sweet, another won't. There's no accounting for that kind of personal taste when it comes to fruit and veg.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
As for the Manchester weather - it was hot and dry enough to sunbathe in the garden in August - admittedly that was 1976 tho - can't vouch for other years