I think it varies depending on your soil, & what works for you! My success this year is courgette - wish I had more space for them - and leaves! Sowed once, thinned once (late) and planted the thinnings, 2/3 of which survived - every weekend 2 large bowls of leaves and there's lots more there...

Beans - borlotti (3 lots) failed to come up, runner OK but slow. Peas managed 1" then stopped (seriously). Tomatoes coming in now (Tumbler) and experimental Tomatillos (slow). Radishes (italian) didn't work well. Beetroot not a chance, and chard very very slow, rocket didn't (didn't even crawl!). And garlic grew long and spindly but no bulbs worth the mention...

For me it's fun experimenting - I bought loads of seeds just to try out different things - its the first year in the raised beds, so it is all trial and error.

Salimandre, Cambridge,

French beans are a good choice. For seeds sown direct into the ground beetroot, swiss chard and perpetual spinach are easy, next try parsnips. they are all very rewarding . To these I would add cougettes, leeks, radish and garlic as this gives something for most of the year. In most years outdoor tomatoes will do well, and surely a few (12) early potatoes are worth the ridging. If you have space transplanted sweet corn is rewarding. (do not sow too soon). Rocket planted in August lasts for ages. Bell peppers do well in the greenhouse. The most rewarding fruit are primocane raspberries and thornless blackberries. After this vegetable gardening does become more demanding - if you can manage a few sticks try mange-tous peas, or runner beans. Brassicae are difficult - the least difficult are purple sprouting brocolli, brussel sprouts and curly kale - but they will need support and protection from slugs, caterpillars and pigeons....

Peter Sutton, Guildford, GU3 3HA

Garlic! This is our first year of growing veg and the garlic was the easiest and most successful - no pests, no diseases and huge and tasty bulbs. Radishes were OK but got a bit slug nibbled. Our peas arrived before the floods so escaped the mildew and were great. Mayan Gold potatoes were easy and worth the effort. The tomatoes got blight, the broad beans and the turnips got slugged and the brassicas got eaten by caterpillars. Next year it's going to be: garlic, peas, potatoes, radishes and whatever can be grown in a greenhouse.

Jan, Leeds, UK