Are your lettuces the size of tomatoes? Do your beans look more like peas? Does your vegetable garden need help - desperately?

Fear not! says our gardening expert, Henri Ham of Awapuni Nurseries. We have some great vegetable growing advice for those who lack a green thumb, and now is just the right time to plant some really interesting veges that will add a little pizzazz to your Christmas table.

"Traditionally Labour weekend has been seen as the time to plant absolutely anything," says Henri.

"So it's the ideal time to grow the gourmet vegetables and flavoursome herbs that you haven't been game to try.

"But if your Labour weekend was like mine and most other New Zealanders' it's doubtful you would have seen anything but rain and wind," laughed Henri.

Luckily this perfect planting season lasts right up until the beginning of next autumn.

So forget about planting trusty and faithful winter vegetables like cabbages, cauliflower and broccoli, and try planting some new and exciting vegetables like eggplant, capsicum and zucchini.

And why not add some rocket and coriander to your garden - they are perfect for livening up a dull salad - and mint and basil also add a tasty kick to any cocktail.

And how about beans, peas, tomatoes, radishes, carrots, coriander, cucumber and pak choi? These vegetables grow well, and they add some great variety.

But before you rush out to buy new produce, Henri recommends preparing your soil with a mix of nitrophoska blue or garden galore fertiliser.

"I know we've stressed this before, but it does need repeating. Good soil fertilisation is a must."

"It ensures the soil is in the best condition for producing an optimum harvest," says Henri.

Then the hard choice is deciding what to plant!

Awapuni has a wide selection of vegetables and herbs available in their Pop'n'Grow range which are perfect for those gardening novices among us.

Pop'n'Grow is a revolutionary new seedling range that is simple to plant and quite literally guaranteed to grow. The range includes over 120 different perennials, herbs, flowers and vegetables, and special kids' fun pack products and is available from supermarkets, The Warehouse, Kmart and Bunnings stores.

Once your gourmet garden is ready, place mulch, such as pea straw, around the base of the plants. It will help to retain moisture.

The trick to great vegetables, says Henri, is making sure the garden doesn't dry out.

Ever wondered why your cucumbers are sometimes really fat and just as often really skinny?

Erratic watering could be the reason.

"Keeping the moisture levels constant, i.e. not letting the garden dry out and then showering it with a heavy watering, will help the plants grow at a constant pace," says Henri.

This is especially helpful in growing tomatoes.

Another great idea for juicy and tasty tomatoes is to plant basil and marigolds around them.

Basil and marigolds protect your tomatoes from white fly, which will suck the sap and distort the growth of your plants.

Henri also recommends watering around the base of the plants at this time of the year to prevent ever-prevalent fungal diseases and to ensure healthy herbs and vegetables.

If your garden isn't large enough to accommodate a large range of vegetables, but you're still keen to show off your vege growing skills at Christmas dinner, beans may be the thing you're after.

Place three bamboo sticks in a wine barrel or patio tub and tie the top of the sticks together in the shape of a tee-pee. Plant the beans at the base of the sticks and tie them to the sticks as they grow.

"To add a splash of colour try planting sweet peas in between your beans," says Henri.

And lastly, remember, if there is a vegetable or herb you're afraid of planting for fear it might die, Henri says, now's the time to give it your best shot.

So what have you got to lose? Get out there while the weather is warming up and you'll be showing off the rewards come Christmas. Then all you'll have to worry about is your culinary skills!