Vege growers are warning there could be a long wait for fresh spring produce, while farmers lambing in the Manawatu-Rangitikei region are hoping for conditions to improve after persistent rain.

Harvest time is being significantly hampered by heavy rain, hail storms and colder than usual spring weather.

Many crops will have to be replanted in areas such as Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty and Pukekohe, which have been hit hard by rain and hail.

Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman says the weather will affect the quality and quantity of vegetables available.

"Some delay in the vegetables being available, there may be some cost implications. I'm talking about potatoes, cauliflowers, lettuce, spinach."

Chapman says consumers are going to notice a lack of fresh vegetables for a while.

"Their leaves are just decimated by the hail so that means you've got to replant those plants. The older plants may have survived but they're damaged now by the hail - so until the weather improves it's going to be really difficult to get fantastic spring vegetables available."