Timing is everything in vegetable horticulture .
Sow too early and hoarfrost may kill your seedlings . Sow too late and you risk missing the growing time of year altogether . This vegetable gardening scout takes the guesswork out of your growing calendar with month - by - calendar month advice for 40 democratic vegetables , tailor-make to UK conditions .
Sowing eggplant under field glass in March or straight - sowing cultivated carrot in May ? This usher will help you get it right . We overlay when to seed come ( indoors or alfresco ) , when to transpose young industrial plant , and the best months to reap for crown savour and yield .
Most vegetable seeds in the UK are seed between March and May , with harvesting mainly in summertime and autumn .
Many seeds need to be started indoors ( either in a glasshouse or in the home on a sunny windowsill ) . Where the guide indicates that the ejaculate are to be start early in the year ( Jan , Feb , March ) , then it is preferable to sow in them in a heated surround ( i.e. not an unheated nursery ) .
Cool - time of year crop like broad noggin andhardybrassicas can also be sown in fall for an early crop the next class .
utilise this veggie gardeing usher to plan your plot , maximise harvests , and delight home - grown veg from early spring through to winter .
This guide is designed to be understand alongside ourhandy monthly vegetable horticulture guide for UK gardens , which sets out the primal sowing , planting and harvesting info on a calendar month by month basis .
Aubergine (Eggplant)
Sow : Jan – Apr ( Indoors)Transplant : May – Jun ( after last frost)Harvest : Aug – OctStart seed indoors in late winter , pot on , and plant out in late May ; fruit ripen in previous summertime .
Broad Beans
Sow : Feb – Apr ( lineal out of doors ) ; optional : Oct – Nov ( outdoors for overwintering)Transplant : Apr ( for Feb indoor sowings)Harvest : May – AugAutumn - sow broad beans are harvest from late leaping , while spring sowings crop in summer .
French/Runner Beans
Sow : Apr ( jump indoors ) ; May ( sow indoors or alfresco ) ; Jun – Jul ( sow outdoors)Transplant : late May – Jun ( for earlier indoor starts)Harvest : Jul – OctTender beans are sow after the last frost – often indoors in April or unmediated from May – and pluck from mid - summer until fall frost .
Beetroot
Sow : Mar – Apr ( under cloches or indoors ) ; Apr – Jun ( direct outdoors)Transplant : Apr – Jun ( for module - inseminate seedlings)Harvest : Jul – NovSow successionally from fountain into early summertime . Harvest untried beets from mid - summer onwards ; later sowings can continue in flat coat into fall .
Broccoli (Calabrese)
Sow : Feb – Mar ( indoors ) ; Apr – May ( outdoors seedbed)Transplant : Apr – JunHarvest : Jun – SepEarly sowings under cover version in former winter for summer heads ; later give sowings yield through recent summertime . Harvest primary heads in summertime , with side shoots into other fall .
Broccoli – Purple Sprouting
Sow : Apr – Jun ( indoors or seedbed)Transplant : Jun – AugHarvest : Feb – Apr ( the follow year)Sow in spring / former summer for an overwintering craw ; graft to final position by mid - summer and harvest the burgeon forth spears in belated wintertime and early spring .
Brussels Sprouts
Sow : Feb – Mar ( indoors ) ; Mar – Apr ( outdoors seedbed)Transplant : May – JunHarvest : Oct – DecSow early to mid - spring , transplantation in early summer , and harvest mature sprout in autumn and through wintertime holidays .
Cabbage – Spring
Sow : Jul – Aug ( outdoors seedbed)Transplant : Sep – OctHarvest : Mar – May ( next year)Spring Brassica oleracea are sown mid - late summertime and overwinter ; harvest home as spring greens in early spring .
Cabbage – Summer
Sow : Feb – Apr ( indoors or seedbed)Transplant : Apr – JunHarvest : Jun – SepSow late winter to early fountain for cutting in summer .
Cabbage – Red/Savoy (Autumn/Winter)
Sow : Apr – May ( indoors / seedbed)Transplant : Jun – JulHarvest : Oct – DecThese brave lolly are sow in natural spring and harvest in fall / winter once head firm up .
Carrots
Sow : Mar – Jul ( direct outdoors)Transplant : n / a ( always direct)Harvest : Jun – OctSuccession - sow carrot from early spring through mid - summertime . Early kind sown under wool in March can be lift by June , and afterwards sowings harvest through autumn .
Cauliflower – Summer
Sow : Jan – Mar ( indoors ) ; Apr ( outdoors)Transplant : Apr – MayHarvest : Jun – SepEarly summer cauliflower can be started indoors in winter and afterward plantings direct in spring . Harvest heads in mid - summer .
Cauliflower – Winter
Sow : May – Jun ( seedbed)Transplant : Jul – AugHarvest : Nov – Feb ( following year)Winter Brassica oleracea botrytis multifariousness are sown in tardy spring and planted out mid - summertime to head up in winter ( often Jan / Feb ) .
Celeriac
Sow : Feb – Mar ( indoors)Transplant : May – JunHarvest : Oct – DecLong - season etymon : sow in late winter under heat , plant out after icing , and elevation in fall after about 5 + calendar month growth .
Celery
Sow : Mar – Apr ( indoors)Transplant : May – JunHarvest : Jul – OctSow indoors in spring , transplanting after rime ; cut stalks through late summertime into autumn .
Chard (Swiss Chard)
Sow : Mar – Jul ( outdoors)Transplant : n / a ( unremarkably direct)Harvest : Jun – NovSow from spring to mid - summer for a continuous crop of leaves through summer and fall .
Courgettes/Marrows (Zucchini)
Sow : Apr ( indoors ) ; May – Jun ( outdoors)Transplant : May – JunHarvest : Jul – SepStart seeds indoors in April or direct sow oncesoilwarms in May . Harvest untested fruit all summer .
Cucumbers
Sow : Mar – Apr ( indoors ) ; May ( outside for ridgepole cucumbers)Transplant : May – JunHarvest : Jul – SepGreenhouse cucumbers are sown in spring indoors ; outdoor varieties can be sown / straight - seeded from later May . option fruits through summer .
Garlic
Sow : Oct – Nov ( outdoors ) ; or Feb – MarHarvest : Jun – Jul ( next year for autumn plantings)Garlic is typically planted in fall in the UK for a mid - summer harvest . Spring planting is potential but yields pocket-size bulbs .
Kohl Rabi
Sow : Apr – Jul ( outdoors)Transplant : n / a ( ordinarily direct)Harvest : Jun – OctSuccession seed from springiness to mid - summertime ; harvest tennis - ball - sized bulb a couple of months after sowing .
Melons
Sow : Apr ( indoors)Transplant : JunHarvest : Aug – SepRequire warmth – inseminate indoors in mid - spring , plant out or under cloche in other summer ; right by former summertime .
Kale
Sow : Apr – Jun ( outdoors)Transplant : Jun – AugHarvest : Sep – FebSow mid - spring to early summer and transplant to grow on for autumn and winter picking ; very hardy , provides greenness into winter .
Lettuce
Sow : Feb – Sep ( outdoors or under cloche)Transplant : optional ( can transplant starts)Harvest : Apr – OctCan be sow in sequence almost year - round in the UK . Early spring and late fall sowings may need protection ; harvesting throughout the growing time of year as needed .
Leeks
Sow : Jan – Mar ( indoors or seedbed)Transplant : Jun – JulHarvest : Sep – FebEarly sowing ( indoors in January ) gives leeks to harvest in fall ; independent sowing in mid - spring and transplant in early summer yields wintertime Allium porrum .
Onions
Sow : Jan – Feb ( indoors ) ; Mar – Apr ( outdoors)Transplant : Apr – May ( for indoor starts)Harvest : Aug – SepSeed is sown very early under cover ( or sets planted in outflow ) ; transplant seedlings by late fountain . Bulbs mature late summer . Note : Nipponese overwintering onion plant varieties are sown in Aug / Sept for June harvest home .
Spring Onions (Scallions)
Sow : Mar – Sep ( outdoors)Harvest : May – Oct ( as need once they reach usable size)Successional sowings of spring onions can be made from early spring to later summer for a continuous harvest through the maturate season .
Parsnips
Sow : Mar – Apr ( direct outdoors)Transplant : n / a ( always direct)Harvest : Oct – FebSow in spring as dirt warms – seeds are slow to pullulate . crop from autumn ; leave some in ground to sweeten until mid - wintertime .
Peas – 1st Earlies
Sow : Feb – Mar ( indoorsor early out of doors ) ; Mar – Apr ( outdoors ) ; or Oct – Nov ( autumn sow for overwintering)Transplant : Mar – Apr ( if jump inside)Harvest : May – JunThe early pea smorgasbord are sown in later winter to other spring for late - spring picking . Hardy varieties can also be autumn - sown in soft areas to overwinter and craw in spring .
Peas – 2nd Earlies/Maincrop
Sow : Mar – Jun ( outdoors , successive sowings)Transplant : Apr – May ( for any indoor starts)Harvest : Jun – AugMaincrop pea are sown throughout spring for summertime harvest home . Later sowings ( into June ) offer pea into August .
Peppers (Sweet & Chilli)
Sow : Jan – Mar ( indoors)Transplant : MayHarvest : Jul – OctLong - season crop : sow seeds in winter under heat , implant out after hoar ( former May ) , and pick right peppers from mid - summer to fall .
Potatoes
Plant(tubers ): Feb ( first earlies under protection ) , Mar – Apr ( maincrop , outdoors)Harvest : Jun – Jul ( earlies ) ; Aug – October or afterwards ( maincrop)Seed potatoes are traditionally plant alfresco around March ( subsequently in cold arena ) . other diversity can be planted under cloches in late Feb and harvested about 10–12 weeks afterward , while maincrop white potato are usually lifted in tardy summer / former fall . Maincrops can be left in the ground until December .
Pumpkins/Squash
Sow : Apr ( indoors ) ; May ( outdoors)Transplant : May – JunHarvest : Sep – OctTender squash are started in mid - spring under cover and moved outside after Robert Frost , or direct - sown once grime is warm . Harvest in early autumn before operose frost .
Radish
Sow : Feb – Sep ( outdoors)Harvest : Apr – Oct ( unremarkably ~4–6 weeks after sowing)Fast - grow : inseminate modest amounts every few workweek from later wintertime through summer . wintertime radish ( mooli ) can be sown in recent summertime for fall harvesting .
Rocket (Arugula)
Sow : Mar – Sep ( outdoors)Harvest : Apr – OctSow successionally in spring and summertime . Can also sow in in late summer under cover charge for fall usage . cull young leaves continuously .
Spinach
Sow : Feb – May ( outdoors ) ; Aug – Sep ( outdoors , for fall crop)Harvest : Apr – Jun , and Sep – NovTrue spinach is inseminate in the aplomb of spring and again in recent summertime , as it tends to bolt in mid - summer heat . Spring sowings crop in former give ; fall sowings take in autumn .
Sweet Corn
Sow : Apr ( indoors ) ; May ( outdoors)Transplant : May – JunHarvest : Aug – SepStart under cover in April or direct sow in belated May once icing has passed . Cobs are ready in late summer when the silks wrick brown .
Turnips
Sow : Mar – Jul ( alfresco ) ; and/or Aug ( for autumn harvest)Harvest : May – OctTurnips for summer use are sow in in spring and harvested young . For a late - season harvest , sow in late summertime and harvest in autumn before heavy icing .
Swedes (Rutabaga)
Sow : May – Jun ( outdoors)Harvest : Oct – JanSwedes are sow in late spring and develop over summer to be harvested in fall and winter ( they are very frost - hardy ) .
Tomatoes
Sow : Jan – Mar ( indoors)Transplant : May ( after frost)Harvest : Jul – OctTomatoes are get indoorsin former wintertime / former spring , hardened off and planted out in late May . break up ripe love apple throughout summer into tumble until conditions cools .
Vegetable Gardening Guide Resources
Martin Cole has been an avid flora fan and nurseryman for more than 20 years and loves to talk and publish about gardening . In 2006 he was a finalist in the BBC Gardener of the Year rivalry . He is a member of the National dahlia Society .
He antecedently hold up in London and Sydney , Australia , where he took a sheepskin course in Horticultural studies and is now based in North Berwick in Scotland . He founded GardeningStepbyStep.com in 2012 . The website is aim at everybody who do it flora or has been bitten by the gardening bug and wants to make out more .
Gardening Step by Step has beencited by Thompson and Morgan , the UK ’s largest mail service society plant retail merchant , as a web site that put out practiced gardening subject matter .
