Timing is everything in vegetable gardening.
Sow too early and frost may kill your seedlings. Sow too late and you risk missing the growing season altogether. This vegetable gardening guide takes the guesswork out of your growing calendar with month-by-month advice for 40 popular vegetables, tailored to UK conditions.
Sowing aubergines under glass in March or direct-sowing carrots in May? This guide will help you get it right. We cover when to sow seeds (indoors or outdoors), when to transplant young plants, and the best months to harvest for peak flavour and yield.
Most vegetable seeds in the UK are sown between March and May, with harvesting mainly in summer and autumn.
Many seeds need to be started indoors (either in a greenhouse or in the home on a sunny windowsill). Where the guide indicates that the seeds are to be started early in the year (Jan, Feb, March), then it is preferable to sow them in a heated environment (i.e. not an unheated greenhouse).
Cool-season crops like broad beans and hardy brassicas can also be sown in autumn for an early crop the next year.
Use this vegetable gardeing guide to plan your plot, maximise harvests, and enjoy home-grown veg from early spring through to winter.
This guide is designed to be read alongside our handy monthly vegetable gardening guide for UK gardens, which sets out the key sowing, planting and harvesting information on a month by month basis.
Aubergine (Eggplant)
Sow: Jan–Apr (Indoors)
Transplant: May–Jun (after last frost)
Harvest: Aug–Oct
Start seeds indoors in late winter, pot on, and plant out in late May; fruits ripen in late summer.
Broad Beans
Sow: Feb–Apr (direct outdoors); optional: Oct–Nov (outdoors for overwintering)
Transplant: Apr (for Feb indoor sowings)
Harvest: May–Aug
Autumn-sown broad beans are harvested from late spring, while spring sowings crop in summer.
French/Runner Beans
Sow: Apr (start indoors); May (sow indoors or outdoors); Jun–Jul (sow outdoors)
Transplant: late May–Jun (for earlier indoor starts)
Harvest: Jul–Oct
Tender beans are sown after the last frost – often indoors in April or direct from May – and picked from mid-summer until autumn frost.
Beetroot
Sow: Mar–Apr (under cloches or indoors); Apr–Jun (direct outdoors)
Transplant: Apr–Jun (for module-sown seedlings)
Harvest: Jul–Nov
Sow successionally from spring into early summer. Harvest young beets from mid-summer onwards; later sowings can remain in ground into autumn.
Broccoli (Calabrese)
Sow: Feb–Mar (indoors); Apr–May (outdoors seedbed)
Transplant: Apr–Jun
Harvest: Jun–Sep
Early sowings under cover in late winter for summer heads; later spring sowings yield through late summer. Harvest main heads in summer, with side shoots into early autumn.
Broccoli – Purple Sprouting
Sow: Apr–Jun (indoors or seedbed)
Transplant: Jun–Aug
Harvest: Feb–Apr (the following year)
Sow in spring/early summer for an overwintering crop; transplant to final position by mid-summer and harvest the sprouting spears in late winter and early spring.
Brussels Sprouts
Sow: Feb–Mar (indoors); Mar–Apr (outdoors seedbed)
Transplant: May–Jun
Harvest: Oct–Dec
Sow early to mid-spring, transplant in early summer, and harvest mature sprouts in autumn and through winter holidays.
Cabbage – Spring
Sow: Jul–Aug (outdoors seedbed)
Transplant: Sep–Oct
Harvest: Mar–May (next year)
Spring cabbages are sown mid-late summer and overwintered; harvest as spring greens in early spring.
Cabbage – Summer
Sow: Feb–Apr (indoors or seedbed)
Transplant: Apr–Jun
Harvest: Jun–Sep
Sow late winter to early spring for cutting in summer.
Cabbage – Red/Savoy (Autumn/Winter)
Sow: Apr–May (indoors/seedbed)
Transplant: Jun–Jul
Harvest: Oct–Dec
These hardy cabbages are sown in spring and harvested in autumn/winter once heads firm up.
Carrots
Sow: Mar–Jul (direct outdoors)
Transplant: n/a (always direct)
Harvest: Jun–Oct
Succession-sow carrots from early spring through mid-summer. Early varieties sown under fleece in March can be lifted by June, and later sowings harvested through autumn.
Cauliflower – Summer
Sow: Jan–Mar (indoors); Apr (outdoors)
Transplant: Apr–May
Harvest: Jun–Sep
Early summer cauliflower can be started indoors in winter and later plantings direct in spring. Harvest heads in mid-summer.
Cauliflower – Winter
Sow: May–Jun (seedbed)
Transplant: Jul–Aug
Harvest: Nov–Feb (following year)
Winter cauliflower varieties are sown in late spring and planted out mid-summer to head up in winter (often Jan/Feb).
Celeriac
Sow: Feb–Mar (indoors)
Transplant: May–Jun
Harvest: Oct–Dec
Long-season root: sow in late winter under heat, plant out after frost, and lift in autumn after about 5+ months growth.
Celery
Sow: Mar–Apr (indoors)
Transplant: May–Jun
Harvest: Jul–Oct
Sow indoors in spring, transplant after frost; cut stalks through late summer into autumn.
Chard (Swiss Chard)
Sow: Mar–Jul (outdoors)
Transplant: n/a (usually direct)
Harvest: Jun–Nov
Sow from spring to mid-summer for a continuous harvest of leaves through summer and autumn.
Courgettes/Marrows (Zucchini)
Sow: Apr (indoors); May–Jun (outdoors)
Transplant: May–Jun
Harvest: Jul–Sep
Start seeds indoors in April or direct sow once soil warms in May. Harvest young fruits all summer.
Cucumbers
Sow: Mar–Apr (indoors); May (outdoors for ridge cucumbers)
Transplant: May–Jun
Harvest: Jul–Sep
Greenhouse cucumbers are sown in spring indoors; outdoor varieties can be sown/direct-seeded from late May. Pick fruits through summer.
Garlic
Sow: Oct–Nov (outdoors); or Feb–Mar
Harvest: Jun–Jul (next year for autumn plantings)
Garlic is typically planted in autumn in the UK for a mid-summer harvest. Spring planting is possible but yields smaller bulbs.
Kohl Rabi
Sow: Apr–Jul (outdoors)
Transplant: n/a (usually direct)
Harvest: Jun–Oct
Succession sow from spring to mid-summer; harvest tennis-ball-sized bulbs a couple of months after sowing.
Melons
Sow: Apr (indoors)
Transplant: Jun
Harvest: Aug–Sep
Require warmth – sow indoors in mid-spring, plant out or under cloches in early summer; ripe by late summer.
Kale
Sow: Apr–Jun (outdoors)
Transplant: Jun–Aug
Harvest: Sep–Feb
Sow mid-spring to early summer and transplant to grow on for autumn and winter picking; very hardy, provides greens into winter.
Lettuce
Sow: Feb–Sep (outdoors or under cloche)
Transplant: optional (can transplant starts)
Harvest: Apr–Oct
Can be sown in succession almost year-round in the UK. Early spring and late autumn sowings may need protection; harvest throughout the growing season as needed.
Leeks
Sow: Jan–Mar (indoors or seedbed)
Transplant: Jun–Jul
Harvest: Sep–Feb
Early sowing (indoors in January) gives leeks to harvest in autumn; main sowing in mid-spring and transplanting in early summer yields winter leeks.
Onions
Sow: Jan–Feb (indoors); Mar–Apr (outdoors)
Transplant: Apr–May (for indoor starts)
Harvest: Aug–Sep
Seed is sown very early under cover (or sets planted in spring); transplant seedlings by late spring. Bulbs mature late summer. Note: Japanese overwintering onion varieties are sown in Aug/Sept for June harvest.
Spring Onions (Scallions)
Sow: Mar–Sep (outdoors)
Harvest: May–Oct (as needed once they reach usable size)
Successional sowings of spring onions can be made from early spring to late summer for a continuous harvest through the growing season.
Parsnips
Sow: Mar–Apr (direct outdoors)
Transplant: n/a (always direct)
Harvest: Oct–Feb
Sow in spring as soil warms – seeds are slow to germinate. Harvest from autumn; leave some in ground to sweeten until mid-winter.
Peas – 1st Earlies
Sow: Feb–Mar (indoorsor early outdoors); Mar–Apr (outdoors); or Oct–Nov (autumn sow for overwintering)
Transplant: Mar–Apr (if started inside)
Harvest: May–Jun
The earliest pea varieties are sown in late winter to early spring for late-spring picking. Hardy varieties can also be autumn-sown in mild areas to overwinter and crop in spring.
Peas – 2nd Earlies/Maincrop
Sow: Mar–Jun (outdoors, successive sowings)
Transplant: Apr–May (for any indoor starts)
Harvest: Jun–Aug
Maincrop peas are sown throughout spring for summer harvests. Later sowings (into June) provide peas into August.
Peppers (Sweet & Chilli)
Sow: Jan–Mar (indoors)
Transplant: May
Harvest: Jul–Oct
Long-season crop: sow seeds in winter under heat, plant out after frost (late May), and pick ripe peppers from mid-summer to autumn.
Potatoes
Plant (tubers): Feb (first earlies under protection), Mar–Apr (maincrop, outdoors)
Harvest: Jun–Jul (earlies); Aug–Oct or later (maincrop)
Seed potatoes are traditionally planted outdoors around March (later in cold areas). Early varieties can be planted under cloches in late Feb and harvested about 10–12 weeks later, while maincrop potatoes are usually lifted in late summer/early autumn. Maincrops can be left in the ground until December.
Pumpkins/Squash
Sow: Apr (indoors); May (outdoors)
Transplant: May–Jun
Harvest: Sep–Oct
Tender squashes are started in mid-spring under cover and moved outside after frost, or direct-sown once soil is warm. Harvest in early autumn before heavy frost.
Radish
Sow: Feb–Sep (outdoors)
Harvest: Apr–Oct (usually ~4–6 weeks after sowing)
Fast-growing: sow small amounts every few weeks from late winter through summer. Winter radish (mooli) can be sown in late summer for autumn harvest.
Rocket (Arugula)
Sow: Mar–Sep (outdoors)
Harvest: Apr–Oct
Sow successionally in spring and summer. Can also sow in late summer under cover for autumn use. Pick young leaves continuously.
Spinach
Sow: Feb–May (outdoors); Aug–Sep (outdoors, for autumn crop)
Harvest: Apr–Jun, and Sep–Nov
True spinach is sown in the cool of spring and again in late summer, as it tends to bolt in mid-summer heat. Spring sowings crop in late spring; fall sowings yield in autumn.
Sweet Corn
Sow: Apr (indoors); May (outdoors)
Transplant: May–Jun
Harvest: Aug–Sep
Start under cover in April or direct sow in late May once frost has passed. Cobs are ready in late summer when the silks turn brown.
Turnips
Sow: Mar–Jul (outdoors); and/or Aug (for autumn harvest)
Harvest: May–Oct
Turnips for summer use are sown in spring and harvested young. For a late-season crop, sow in late summer and harvest in autumn before heavy frost.
Swedes (Rutabaga)
Sow: May–Jun (outdoors)
Harvest: Oct–Jan
Swedes are sown in late spring and develop over summer to be harvested in autumn and winter (they are very frost-hardy).
Tomatoes
Sow: Jan–Mar (indoors)
Transplant: May (after frost)
Harvest: Jul–Oct
Tomatoes are started indoors in late winter/early spring, hardened off and planted out in late May. Pick ripe tomatoes throughout summer into fall until weather cools.
Vegetable Gardening Guide Resources
Martin Cole has been an avid plant lover and gardener for more than 20 years and loves to talk and write about gardening. In 2006 he was a finalist in the BBC Gardener of the Year competition. He is a member of the National dahlia Society.
He previously lived in London and Sydney, Australia, where he took a diploma course in Horticultural studies and is now based in North Berwick in Scotland. He founded GardeningStepbyStep.com in 2012. The website is aimed at everybody who loves plants or has been bitten by the gardening bug and wants to know more.
Gardening Step by Step has been cited by Thompson and Morgan, the UK’s largest mail order plant retailer, as a website that publishes expert gardening content.