What Vegetables Can I Plant Now? UK Calendar 2026

UK Growing Seasons: Your Complete Vegetable Planting Guide

The UK vegetable growing season runs from roughly March to October, but with the right planning you can sow, grow, and harvest something in every month of the year. The key to success is understanding your local frost dates, soil temperatures, and which crops suit each season.

Safe-to-Plant-Out Dates by Region

Frost is the single biggest factor in UK vegetable planting. Tender crops like tomatoes, courgettes, runner beans, and squash will be killed by a late frost. The dates below are safe-to-plant-out dates per RHS guidance — they sit 2–4 weeks later than the meteorological last frost because late cold snaps still hit after the 'official' last frost passes. Plant tender crops on these dates, not the older bare-frost dates.

• Southern England & London: Early-to-mid May
• Midlands & Wales: Mid-to-late May
• Northern England: Late May to early June
• Scotland & Northern Ireland: Early-to-mid June, later at altitude

If you are unsure, err on the side of caution. Starting seeds indoors on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse gives you a head start without the frost risk. Watch the BBC Weather or Met Office 5-day forecast for late-frost warnings before transplanting.

Soil Temperature and Germination

Seeds need warm soil to germinate. Even if the air feels warm in March, the soil may still be too cold for most crops. As a general rule:

• 5°C minimum: Hardy crops — broad beans, peas, onion sets, garlic
• 10°C minimum: Most vegetables — carrots, beetroot, lettuce, chard, kale
• 15°C minimum: Tender crops — tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, French beans, sweetcorn

A soil thermometer costs around £5 and saves weeks of frustration from failed sowings. Push it 5cm into the soil at 9am for the most accurate reading.

How to Use This Planting Calendar

The interactive calendar below covers 30 common UK vegetables. Each cell is colour-coded to show what action to take in each month:

• Orange (Sow): Sow seeds indoors — on a windowsill, in a propagator, or in a heated greenhouse
• Green (Sow): Sow seeds directly outdoors into prepared soil
• Blue (Plant): Plant out or transplant seedlings that were started indoors
• Yellow (Pick): Harvest — your crop is ready to pick

Click any month to highlight its column, or use the search box to find a specific vegetable. Getting ready to plant? Use our compost calculator to work out how much compost you need, or our top soil calculator if you are filling new raised beds.

What to Plant Now UK — April 2026

April is when the UK vegetable garden shifts into top gear. The soil is warming, daylight hours have jumped, and there is plenty to sow, plant out and prepare. Here is exactly what to plant right now:

• Sow indoors now: Squash, pumpkins, sweetcorn, basil, cucumbers, courgettes (if not already started)
• Sow outdoors now: Beetroot, radishes, lettuce, chard, kale, carrots (second batch), peas, turnips, spring onions
• Plant out now: Potatoes (first earlies and second earlies), onion sets, shallots, broad bean transplants, lettuce seedlings
• Harden off now: Tomatoes, courgettes and peppers started in March — take them outside for a few hours each day, increasing daily. They go out permanently after the last frost (mid-May for most UK areas).
• Prepare for May: Build runner bean frames, prepare courgette planting stations (dig a 30cm hole, fill with compost), cover beds with fleece to warm the soil for tender transplants

Read the full April planting guide for detailed sowing dates, or look ahead to our May planting guide to plan the next few weeks. Check your frost date by postcode before planting out anything tender.

What Vegetables Can I Plant Now in the UK?

This is the question every UK gardener asks — and the answer changes with every month. The table below gives you a quick reference for every season. For exact dates tailored to your area, use the interactive planting calendar above and adjust for your region using our frost date calculator.

Spring (March – May): The Main Sowing Season

Spring is when most UK vegetable growing begins. The key is soil temperature — most seeds need the soil to reach at least 7–10°C before they will germinate reliably outdoors. A cheap soil thermometer (around £5) is your best investment.

Summer (June – August): Succession Sowing & Harvesting

By June, most of your main crops are in the ground and the focus shifts to succession sowing — planting small batches every 2–3 weeks for a continuous harvest. Keep sowing lettuce, radishes, beetroot, spring onions, and chard. Plant out leeks and brassica transplants (winter cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts) in July for autumn and winter harvests. This is also peak harvest time for courgettes, tomatoes, French beans, and early potatoes.

Autumn (September – November): Planting for Next Year

Autumn is the most overlooked planting season, but experienced gardeners know it is crucial. Plant garlic cloves and overwintering onion sets in October for an early crop next summer. Sow overwintering broad beans and hardy pea varieties like ‘Douce Provence’ for a spring head start. Sow green manures (field beans, phacelia, crimson clover) on empty beds to fix nitrogen and protect the soil over winter. Harvest pumpkins, squash, maincrop potatoes, and onions for winter storage.

Winter (December – February): Planning & Indoor Sowing

Winter is for planning, ordering seeds, and getting a head start with indoor sowing. Start onions and leeks indoors in January. Sow tomatoes, peppers, and aubergines on a warm windowsill in February — they need the longest growing season of any UK crop. Clean pots, sharpen tools, and plan your succession planting schedule. If you are preparing new beds, use our compost calculator to work out how much material you need.

When to Plant Vegetables in the UK

This interactive planting calendar shows you exactly when to sow seeds indoors, sow directly outdoors, transplant seedlings, and harvest over 30 common UK vegetables. Select any month to see what you should be doing right now, or search for a specific vegetable to see its full year-round schedule.

Timings are based on average UK conditions. If you garden in northern Scotland or at altitude, shift sowing dates 2–3 weeks later in spring and 2–3 weeks earlier in autumn.

Getting ready to plant? Use our compost calculator to work out how much compost you need for your beds, or our topsoil calculator to work out how much top soil you need for new raised beds.

UK Vegetable Planting Guide by Month

Use this guide alongside the planting calendar above to know exactly what to sow, plant out, and harvest each month in the UK.

This planting guide covers the most popular UK vegetables. Exact dates will vary depending on your location — gardeners in Scotland and northern England should typically add 2–3 weeks to outdoor sowing dates compared to the south of England.

January

The quietest month in the vegetable garden, but not a month to waste. Order seeds from catalogues, plan your crop rotation, and clean pots and seed trays. In mild areas or with a heated propagator, you can start onion seeds and early broad beans indoors. Outdoors, harvest any remaining leeks, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts.

February

The first real sowing month. Start tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, and chillies on a warm windowsill — they need the longest growing season of any UK crop. In milder areas, sow broad beans directly outdoors. Prepare beds by forking in compost and covering with black polythene to warm the soil ahead of March sowing.

March

The garden wakes up. Sow peas, spinach, carrots, and onion sets outdoors once the soil reaches 7-10°C. Indoors, start courgettes, cucumbers, lettuce, and celery. Plant first early potatoes in trenches from mid-March in the south. This is the busiest sowing month of the year — see our complete March planting guide for full details.

April

The outdoor sowing season opens up properly. Direct sow beetroot, radishes, lettuce, chard, and kale. Start squash, pumpkins, sweetcorn, and basil indoors — they need warmth to germinate. Plant out onion sets and shallots. First earlies potatoes go in if you did not plant in March. Watch out for late frosts — keep fleece handy. See our April planting guide.

May

The great move outdoors. After the last frost (mid-May for most of the UK), plant out tomatoes, courgettes, squash, cucumbers, and peppers. Direct sow French beans, runner beans, and sweetcorn. Start succession sowing lettuce and radishes for a continuous harvest. May is the month that fills your garden — see our May planting guide.

June

Succession sowing takes centre stage. Keep sowing beetroot, carrots, lettuce, and turnips every 2-3 weeks for continuous cropping. Plant out leeks, celery, and sweetcorn (in blocks for pollination). Your first harvests arrive — early broad beans, peas, strawberries, and the first lettuce leaves. Water consistently as the weather warms. See our June planting guide for full details.

July

Peak harvest month. Courgettes, tomatoes, French beans, cucumbers, and beetroot are all cropping hard. Pick courgettes while small (15-20cm) for the best flavour. Remove tomato side-shoots weekly. Sow kale, spring cabbage, chard, and winter lettuce for autumn harvests. Do not stop watering — a dry July ruins crops. See our July planting guide.

August

Autumn preparation begins alongside continued harvesting. Sow overwintering onion sets, spinach, turnips, and winter lettuce. Harvest sweetcorn when the tassels turn brown, and lift maincrop potatoes before slug damage sets in. Start collecting seeds from your best plants for next year. If you grow tomatoes outdoors, remove the growing tip to direct energy into ripening fruit.

September

The season turns. Sow garlic cloves, winter spinach, and lamb's lettuce for winter salads. Plant out spring cabbages and winter lettuce. Harvest pumpkins and squash, cure them in the sun for a week before storing. Harvest onions when the tops fold over, dry them on a rack before plaiting or bagging. Green tomatoes? Pick them and ripen on a sunny windowsill.

October

The last major planting window of the year. Plant garlic cloves and overwintering broad beans for an early crop next spring. Sow winter lettuce under cloches. Clear spent crops, add compost to empty beds, and cover with mulch to protect the soil over winter. Harvest leeks, parsnips, swede, and Brussels sprouts — all taste better after the first frost.

November

The garden slows down. In mild areas, you can still sow overwintering broad beans. Continue harvesting kale, leeks, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts as needed — they store best in the ground. Dig over empty beds and add well-rotted manure. Clean and oil tools. This is the month for planning next year's compost and soil needs.

December

The quietest month. Harvest winter crops as you need them — leeks, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, and kale are all at their best. Order seed catalogues and plan next year's plot. Check stored crops for rot. If the ground is not frozen, you can still plant garlic. Otherwise, put your feet up — you have earned it.

Regional Planting Adjustments for the UK

The UK stretches over 600 miles from north to south, and altitude, coastal exposure, and urban heat islands all affect growing conditions. Use this table to adjust the planting calendar above for your region.

Tip: A cheap soil thermometer (around £5) is the most useful tool for deciding when to sow outdoors. Push it 5cm into the soil at 9am — if it reads 10°C or above consistently for a week, you are safe to sow most crops.

5 Common Vegetable Planting Mistakes

Even experienced gardeners make these errors. Avoid them and you will save time, money, and frustration.

1. Sowing too early. It is tempting to start in February, but seeds sown into cold, wet soil either rot or sit dormant. Wait until soil temperature is right — a few weeks' patience gives better results than a two-month head start in the wrong conditions.
2. Ignoring regional frost dates. The calendar above is based on average UK conditions. If you garden in Scotland or northern England, shift outdoor sowing 2-3 weeks later. Use the regional table above to adjust.
3. Overwatering seedlings indoors. More seedlings are killed by overwatering than underwatering. Keep compost moist but not soaking — if it feels wet when you squeeze it, wait before watering again. Good drainage is essential.
4. Skipping hardening off. Seedlings grown indoors must be gradually acclimatised to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before planting out. Put them outside during the day, bring them in at night. Skip this step and transplant shock will set your plants back by weeks.
5. Not succession sowing. Planting everything at once gives you a glut followed by nothing. Sow small batches of lettuce, radishes, beetroot, and spring onions every 2-3 weeks for a steady harvest from May to October.

5 Easiest Vegetables to Grow in the UK

If you are new to vegetable gardening, start with these five reliable crops. They are forgiving of mistakes, do not need much space, and will give you a satisfying harvest in your first season.

1. Radishes. The fastest vegetable you can grow — ready to harvest in just 4 weeks from sowing. Sow directly outdoors from March to September. They need almost no space and are perfect for filling gaps between slower crops. Use our soil calculator if you need to prepare a new bed.
2. Lettuce. Cut-and-come-again varieties let you harvest leaves for months from a single sowing. Sow a short row every 2-3 weeks from March to August for salad all summer. Lettuce grows happily in containers, raised beds, or open ground.
3. Runner beans. Sow outdoors after the last frost (mid-May for most of the UK) against a wigwam or frame. Water regularly once flowering starts. A single row of 8-10 plants will feed a family all summer with minimal effort. Use our fertiliser calculator for the right feed rate.
4. Courgettes. Just 2-3 plants produce more courgettes than most families can eat. Start seeds indoors in April, plant out after the last frost, and keep watered. Harvest when fruits are 15-20cm long for the best flavour. They are practically impossible to kill.
5. Potatoes. Plant seed potatoes in March-April, earth up as the foliage grows, and harvest from June onwards. First earlies are ready in 10-12 weeks and taste incomparably better than shop-bought. Even a large container on a patio works. Check our compost calculator for how much growing medium you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

UK Herb Planting Calendar

Herbs are some of the most rewarding crops to grow at home. Most need very little space, grow happily in pots on a windowsill or patio, and save you money every week compared to buying supermarket herbs that wilt within days. Here is when to sow and harvest the most popular UK herbs:

Tip: The easiest herb garden for a beginner is a large pot with rosemary, thyme, and chives — all three are perennial, low-maintenance, and ready to pick year-round. Add a separate pot of basil in summer and parsley in spring for the five herbs that cover 90% of home cooking.

Companion Planting Guide for UK Vegetables

Companion planting means growing certain plants together so they benefit each other — attracting pollinators, deterring pests, improving soil, or providing shade. It has been used in UK kitchen gardens for centuries and is one of the simplest ways to reduce pest damage without chemicals.

The simplest companion planting rule: grow flowers among your vegetables. Marigolds, nasturtiums, and calendula attract beneficial insects, deter pests, and add colour to the vegetable patch. Dedicate one in every five planting spaces to flowers and you will notice fewer pest problems immediately.

Growing Vegetables in Containers — What Works in Pots

No garden? No problem. Many vegetables grow brilliantly in containers on a patio, balcony, or even a sunny doorstep. Container growing is also ideal for renters, flat-dwellers, and anyone with limited space. The key is choosing the right size pot and watering consistently — containers dry out faster than open ground.

Essential container tips: Use multipurpose compost mixed with perlite for drainage. Water every day in summer — twice daily in heatwaves. Add slow-release fertiliser granules when planting and liquid feed weekly from June. Use our compost calculator to work out how much compost you need for your pots and planters, or our soil calculator for raised beds.

How Long Do Vegetables Take to Grow?

One of the most common questions from new gardeners is "how long until I can eat it?" Here is a realistic timeline for the most popular UK vegetables, from sowing seed to harvesting your first crop.

Want results fast? Start with radishes, rocket, and lettuce. You will be eating your first harvest within a month of sowing. For something more substantial, courgettes and French beans give huge yields within 10 weeks. The slowest crops — garlic, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts — are planted months in advance but reward patience with some of the best flavours in the garden.

Complete UK Vegetable Planting Guide by Month

Planning a productive vegetable garden means knowing exactly what to do in every month of the year. The UK growing season is longer than most people realise — with the right crops, you can be sowing, planting, or harvesting in all twelve months. This comprehensive guide covers each month in detail, with advice on what to sow indoors, what to sow outdoors, what to plant out, and what to harvest. Adjust timings by 2–3 weeks if you garden in northern England or Scotland.

January — Planning and Early Starts

January is the quietest month in the vegetable garden, but smart gardeners use it wisely. Order seeds from catalogues while the best varieties are still in stock. Plan your crop rotation to avoid planting the same family in the same spot two years running. Clean and sharpen tools, wash seed trays, and sort through last year's leftover seeds — most are still viable if stored cool and dry. If you have a heated propagator, you can start onion seeds and early broad beans indoors from mid-January. Outdoors, continue harvesting overwintering crops like leeks, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, and kale, which all taste sweeter after frost. Read our full January planting guide for more.

February — The First Real Sowing Month

February marks the true start of the indoor sowing season. Start tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, and chillies on a warm windowsill or in a heated propagator — these crops need the longest growing season and benefit from an early start. Sow onion seeds and early lettuce indoors for planting out in April. In milder areas of southern England, you can sow broad beans directly outdoors from late February. Prepare beds by forking in well-rotted compost or manure, and cover bare soil with black polythene to warm it ahead of March sowing. Use our compost calculator to work out how much you need. Check out the complete February planting guide.

March — The Busiest Sowing Month

March is when the vegetable garden truly comes alive. Outdoors, sow peas, spinach, carrots, parsnips, radishes, lettuce, rocket, and spring onions once the soil reaches 7–10°C. Plant onion sets, shallots, and first early potatoes directly into the ground from mid-March in southern areas. Indoors, start courgettes, cucumbers, celery, and more lettuce. This is the busiest sowing month of the year and the foundation of your summer harvest. Be guided by soil temperature rather than the calendar date — a £5 soil thermometer is your best investment. See our detailed March planting guide for exact timings.

April — Outdoor Sowing Opens Up

April is when the range of crops you can sow outdoors expands dramatically. Direct sow beetroot, radishes, lettuce, chard, kale, turnips, and more carrots. Start squash, pumpkins, sweetcorn, and basil indoors — they need warmth to germinate. Plant out onion sets if you have not already done so, and get second early and maincrop potatoes in the ground. April is also the best month for complete beginners to start, as the warmer soil is more forgiving and most crops still have plenty of time to grow. Keep horticultural fleece handy for late frost protection. Our April planting guide has the full list.

May — The Great Move Outdoors

May is the pivotal month when tender crops finally go outside. After the last frost — typically mid-May in most of the UK — plant out tomatoes, courgettes, squash, cucumbers, peppers, and aubergines. Harden off seedlings over 7–10 days before transplanting. Direct sow French beans, runner beans, and sweetcorn outdoors. Begin succession sowing lettuce and radishes every 2–3 weeks for a continuous harvest all summer. May is the month that fills every spare inch of growing space. Check our May planting guide and use our frost date calculator to confirm your local last frost date.

June — Succession Sowing and First Harvests

June brings the first real rewards. Harvest early broad beans, peas, strawberries, and the first salad leaves. Keep succession sowing beetroot, carrots, lettuce, spring onions, and turnips every 2–3 weeks to ensure continuous cropping through summer. Plant out leeks, celery, celeriac, and sweetcorn (in blocks of at least 4x4 for wind pollination). Water consistently as temperatures rise — irregular watering causes blossom end rot in tomatoes and bolting in lettuce. See our full June planting guide.

July — Peak Harvest Season

July is the peak harvest month. Courgettes, tomatoes, French beans, cucumbers, beetroot, and early potatoes are all cropping hard. Pick courgettes when they are 15–20cm long for the best flavour and to encourage more fruit. Remove tomato side-shoots weekly and feed with tomato fertiliser. Start thinking about autumn and winter — sow kale, spring cabbage, chard, and winter lettuce now for harvests from October onwards. Keep on top of watering, especially containers which can dry out in hours. Visit our July planting guide for more detail.

August — Autumn Preparation Begins

August is a busy month of harvesting and autumn preparation. Harvest sweetcorn when the tassels turn brown and the kernels are plump. Lift maincrop potatoes before slug damage worsens. Sow overwintering onion sets, spinach, turnips, and winter lettuce for autumn and winter harvests. If you grow tomatoes outdoors, remove the growing tip by mid-August to direct the plant's energy into ripening existing fruit before the cold arrives. Collect seeds from your best-performing plants to save for next year. Our August planting guide covers everything.

September — The Season Turns

September signals the transition from summer to autumn. Plant garlic cloves for next year's crop — autumn planting gives bigger bulbs than spring planting. Sow winter spinach, lamb's lettuce, and winter purslane for cold-season salads. Plant out spring cabbages and cover with netting against pigeons. Harvest pumpkins and squash, cure them in the sun for a week before storing in a cool, dry place. Harvest onions when the tops fold over naturally and dry them on a rack. Green tomatoes can be picked and ripened on a sunny windowsill. See our September planting guide.

October — The Last Major Planting Window

October is the final major planting window of the year. Plant garlic cloves and overwintering broad beans for an early crop next spring — both need a cold period to develop properly. Sow winter lettuce under cloches or in a cold frame. Clear spent summer crops, add a thick layer of compost or well-rotted manure to empty beds, and cover with mulch to protect the soil structure over winter. Harvest leeks, parsnips, swede, celeriac, and Brussels sprouts — all of these taste noticeably better after the first frost. Our October planting guide has the full details. Use our mulch calculator to work out how much winter mulch you need.

November — Winding Down

The garden slows down significantly in November. In mild areas, you can still sow overwintering broad beans outdoors — they will sit dormant until spring and then grow away strongly for an early June harvest. Continue harvesting kale, leeks, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, and celeriac as you need them — they store best left in the ground. Dig over empty beds and add well-rotted manure or garden compost. Clean, sharpen, and oil all tools before storing them for winter. This is the ideal month for planning next year's garden layout, ordering seeds, and calculating your compost and soil needs. See our November planting guide.

December — Rest and Reflection

December is the quietest month in the vegetable garden, and that is perfectly fine. Harvest winter crops as you need them — leeks, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, and kale are all at their best in December. If the ground is not frozen, you can still plant garlic cloves. Check stored pumpkins and squash for any signs of rot and remove affected fruit. Order seed catalogues and make a rough plan for next year's plot — deciding what worked well and what you would change. Otherwise, put your feet up — the hard work starts again in February. Read our December planting guide for winter jobs.

When to Plant Vegetables Across the UK

The UK covers over 600 miles from the Isles of Scilly to Shetland, and planting dates vary significantly by region. The single biggest factor is your local last frost date — tender crops planted out before this date will almost certainly be killed. The table below gives typical last frost and first frost dates by region, along with the growing season length and practical advice for adjusting the planting calendar.

These dates are averages — in any given year, frost can arrive earlier or later. Urban gardens benefit from the heat island effect and are typically 1–2 weeks ahead of surrounding countryside. Coastal areas are milder than inland valleys at the same latitude. Gardens at altitude (above 200 metres) should add an extra week to the adjustments above.

Know your exact frost dates: Use our frost date calculator to get a postcode-specific estimate of your local last and first frost dates. This is far more accurate than regional averages and takes elevation and local geography into account. Knowing your frost dates is the single most important piece of information for planning your vegetable garden.

If you are in a colder region, you can effectively extend your growing season by starting seeds indoors on a warm windowsill or in a heated propagator from February, using cloches and horticultural fleece to protect young plants outdoors, and growing in a greenhouse or polytunnel for tender crops like tomatoes and peppers. Even a simple cold frame (from around £30) can add 4–6 weeks to your growing season.

How to Use a Vegetable Planting Calendar

A vegetable planting calendar is the most useful tool a UK gardener can have. It takes the guesswork out of growing by telling you exactly what to do and when — but only if you understand the key terms and use it correctly. Here is a practical guide to getting the most from the interactive calendar above.

Understanding the Key Terms

The calendar uses four colour-coded activities. Here is what each one means in practice:

• Sow Indoors — Plant seeds into small pots or seed trays filled with seed compost, and keep them in a warm place (15–20°C) until they germinate and grow into small seedlings. A sunny south-facing windowsill, a heated propagator, or a greenhouse all work well. This gives tender crops a head start before conditions are warm enough outdoors.
• Sow Outdoors (Direct Sow) — Plant seeds directly into the ground where they will grow to maturity. Prepare the soil first by raking to a fine tilth (crumbly texture) and removing large stones. Make a shallow trench (called a drill) to the depth stated on the seed packet, space seeds as recommended, cover with soil, and water gently. Direct sowing works best for root crops like carrots and parsnips, which dislike being transplanted.
• Plant Out (Transplant) — Move a young plant that was started indoors or bought as a plug plant into its final outdoor growing position. Before planting out, you must harden off the seedling over 7–10 days by gradually exposing it to outdoor conditions — start with a few hours outside during the day, increasing daily until the plant can handle a full night outdoors. Never skip hardening off or your plants will suffer transplant shock.
• Harvest — Your crop is ready to pick and eat. Harvest times are approximate — check the crop regularly and pick when it looks and feels ready. Most vegetables taste best when harvested young and tender rather than left to grow enormous. Regular picking also encourages the plant to produce more.

Essential Equipment for Getting Started

You do not need expensive equipment to start growing vegetables. Here is the minimum kit for a beginner:

• Seed trays and small pots — for starting seeds indoors. Recycled yoghurt pots with drainage holes work perfectly.
• Seed compost — finer than multipurpose compost, designed for germination. A 20-litre bag costs around £4 and lasts months.
• A hand trowel and fork — for planting out and weeding. Buy decent ones (£10–15) and they will last decades.
• A watering can with a rose attachment — for gentle watering of seedlings without washing seeds away.
• Plant labels — essential for knowing what you sowed where. Lollipop sticks work as a free alternative.
• Horticultural fleece — for protecting tender plants from late frosts. A 10-metre roll costs about £5 and is reusable for years.
• A soil thermometer — around £5 and invaluable for knowing when the soil is warm enough to sow outdoors.

As you gain experience, you might add a cold frame, a greenhouse, or raised beds. Use our raised bed calculator to work out how much soil and compost you need to fill new beds, or our soil calculator for larger areas.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These are the mistakes that trip up beginners most often — and they are all easy to avoid once you know about them:

1. Sowing too early. Enthusiasm is great, but seeds sown into cold, waterlogged soil will rot rather than grow. Wait until the soil temperature is right for the crop — the calendar shows the correct months, but let your soil thermometer have the final say.
2. Not hardening off. Seedlings grown on a warm windowsill cannot cope with outdoor conditions overnight. Harden them off gradually over 7–10 days. Skipping this step causes transplant shock, wilting, and often death of the plant.
3. Sowing everything at once. If you sow all your lettuce in one go, you will get 30 lettuces ready on the same day. Sow a short row every 2–3 weeks instead (succession sowing) for a continuous harvest over months.
4. Overcrowding. It is tempting to squeeze in as many plants as possible, but overcrowded crops compete for light, water, and nutrients. They grow poorly, attract disease, and produce smaller harvests. Follow the spacing on the seed packet.
5. Forgetting to water. Young plants and seedlings need consistent moisture. Containers dry out fastest and may need watering twice a day in hot weather. An inconsistent water supply causes bolting in lettuce, blossom end rot in tomatoes, and splitting in carrots.

Where to Buy Seeds & Plants in the UK

Ready to start planting? These UK suppliers stock seeds, plug plants, and starter kits for everything on the calendar above.

Links marked above are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to reputable UK suppliers.