Plan Your Season with Our Vegetable Planting Calendar UK

When you start growing your own vegetables, it’s important to know which vegetables to sow and when. Our vegetable planting calendar UK has been created specifically for British growing conditions, helping you plan your sowing, planting, and harvesting throughout the year.

Whether you’re growing in a garden, allotment, raised beds, or containers, this guide will help you make the most of every season.

Why use a vegetable planting calendar?

A planting calendar takes the guesswork out of growing your own food. You may want to make a plan to utilise the space on your plot, keeping beds full to maximise harvests throughout the year. You also may want to look at successional sowing to extend the harvest period.
UK weather can be unpredictable, so timing is key.
Please note that this is a rough guide and may vary slightly across the UK. If you're up in the very Northern parts of the country, then sowing times may be slightly later compared to if you're growing in the far South.

UK growing seasons at a glance:

Understanding the seasons is key to successful vegetable growing in the UK:

• Spring (March–May): Main sowing season begins
• Summer (June–August): Fast growth and harvesting
• Autumn (September–November): Final crops and overwintering planting
• Winter (December–February): Less things to sow at this time of year. Concentrate more on planning and preparing for the next season, or greenhouse growing.

What to sow in spring (March–May)

Spring is one of the busiest times in the garden. As temperatures rise, you can start sowing many popular crops.

Outdoors:

• Carrots
• Beetroot
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Radishes
• Peas

Most flowers can also be sown at this time of year. Always check the individual seed packets for full growing times and instructions.

Indoors / greenhouse:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Aubergines
• Courgettes

What to plant in summer (June–August):

Summer is about continued sowing and enjoying fast-growing crops.

• French beans
• Runner beans
• Salad leaves (successional sowing)
• Spring cabbage
• Pak choi
• Kale

Tip: Keep harvesting regularly to encourage more growth.

What to sow in autumn (September-November):

Autumn is ideal for overwintering crops and preparing for next year.

• Garlic bulbs
• Onion sets
• Winter lettuce
• Spinach
• Broad beans (autumn varieties such as Aquadulce Claudia, The Sutton or De Monica)
• Green manure crops

What to sow in winter (December-February):

While outdoor growth slows, there’s still plenty to do.

• Plan next years harvest and order your seeds!
• Prepare beds for spring
• Grow hardy salads under cover
• Start early sowings indoors using a propagator around January-February time.

Best vegetables to grow for beginners:

If you’re new to growing, start simple with reliable, easy to grow crops such as:

• Beetroot
• Radishes
• Salad leaves such as cress and lettuces.
• Tomatoes
• Courgettes

These are easy to grow and give quick, rewarding results.

Tips for Growing Your Own Vegetables Successfully:

Success in vegetable growing comes down to many factors including timing, soil preparation, using the correct compost and water, and monitoring the temperature and water levels. As well as choosing your varieties and sowing them at the correct time, we advise on the following:

• Alway use a good quality seed sowing compost for germinating
• Use fresh tap water rather than using saved rain water until seedlings appear.
• Monitor your water levels to prevent overwatering and seeds rotting off.

All of our seeds are carefully selected and tested for germination, vigour, and purity, helping you grow with confidence from the very start.

Explore our full range of high-quality vegetable seeds, including:

• Heirloom varieties
• Exhibition vegetables for the showbench
• Organic seed options from our sister company, Suffolk Herbs

From allotments to windowsills, there’s something for every grower.