Sowing basil, sweet peas, peas and overwintering lettuce — November to early spring starter plan

A few indoor or covered sowings now set you up for early crops.

Quick starter tips

• Basil: Sow on a warm windowsill or under cover; pot on and keep frost-free (or overwinter in a bright, warm room). Basil is tender — start indoors and move outside after frost.
• Sweet peas: Sow indoors or in a cold frame for early, stronger plants. GardenAdvice’s sweet pea notes are helpful for timings: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/gardening-tips/sweet-peas-from-seed/
• Peas & overwinter lettuce: Sow hardy peas under low cloches or in sheltered trenches; sow overwinter lettuce in the greenhouse or cold frames (hardy cultivars).
• Onions & sets: Start onion seed/sets in pots in the greenhouse; they can be potted on and moved to a sunny windowsill or protected indoor spot for extra growth before planting out when the soil warms.