Starting Your Spring Sowing Season

Bell jars for early season crops

As we move into spring, it’s time to start thinking about sowing seeds for the growing season ahead. February and March are exciting months in the garden – while some hardy crops can be started now under protection, others will wait until April when the soil warms up. The key to successful spring sowing is timing: some seeds like peppers and aubergines need an early start indoors with heat, while others such as carrots and radishes are best sown directly where they’ll grow once the soil is workable. Using cloches, cold frames, or bell jars can give you a valuable head start, warming the soil and protecting young seedlings from late frosts. With careful planning and succession sowing, you can ensure a steady supply of fresh vegetables from early summer right through to autumn.

Seed Sowing Guide

1. Beetroot Bona
   • Sowing method: Direct sow outdoors or in modules/pots
   • When to sow: April-July outdoors; March under cloches/fleece for early crops; late February-March in modules indoors
   • Under cover: Yes – can be sown under cloches or fleece from March for early crops
2. Carrot Autumn King 2
   • Sowing method: Direct sow only (carrots dislike root disturbance)
   • When to sow: March-June (maincrop variety)
   • Under cover: Yes – can sow under cloches in March for early start
3. Hot Pepper F1 Santana
   • Sowing method: In pots/modules indoors with heat
   • When to sow: January-February indoors (needs heated propagator)
   • Under cover: Must be started indoors; transplant to greenhouse or outdoors after last frost
4. Courgette Green Bush
   • Sowing method: In pots indoors or direct sow outdoors
   • When to sow: April-May indoors; late May-early June direct outdoors
   • Under cover: Start in pots indoors; can use cloches to warm soil for direct sowing
5. Cucumber F1 Alhambra (pickling)
   • Sowing method: In pots indoors or direct sow outdoors
   • When to sow: April indoors; late May-June direct outdoors (after frost risk)
   • Under cover: Start indoors or under cloches; can grow in greenhouse
6. Sweetcorn F1 Ambrosia
   • Sowing method: In modules indoors (preferred) or direct sow
   • When to sow: April indoors; late May direct outdoors
   • Under cover: Best started in modules indoors; plant out after frosts
7. Spinach Viroflay
   • Sowing method: Direct sow outdoors
   • When to sow: March-May and August-September for succession
   • Under cover: Can use cloches for very early spring sowings
8. Radish Cherry Belle
   • Sowing method: Direct sow outdoors
   • When to sow: March-August for succession (every 2 weeks)
   • Under cover: Can sow under cloches from February for early crops
9. Lettuce Arcade
   • Sowing method: Direct sow or in modules
   • When to sow: March-July outdoors; February onwards in modules under cover
   • Under cover: Can start in modules or under cloches/fleece for early crops
10. Lettuce Green Salad Bowl
    • Sowing method: Direct sow or in modules
    • When to sow: March-July outdoors; February onwards in modules under cover
    • Under cover: Can start in modules or under cloches/fleece; ideal for successional sowing

General Notes:

• Cloches and bell jars are excellent for warming soil in early spring and protecting young seedlings
• For succession planting, sow lettuce, radish, and spinach every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest
• Tender crops (peppers, courgettes, cucumbers, sweetcorn) need protection until after last frost (typically mid-May in most UK areas)