Marketa's Garden

MyGardenTeam member with GardenAdvice.co.uk

Quick sowing and planting guide for Fruit and Vegetables

by · Published · Updated

January

Sow Indoors (heated propagator):

  • Peppers, Chillies, Aubergines (late January for longest season)

Plant Outdoors:

  • Garlic cloves (if not done in autumn)
  • Bare-root fruit trees and bushes: Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Apricot, Peach, Nectarine, Quince, Medlar, Damson, Crab Apple, Elderberry, Gooseberry, Blackberries, Raspberries, Loganberries, Tayberries, Blueberries, Redcurrants, Whitecurrants

Plan:

  • Order seeds and prepare seed starting equipment

February

Sow Indoors:

  • Tomatoes (late February)
  • Peppers, Chillies, Aubergines (continue)
  • Celeriac, Celery
  • Leeks (early varieties)

Sow Under Cover (cold frame/unheated greenhouse):

  • Broad Beans (early sowings)
  • Peas (early varieties)
  • Lettuce
  • Spinach

Plant Outdoors:

  • Continue planting bare-root fruit (until mid-March)
  • Asparagus crowns

March

Sow Indoors:

  • Tomatoes (main sowing)
  • Cucumbers, Courgettes, Melons
  • Sweetcorn
  • Basil
  • Celeriac, Celery (continue)
  • Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage (summer varieties)
  • Kale, Broccoli

Sow Under Cover:

  • Peas (succession sowing #2)
  • Lettuce (succession sowing #2)
  • Spring Onions (succession sowing #1)
  • Pak Choi

Sow/Plant Outdoors:

  • Broad Beans (direct sow)
  • Onion sets
  • Shallot sets
  • Garlic (last chance)
  • Early Potatoes (chitted)
  • Horseradish crowns

Plant Perennial Herbs:

  • Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Oregano, Marjoram, Mint (Moroccan), Lavender, Echinacea

April

Sow Indoors:

  • Courgettes, Cucumbers (succession)
  • Melons, Gherkins
  • Sweetcorn (succession)
  • Sweet Potatoes (slips)

Sow Under Cover:

  • Fennel
  • Lettuce (succession sowing #3)
  • Pak Choi (succession sowing #2)

Sow Outdoors (direct):

  • Beetroot (succession sowing #1)
  • Carrots (succession sowing #1)
  • Parsnips
  • Peas (succession sowing #3)
  • Broad Beans (succession sowing)
  • Spring Onions (succession sowing #2)
  • Spinach (succession sowing)
  • Lettuce (succession sowing #4)
  • Herbs: Parsley, Coriander (succession #1), Dill (succession #1), Chives, Garlic Chives, Angelica, Borage

Plant Outdoors:

  • Asparagus crowns (last chance)
  • Main crop Potatoes (chitted)
  • Onion sets (succession)
  • Container-grown fruit trees and bushes

May

Sow Outdoors (direct):

  • Beetroot (succession sowing #2)
  • Carrots (succession sowing #2)
  • Peas (succession sowing #4)
  • Spring Onions (succession sowing #3)
  • Lettuce (succession sowing #5)
  • Spinach (succession sowing #2)
  • Coriander (succession #2)
  • Dill (succession #2)
  • Fennel (direct sow)
  • Pak Choi (succession sowing #3)
  • Sweetcorn (direct sow in warm areas)

Plant Outdoors (after last frost risk):

  • Tomatoes (hardened off)
  • Peppers, Chillies, Aubergines (hardened off, warm spots only)
  • Courgettes, Cucumbers, Gherkins (hardened off)
  • Sweetcorn (transplants)
  • Melons (under cloches)
  • Strawberry plants (pot-grown)

June

Sow Outdoors (direct):

  • Beetroot (succession sowing #3)
  • Carrots (succession sowing #3)
  • Peas (succession sowing #5 – quick maturing varieties)
  • Spring Onions (succession sowing #4)
  • Lettuce (succession sowing #6)
  • Spinach (for autumn/winter)
  • Coriander (succession #3)
  • Dill (succession #3)
  • Pak Choi (succession sowing #4)

Sow for Autumn/Winter:

  • Kale (direct or modules)
  • Calabrese/Broccoli (late varieties)
  • Brussels Sprouts (quick varieties)
  • Winter Cabbage

July

Sow Outdoors:

  • Beetroot (succession sowing #4 – last for storage)
  • Carrots (quick varieties for autumn)
  • Spring Onions (succession sowing #5)
  • Lettuce (succession sowing #7)
  • Pak Choi (succession sowing #5)
  • Fennel (succession)
  • Coriander (succession #4)

Sow for Next Year:

  • Kale, Winter Cabbage
  • Leeks (late planting)

August

Sow for Autumn/Winter:

  • Spinach (overwintering varieties)
  • Spring Cabbage
  • Lettuce (winter varieties under cover)
  • Spring Onions (hardy varieties)
  • Pak Choi (under cover)

Sow for Early Spring:

  • Broad Beans (autumn sowing varieties)

Plant:

  • Strawberry runners

September

Sow Outdoors:

  • Broad Beans (autumn varieties)
  • Peas (overwintering varieties, southern areas)
  • Spring Cabbage
  • Lettuce (winter hardy, under cover)
  • Spinach (winter varieties)

Sow Under Cover:

  • Pak Choi (quick crops)
  • Winter salads

Plant:

  • Garlic cloves (from late September)
  • Spring Cabbage transplants
  • Strawberry runners (continue)

October

Sow Under Cover:

  • Broad Beans (in modules for spring planting)
  • Peas (in guttering for early spring)

Plant Outdoors:

  • Garlic cloves (main planting month)
  • Onion sets (autumn varieties)
  • Bare-root fruit begins (from late October)
  • Asparagus crowns

November

Plant Outdoors:

  • Garlic (continue if not done)
  • Bare-root fruit trees and bushes (main planting season begins)
  • Asparagus crowns

Prepare:

  • Chit seed potatoes towards end of month

December

Plant Outdoors:

  • Bare-root fruit trees and bushes (continue through dormant season)
  • Asparagus crowns

Plan:

  • Order seeds for next year
  • Plan crop rotation

Key Succession Planting Crops:

Every 2-3 weeks (April-July):

  • Lettuce, Peas, Spring Onions, Beetroot (small sowings for continuous harvest)

Every 3-4 weeks (April-July):

  • Carrots, Coriander, Dill, Pak Choi, Spinach

Notes:

  • Perennial herbs (Rosemary, Sage, Lavender, Oregano, Marjoram, Thyme, Mint, Echinacea, Horseradish) are planted once and harvested year-round
  • Perennial fruits establish over several years before full production
  • Timing may need adjustment by 2-3 weeks depending on your specific location and microclimate
  • Use cloches or fleece to extend sowing seasons earlier/later