Quick sowing and planting guide for Fruit and Vegetables

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

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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