With hundreds of different varieties and types to choose from growing your own vegetables can be hugely rewarding. But where do you start? The best place is at the kitchen table armed with a pencil, calendar and our guide on when to grow vegetables. You can then plan your growing space and your growing calendar to ensure a diverse and manageable harvest of veggies direct from your garden.
January
With plenty of crisp, frosty mornings to contend with only the hardiest of vegetables can be sown outside in January. This doesn't mean that you'll have nothing to do as there are plenty that can be sown indoors. You might even have some crops ready to harvest from the previous season's growth.
Indoor Sowing |
Outdoor Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
Aubergine |
Broad Bean |
Artichoke (Jerusalem) |
|
Cabbage |
Pea |
Brussels Sprout |
|
Cauliflower |
|
Cabbage |
|
Leek |
|
Carrot |
|
Lettuce |
|
Cauliflower |
|
Onion |
|
Chicory |
|
Tomato |
|
Kale |
|
|
|
Leek |
|
|
|
Lettuce |
|
|
|
Parsnip |
|
|
|
Swede |
February
With high risks of frost in February, the depths of winter is a good time to seek solace in the sowing of seeds, knowing that spring is just around the corner.
Indoor Sowing |
Outdoor Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
Artichoke (Globe) |
Broad Bean |
Broccoli |
|
Aubergine |
Carrot |
Brussels Sprout |
|
Broad Bean |
Parsnip |
Cabbage |
|
Broccoli |
Pea |
Carrot |
|
Brussels Sprout |
Radish |
Cauliflower |
|
Cabbage |
|
Chicory |
|
Cauliflower |
|
Kale |
|
Cucumber |
|
Leek |
|
Kohl Rabi |
|
Lettuce |
|
Leek |
|
Parsnip |
|
Lettuce |
|
Swede |
|
Onion |
|
|
|
Pepper |
|
|
|
Tomato |
|
|
March
Lighter evenings and a smell of spring in the air, March is the time that your vegetable growing should step up a gear.
Indoor Sowing |
Outdoor Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
Globe Artichoke |
Artichoke (Globe) |
Broccoli |
|
Asparagus |
Broad Bean |
Cabbage |
|
Aubergine |
Beetroot |
Carrot |
|
Broad Bean |
Broccoli |
Cauliflower |
|
Broccoli |
Brussels Sprout |
Kale |
|
Brussels Sprout |
Cabbage |
Leek |
|
Cabbage |
Carrot |
Lettuce |
|
Cauliflower |
Kale |
Spring Onion |
|
Celeriac |
Kohl Rabi |
Swede |
|
Celery |
Leek |
|
|
Courgette |
Lettuce |
|
|
Cucumber |
Parsnip |
|
|
Kale |
Pea |
|
|
Kohl Rabi |
Radish |
|
|
Leek |
Rocket |
|
|
Lettuce |
Samphire |
|
|
Marrow |
Shallot |
|
|
Onion |
Spinach |
|
|
Pepper |
Spring Onion |
|
|
Shallot |
Turnip |
|
|
Squash |
|
|
|
Sweetcorn |
|
|
|
Tomato |
|
|
April
With the risk of frost now past it's time to take advantage of those April showers and get your vegetable patch working hard.
Indoor Sowing |
Outdoor Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
Asparagus |
Artichoke (Globe) |
Broccoli |
|
Aubergine |
Broad Bean |
Carrot |
|
Broad Bean |
Beetroot |
Cauliflower |
|
Broccoli |
Broccoli |
Lettuce |
|
Brussel Sprout |
Brussel Sprout |
Radish |
|
Cabbage |
Cabbage |
Spring Onion |
|
Cauliflower |
Carrot |
|
|
Celeriac |
Cauliflower |
|
|
Celery |
Chard |
|
|
Climbing Bean |
Chicory |
|
|
Courgette |
Courgette |
|
|
Cucumber |
Kale |
|
|
Dwarf Bean |
Kohl Rabi |
|
|
Kale |
Leek |
|
|
Kohl Rabi |
Lettuce |
|
|
Leek |
Marrow |
|
|
Marrow |
Parsnip |
|
|
Onion |
Pea |
|
|
Pepper |
Radish |
|
|
Pumpkin |
Rocket |
|
|
Runner Bean |
Samphire |
|
|
Shallot |
Shallot |
|
|
Squash |
Spinach |
|
|
Sweetcorn |
Spring Onion |
|
|
Tomato |
Turnip |
|
May
Spring is here and with it comes the opportunity for maximising your outdoor space. There are huge numbers of vegetables that can be sown now but keep track of where and when you plant your seeds.
Indoor Sowing |
Outdoor Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
Climbing Bean |
Broad Bean |
Asparagus |
|
Dwarf Bean |
Climbing Bean |
Cabbage |
|
Runner Bean |
Dwarf Bean |
Carrot |
|
Broccoli |
Runner Bean |
Cauliflower |
|
Cabbage |
Beetroot |
Garlic |
|
Cauliflower |
Broccoli |
Lettuce |
|
Celery |
Cabbage |
Pea |
|
Courgette |
Carrot |
Radish |
|
Cucumber |
Cauliflower |
Rocket |
|
Kale |
Chard |
Samphire |
|
Leek |
Chicory |
Spinach |
|
Pumpkin |
Courgette |
Spring Onion |
|
Squash |
Cucumber |
|
|
Sweetcorn |
Kale |
|
|
|
Kohl Rabi |
|
|
|
Leek |
|
|
|
Lettuce |
|
|
|
Marrow |
|
|
|
Pak Choi |
|
|
|
Parsnip |
|
|
|
Pea |
|
|
|
Pumpkin |
|
|
|
Radish |
|
|
|
Rocket |
|
|
|
Samphire |
|
|
|
Spinach |
|
|
|
Spring Onion |
|
|
|
Squash |
|
|
|
Swede |
|
|
|
Sweetcorn |
|
|
|
Turnip |
|
June
The Summer months arrive in June, long days and warm weather so this is one of the busiest times in the garden.
Indoor Sowing |
Outdoor Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
Pumpkin |
Climbing Bean |
Asparagus |
|
|
Dwarf Bean |
Beetroot |
|
|
Runner Bean |
Broccoli |
|
|
Beetroot |
Cabbage |
|
|
Cabbage |
Carrot |
|
|
Chinese Cabbage |
Cauliflower |
|
|
Carrot |
Garlic |
|
|
Cauliflower |
Lettuce |
|
|
Chard |
Pak Choi |
|
|
Cucumber |
Pea |
|
|
Kohl Rabi |
Potato |
|
|
Lettuce |
Radish |
|
|
Pak Choi |
Rocket |
|
|
Pea |
Samphire |
|
|
Pumpkin |
Spinach |
|
|
Radish |
Spring Onion |
|
|
Rocket |
Tomato |
|
|
Spinach |
Turnip |
|
|
Spring Onion |
|
|
|
Swede |
|
July
July is the month where your hard work wins out and your vegetable harvest should be keeping your larder well stocked.
Indoor Sowing |
Outdoor Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
|
Climbing Bean |
Artichoke (Globe) |
|
|
Dwarf Bean |
Broad Bean |
|
|
Runner Bean |
Climbing Bean |
|
|
Beetroot |
Dwarf Bean |
|
|
Cabbage |
Runner Bean |
|
|
Chinese Cabbage |
Beetroot |
|
|
Carrot |
Broccoli |
|
|
Chard |
Cabbage |
|
|
Kohl Rabi |
Carrot |
|
|
Lettuce |
Cauliflower |
|
|
Pak Choi |
Chard |
|
|
Radish |
Courgette |
|
|
Rocket |
Cucumber |
|
|
Spinach |
Garlic |
|
|
Spring Onion |
Khol Rabi |
|
|
Swede |
Leek |
|
|
|
Lettuce |
|
|
|
Marrow |
|
|
|
Pak Choi |
|
|
|
Pea |
|
|
|
Pepper |
|
|
|
Potato |
|
|
|
Radish |
|
|
|
Rocket |
|
|
|
Samphire |
|
|
|
Spinach |
|
|
|
Spring Onion |
|
|
|
Squash |
|
|
|
Tomato |
|
|
|
Turnip |
August
The heat of August ripens your vegetable patch and harvesting is the key job in this month.
Indoor Sowing |
Outdoor Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
|
Cabbage |
Artichoke (Globe) |
|
|
Chinese Cabbage |
Aubergine |
|
|
Kale |
Broad Bean |
|
|
Lettuce |
Climbing Bean |
|
|
Pak Choi |
Dwarf Bean |
|
|
Radish |
Runner Bean |
|
|
Rocket |
Beetroot |
|
|
Spinach |
Broccoli |
|
|
Spring Onion |
Brussels Sprout |
|
|
|
Cabbage |
|
|
|
Carrot |
|
|
|
Cauliflower |
|
|
|
Celeriac |
|
|
|
Celery |
|
|
|
Chard |
|
|
|
Courgette |
|
|
|
Cucumber |
|
|
|
Garlic |
|
|
|
Kohl Rabi |
|
|
|
Leek |
|
|
|
Lettuce |
|
|
|
Marrow |
|
|
|
Onion |
|
|
|
Pak Choi |
|
|
|
Pea |
|
|
|
Pepper |
|
|
|
Potato |
|
|
|
Pumpkin |
|
|
|
Radish |
|
|
|
Rocket |
|
|
|
Samphire |
|
|
|
Shallot |
|
|
|
Spinach |
|
|
|
Spring Onion |
|
|
|
Squash |
|
|
|
Sweetcorn |
|
|
|
Tomato |
|
|
|
Turnip |
September
September hails Autumn and brings further harvest and jobs round the garden are now about preparing for the Winter months.
Indoor Sowing |
Outdoor Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
Lettuce |
Radish |
Artichoke (Globe) |
|
|
Spring Onion |
Aubergine |
|
|
|
Broad Bean |
|
|
|
Climbing Bean |
|
|
|
Dwarf Bean |
|
|
|
Runner Bean |
|
|
|
Beetroot |
|
|
|
Broccoli |
|
|
|
Brussels Sprout |
|
|
|
Cabbage |
|
|
|
Chinese Cabbage |
|
|
|
Carrot |
|
|
|
Cauliflower |
|
|
|
Celeriac |
|
|
|
Celery |
|
|
|
Chard |
|
|
|
Courgette |
|
|
|
Cucumber |
|
|
|
Garlic |
|
|
|
Kale |
|
|
|
Kohl Rabi |
|
|
|
Leek |
|
|
|
Lettuce |
|
|
|
Marrow |
|
|
|
Onion |
|
|
|
Pak Choi |
|
|
|
Pea |
|
|
|
Pepper |
|
|
|
Potato |
|
|
|
Pumpkin |
|
|
|
Radish |
|
|
|
Rocket |
|
|
|
Samphire |
|
|
|
Shallot |
|
|
|
Spinach |
|
|
|
Spring Onion |
|
|
|
Squash |
|
|
|
Sweetcorn |
|
|
|
Tomato |
|
|
|
Turnip |
October
In October planting seeds for the following spring occurs, and the final harvest of the current year takes place.
Indoor Sowing |
Outdoor Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
Lettuce |
Broad Bean |
Artichoke (Globe) |
|
|
Pea |
Artichoke (Jerusalem) |
|
|
|
Aubergine |
|
|
|
Climbing Bean |
|
|
|
Dwarf Bean |
|
|
|
Runner Bean |
|
|
|
Beetroot |
|
|
|
Broccoli |
|
|
|
Brussels Sprout |
|
|
|
Cabbage |
|
|
|
Chinese Cabbage |
|
|
|
Carrot |
|
|
|
Cauliflower |
|
|
|
Celeriac |
|
|
|
Celery |
|
|
|
Chard |
|
|
|
Chicory |
|
|
|
Courgette |
|
|
|
Cucumber |
|
|
|
Kale |
|
|
|
Kohl Rabi |
|
|
|
Leek |
|
|
|
Lettuce |
|
|
|
Marrow |
|
|
|
Pak Choi |
|
|
|
Parsnip |
|
|
|
Pepper |
|
|
|
Potato |
|
|
|
Pumpkin |
|
|
|
Radish |
|
|
|
Rocket |
|
|
|
Samphire |
|
|
|
Shallot |
|
|
|
Spinach |
|
|
|
Spring Onion |
|
|
|
Squash |
|
|
|
Swede |
|
|
|
Tomato |
|
|
|
Turnip |
November
Dark days and long nights sees the arrival of November and there is relatively little to grow in the garden.
Indoor Sowing |
Outdoor Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
Lettuce |
Broad Bean |
Artichoke (Jerusalem) |
|
Onion |
Pea |
Broccoli |
|
|
|
Brussels Sprout |
|
|
|
Cabbage |
|
|
|
Chinese Cabbage |
|
|
|
Carrot |
|
|
|
Cauliflower |
|
|
|
Celeriac |
|
|
|
Celery |
|
|
|
Chard |
|
|
|
Chicory |
|
|
|
Kale |
|
|
|
Leek |
|
|
|
Lettuce |
|
|
|
Parsnip |
|
|
|
Potato |
|
|
|
Pumpkin |
|
|
|
Samphire |
|
|
|
Swede |
December
December brings harsh weather but you can start preparing for the Spring by sowing some crops indoors.
Indoor Sowing |
Outdoor Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
Lettuce |
Broad Bean |
Artichoke (Jerusalem) |
|
Onion |
|
Brussels Sprout |
|
|
|
Cabbage |
|
|
|
Carrot |
|
|
|
Cauliflower |
|
|
|
Celeriac |
|
|
|
Chicory |
|
|
|
Kale |
|
|
|
Leek |
|
|
|
Lettuce |
|
|
|
Parsnip |
|
|
|
Potato |
|
|
|
Swede |
Planting by the moon
In ancient times man planted his crops by observing the cycles of the moon. There is still an argument that this is the most reliable way of farming today as it observes changes in the earth's magnetic field which brings changes in weather. There are three different methods that are recognised for planting by the moon and include: Synodic, Biodynamic and Sidereal cycles.
Synodic cycle
The Synodic Cycle is the simplest form of moon planting as it divides the Luna cycle into four phases. It then groups plants into different categories and assigns them to the most suited cycle.
Biodynamic cycle
The Biodynamic Cycle is slightly more detailed and is based around the 12 Zodiac signs and the position of them in relation to the moon. This was developed by Rudolf Steiner whose teachings are being taught today at Steiner Schools.
Sidereal cycle
Finally the Sidereal Cycle is based on the orbit of the moon around the earth which is divided into 12 sections and dependent on the position of the moon dictates which crops should be grown to the highest chance of success.
