When to plant vegetables: a guide to sowing and harvesting vegetables

Want to grow your own vegetables, but don’t know when to start sowing and harvesting your crops? Then our handy guide is here to help you.

When to plant vegetables

Whether they’re sown directly outside in the ground or indoors with heat, it’s important to sow and harvest your vegetable crops at the right time of year when they’re at the peak of their tenderness and taste.

The majority of vegetables are sown in Spring (March to May) however some, such as broad beans, may require to be sown a little earlier depending on the weather or temperature conditions. Harvesting usually starts in mid-Summer. However, some vegetables will require harvesting a little earlier, such as: beans, carrots, radishes and potatoes. Some are a little later, like beetroot, brussels sprouts, cabbages, leeks and parsnips. The later harvesting vegetables may continue into early the next year depending on growing conditions.

Note that certain vegetables will require sowing inside to start germination before moving outside. Vegetables such as tomatoes, sweetcorn, cabbages and marrows will require this step.

Read our detailed planner below for a breakdown of which vegetables require sowing, moving and harvesting, and at which points of the year (click on a crop for detailed growing information).

⬤ = Sow inside (on a window sill, unheated greenhouse, coldframe)
⬤ = Sow outside (direct into prepared garden soil)
⬤ = Move outside (when conditions are favourable)
⬤ = Harvest (when ready)

This vegetable planner has been created as a guide and does not take into account regional, or seasonal weather variations. Ensure that the risk of frost and cold weather has passed before planting/sowing any frost-sensitive crops.