What Vegetable Seeds Can I Sow: A Month-by-Month Veg Growing Calendar
Alright now grab a cuppa and your seed tins, because this is going to be a proper, month-by-month sowing guide just for you. Think of it as a vegetable gardening calendar you can actually read without falling asleep. It’s factual, practical, UK-specific and its full of information.
Gardening in the UK is a bit like owning a dog that sometimes listens and sometimes eats the sofa. Our climate is mild, unpredictable, and deeply opinionated. One minute it’s spring, the next it’s snowing sideways in April or is raining so hard its actually raining upwards... That’s why knowing what seeds to sow and when matters more here than almost anywhere else.
Seed sowing can be a daunting experience if you are a novice gardener. read my blog - 'Sow' Its That Time Again - A Beginners Guide To Seed Sowing to help you through the trauma.
This calendar assumes: -
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A typical UK climate - now that's a laugh isn't it.
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You have access to a windowsill, greenhouse, cold frame, or indoors - especially important in the early and late months.
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You understand that “last frost” is more of a vague suggestion than a rule - it changes from year to year and area to area.
Let’s go month by month and sort out your seed sowing life.
January – The Month of Optimism (and Catalogues)
January is cold, dark, and damp. The soil is basically soup. Outdoor sowing? Absolutely not. But this doesn’t mean gardeners sit idle. January is for slow starters, indoor sowing, and planning like a general before battle.
Seeds to Sow in January (Indoors or Heated Greenhouse)
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Chillies & hot peppers – These take ages, like teenagers getting out of bed. Start them early.
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Sweet peppers – Same story, slightly less dramatic.
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Aubergines – Only if you have warmth and patience.
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Onions (from seed) – Large exhibition onions need an early start.
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Leeks – Long growing season, very forgiving.
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Celery – Fussy, slow, and worth it.
lettuce - in a greenhouse to mature early
Summer brassicas - cabbage etc
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| Start Aubergines now |
What You Need
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Heat (20–25°C for chillies), the rest between 10-20°
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Grow lights or a very bright window
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A strong belief system and a lot of luck
January sowing is about getting ahead, not filling beds.
February – The Seeds Wake Up (Slowly)
February is still winter, but daylight noticeably increases, and suddenly gardeners get twitchy. This is when sensible people sow a little, and reckless people sow everything.
Seeds to Sow in February (Mostly Indoors)
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Tomatoes – Late February is ideal for most varieties.Start Tomatoes indoors now
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Basil – Needs warmth and light.
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Leeks – If you didn’t start in January.
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Onions – Salad and bulb types.
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Early peas – In modules or pots, under cover.
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Broad beans – Hardy varieties can be started now if you didn't do so in January.
Potato - you can start chitting them now - don't plant them out yet. See my blog on Potato growing for more information - How To Grow Potatoes (Spuds Or Taters if you prefer) In The UK
Under Cover or Outside (If You’re Feeling Brave Or Ballsy)
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Spinach
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Winter lettuce - will need protection
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Radish (in polytunnel or cloche)
Garlic
Shallots
If you have light soils or in a warmer area the start Carrots, Parsnips, Beetroot.
Jersualem Artichoke
This is the month where restraint saves heartbreak. Sowing too early = leggy seedlings crying for help.
March – The Gardening Year Properly Begins
March is the turning point. Soil starts to warm, daylight is decent, and suddenly everything feels possible. Frosts are still likely, but the seed trays are coming out in force.
Seeds to Sow in March (Indoors)
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Tomatoes – Main sowing month.
Sow Cabbages indoors in March Cucumbers
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Courgettes – Late March only.
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Sweetcorn – Under cover for strong plants.
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Brussels sprouts
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Cabbage
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Cauliflower
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Broccoli
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Lettuce
Pumpkin - towards the end of the month
Seeds to Sow in March (Outdoors)
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Broad beans
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Peas
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Spinach
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Beetroot
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Carrots (early varieties)
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Parsnips
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Spring onions
Asparagus - crowns rather than seed
Potatoes - early and mids can now be planted if warm enough and start chitting main crop Potatoes. See my blog on growing Potatoes - How To Grow Potatoes (Spuds Or Taters if you prefer) In The UK
Strawberry - plants in pots can now be planted. See my blog on planting strawberries if you're unsure how to do it - How to Grow Strawberries - Once Tasted You'll Never by Supermarket One's Again
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| Sow Carrots regularly to maintain supply |
March is about balance. You’re still dodging frost, but momentum is building fast.
April – The Month of Overconfidence
April makes gardeners cocky. The sun shines, birds sing, and then a hard frost wipes out half your seedlings. This is normal. Emotionally damaging, but normal.
Seeds to Sow in April (Indoors)
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SquashSow French Beans indoors in April -
Pumpkins
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Cucumbers
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Melons (if you’re optimistic)
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French beans (late April)
Seeds to Sow in April (Outdoors)
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Carrots
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Beetroot
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Turnips
Get your spuds in now! Radish
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Peas
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Parsnips
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Swiss chard
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Lettuce
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Spinach
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Kale
Potatoes - can now be planted
Its not to late to plant Garlic, Onions, Shallots, Asparagus and Artichoke
April is also peak successional sowing time. Sow little and often unless you enjoy eating lettuce like a rabbit for two weeks straight.
May – The Big Push
May is when things get serious. Frost risk fades (usually after mid-May), and the garden explodes into activity. This is the month where seed packets finally stop mocking you.
Seeds to Sow in May (Outdoors)
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French beans
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Runner beans
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Sweetcorn
Plant your sweetcorn in blocks to ensure a good crop Courgettes
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Squash
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Pumpkins
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Cucumbers
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Peas
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Carrots
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Beetroot
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Lettuce
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Spinach
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Spring onions
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Radish
Cauliflower & Purple Sprouting
unusual pants like Khol Rabi, Scorzonera & Salsify
Seeds to Sow in May (Indoors for Later Planting)
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Basil
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Parsley
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Coriander
Melons - outdoor growing varieties
May is full throttle gardening. Watering becomes important. So does remembering where you sowed things.
June – The Gap-Filling Month
By June, many early crops are growing well, and beds start to empty as harvests begin. This is the month for second sowings and continuous harvests. There is some over lap from May plantings this month.
Seeds to Sow in June (Outdoors)
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Carrots – For autumn harvest.
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Beetroot
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French & Runner Beans
You can sow Radish from Feb to October -
Lettuce
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Radish
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Spring Onions
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Turnips
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Swiss chard
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Kale
Pak Choi
Under Cover
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Basil
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Coriander
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Dill
June sowing keeps your garden productive rather than peaking and sulking.
July – The Unexpectedly Useful Month
July feels late, but there’s still loads you can sow. Soil is warm, seeds germinate fast, and crops race along.
Seeds to Sow in July
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Carrots – Quick varieties.
Lettuce
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Radish
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Spring onions
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Pak Choi
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Kale
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Spinach
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Turnips
Leeks - for winter harvesting
Brassicas - for winter harvesting
Spring cabbage
Chicory
Fennel
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| For something more oriental try Pak Choi |
July sowing is about autumn eating, not summer dreaming.
August – Planning for Autumn and Winter
August sowing is less glamorous but incredibly sensible. This is where winter crops quietly get started while everyone else is on holiday.
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| Spring Onions are a quick crop for regular sowings |
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Spinach
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Lettuce (winter varieties)
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Spring cabbage
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Pak choi
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Mizuna
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Mustard greens
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Endive
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Spring onions
Radish
Rocket
Sorel
Warm soil plus cooler air = perfect germination.
September – The Calm, Productive Month
September is underrated. There’s still warmth, fewer pests, and plants behave themselves.
Seeds to Sow in September
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Spinach
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Winter lettuce
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Lamb’s lettuce
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Spring onions
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Green manures (mustard, phacelia, rye)
Onion - by sets for over wintering
Elephant Garlic - for over wintering
Turnips - for over wintering.
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| Elephant Garlic & Onions |
This is also the month to think about soil health, not just crops.
October – The Slow Wind-Down
Growth slows, daylight drops, and the garden exhales.
Seeds to Sow in October
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Broad beans – Overwintering varieties.
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Garlic – Technically a bulb, but still sowing.
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Green manures
Peas - for over wintering in mild areas
Only hardy crops survive now, but they reward patience in spring.
November – Barely Hanging On
November is cold, wet, and bleak. Seed sowing is minimal.
Seeds to Sow in November
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Broad beans (in mild areas)
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Peas (hardy varieties, under cover)
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Microgreens indoors
Mostly, November is for planning, cleaning, and tea.
December – The Month of Rest (Mostly)
December is not a sowing month. It’s a thinking month.
What You Can Sow in December
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Microgreens
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Sprouting seeds
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Very early chillies (if you’re keen)
Onions and Garlic if you couldn't do so earlier in the Autumn
Otherwise, let the soil rest. You’ve earned it.
Seed sowing in the UK isn’t about perfection. It’s about timing, flexibility, and forgiveness - mostly forgiving yourself when half the seedlings keel over. Never forget to read the back of the seed packet for full sowing instructions - this is something many people do not do....
Use this calendar as a guide, not gospel. Weather, Slugs and your life will interfere. But if you sow little and often, follow the seasons, and accept the occasional disaster, you’ll eat better than you ever could from a supermarket.
And remember: - Every great garden starts with a seed… and a slightly unrealistic level of optimism.
Good luck
Any questions please ask.
Geoff.
Who am I?
I'm a horticulturalist with over 40 years experience in the field. From running garden centres and nurseries growing plants for sale to now, well for the last 12 years, running my own gardening business I'm bringing my expertise to those who are interested. I receive no money or reward for my blogs so they're purely my own thoughts, ideas and experience - enjoy.
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