Timing is everything with vegetables. Sow at the right moment and seeds germinate fast and crop heavily; sow too early or too late and they sulk, bolt or never fill out. This calendar gives you the simple answer for every popular vegetable — when to start it indoors, when to sow outdoors, and when to harvest — so you can plan a productive plot from spring right through autumn.
It works for a temperate climate (UK and Northern Europe). Gardening somewhere milder or colder? Shift everything by a week or two around your local last-frost date. Every timing here comes from the sowing data on our own seed packets, so it matches what you will actually grow.
How to read the calendar
The vegetable sowing calendar
| Vegetable | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | ||||||||||||
| Pepper & chilli | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | ||||||||||||
| Pea | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | ||||||||||||
| Radish | ||||||||||||
| Kale |
Timing is drawn from our packet data (planting period, indoor or direct method and peak season), shown for a temperate climate — adjust a week or two for your local last frost.
Sowing through the year
The main sowing window
The busiest months. Direct-sow hardy crops such as peas, carrots, radish and lettuce as the soil warms, and start tender, warm-season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers indoors for an early, strong start.
Sow, grow and harvest
Keep sowing fast crops like lettuce, radish and carrots every few weeks for a steady supply, and pick early crops as they mature. Water and feed fruiting vegetables as they flower and set, and harvest little and often to keep plants productive.
Last sowings and storing
Bring in maincrop squash, pumpkins and roots before the frosts, and sow hardy salads and overwintering crops. As beds empty, clear spent plants and mulch the soil ready for spring.
Plan and start early
Keep harvesting hardy kale and leeks, and use the quiet weeks to plan next year's beds. From late winter, start slow, warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers and chillies indoors on a bright windowsill.
Popular vegetables at a glance
Our best-selling vegetables with their sowing window — tap through to the seeds.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start sowing vegetable seeds?
Many begin in February and March. Start warm-season vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers indoors, and direct-sow hardy crops like peas, carrots, radish and lettuce outdoors once the soil is workable.
Which vegetables are easiest for beginners?
Radish, lettuce, peas, carrots and tomatoes are quick, forgiving and reliable, which makes them ideal first crops to grow from seed.
What is the difference between starting indoors and direct sowing?
Starting indoors gives tender, warm-season crops a head start before you plant them out after the frost; direct sowing suits hardy vegetables that dislike root disturbance, such as carrots and peas.
How do I keep a harvest coming all season?
Sow little and often — a short row of fast crops like lettuce and radish every few weeks gives a steady supply rather than a glut.
