When to Plant Vegetables in the UK
Getting the timing right is half the battle with vegetables. Sow too early and seeds sit in cold, wet soil or seedlings get caught by a late frost. Sow too late and crops run out of summer before they're ready. The good news is that UK planting follows a fairly predictable pattern once you know which crops are tough and which are tender.
This guide explains how the vegetable year works in the UK and when each group of crops goes in. It also links to a planting guide for every vegetable we cover.
Quick answer
Most vegetables are sown or planted between March and June. Hardy crops such as peas, carrots, lettuce, onions and potatoes can go outside from March and April, once the soil is workable. Tender crops, including tomatoes, courgettes, runner beans, cucumbers and sweetcorn, should only go outside once frosts have finished. According to the RHS, that's the second half of May in southern England, and as late as mid-June in northern Scotland. Garlic, overwintering onion sets and hardy broad beans are the main exceptions, as they're planted in autumn.
Hardy and tender: the key to timing
Almost every planting decision comes down to one question: can this crop cope with frost?
Hardy vegetables can take cold nights. Many can be sown straight into the ground in early spring, and some are planted in autumn to grow through winter.
Tender vegetables are damaged or killed by frost. They're usually started indoors or in a greenhouse in spring, then moved outside once the weather is reliably warm.
If you know which group a crop belongs to, you're most of the way to knowing when to plant it.
Your last frost date
For tender crops, what really matters is when the last frost is likely in your area. The RHS gives these rough windows for planting out safely:
South-west England and the south coast: early to late May
Rest of southern England, plus south Wales: mid to late May
The Midlands, Yorkshire, north-west England and north Wales: late May
Northern Ireland, north-east England and southern Scotland: start of June
Northern Scotland, including the Highlands: middle of June
Treat these as a starting point, not a deadline. Town gardens and sheltered coastal spots often warm up a week or two sooner. Exposed or hilly gardens, and low spots where frost collects, may need to wait up to three weeks longer. The RHS advises waiting until nights stay above 7°C before planting tender crops out, and above 10°C for crops that love heat, like tomatoes and peppers.
Late winter (January to February)
This is mainly a time for planning, ordering seed and preparing beds. A few crops get an early start indoors:
Chillies and peppers need a long season, so they're sown indoors on a warm windowsill or in a heated propagator.
Seed potatoes can be set out to chit (sprout) in a cool, bright place.
Lettuce and other salad crops can be sown under cover from February.
See when to start vegetable seeds indoors for more.
Early spring (March to April)
As the soil dries out and begins to warm, the hardy crops can go outside. A simple test is to pick up a handful of soil. If it's crumbly rather than sticky and cold, it's ready.
Sow outdoors: peas, broad beans, carrots, parsnips, beetroot, radishes, spinach, lettuce, spring onions, turnips and Swiss chard.
Plant outdoors: onion sets from March to April. Plant first early potatoes in late March, then second earlies and maincrop through April into early May.
Sow indoors: tomatoes, leeks, and brassicas such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and kale.
Fleece or cloches warm the soil and protect early sowings if a cold snap arrives.
Late spring (May)
May is the busiest sowing month and the month to watch the weather most closely.
Sow indoors: courgettes, pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, sweetcorn and runner beans, ready to plant out once frosts have finished.
Harden off: for two to three weeks before planting out, move plants raised indoors outside during the day. This gets them used to wind, sun and cooler nights. See how to harden off seedlings.
Keep sowing: sow another batch of salads, carrots and beetroot.
Early summer (June)
Once your area is past its last frost, it's time to plant out the tender crops: tomatoes, courgettes, pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, sweetcorn, peppers, chillies and runner beans. Brassica and leek seedlings raised earlier can also move to their final positions.
Mid to late summer (July to August)
Planting doesn't stop in summer. Fast crops fill the gaps left by early harvests:
Lettuce, radishes, spring onions and spinach, sown little and often.
Beetroot, turnips and carrots for autumn harvests.
Spring cabbages, sown in late summer to stand through winter.
Autumn (September to November)
A handful of hardy crops are planted in autumn for an early harvest the following summer:
Overwintering onion sets in September and October.
Garlic from October to December. It needs a cold spell to form good bulbs.
Hardy broad beans in October and November where winters are mild. Elsewhere, start them in deep pots kept in a cold greenhouse.
Sowing little and often
Quick crops like lettuce, radishes, carrots and chard are best sown in small batches every few weeks rather than all at once. This is called succession sowing, and it gives you a steady supply instead of a glut followed by nothing.
Crops you can plant in spring or autumn
Cabbage family and leeks
Tender crops for after the last frost
Prefer to plan by month? See the vegetable growing calendar
Common questions
When should I start planting vegetables in the UK?
Hardy crops such as peas, broad beans, carrots, onion sets and early potatoes can go outside from March, once the soil is dry enough to work. Tender crops should wait until after the last frost.
When is the last frost in the UK?
It varies by region. The RHS suggests tender plants can usually go out in the second half of May in southern England and at the end of May in the Midlands and north-west. In north-east England, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland it's early June, and in northern Scotland mid-June.
What vegetables can I plant in autumn?
Garlic, overwintering onion sets and hardy broad bean varieties are the main autumn crops. They grow slowly through winter and give an early harvest the following summer.
Is it too late to plant vegetables in July?
No. Quick crops like lettuce, radishes, spring onions, spinach, beetroot and turnips can all be sown in July for harvests later in the year.
Planting times and regional frost guidance based on RHS advice.