Keeping track of what fruit, vegetables, and flowers to sow and/or plant each month can be tricky. And time spent browsing the web and scouring the backs of seed packets looking for answers can quickly add up – resulting in less time in the garden.
To help with this, we’ve put together a month-by-month sowing and planting calendar. It includes all of the fruit and vegetables you can sow and grow at different times of the year, as well as some ideas for flowers too.
Growing and sowing methods will vary depending on the time of year, the weather, where in the country you live, and what it is that you’re growing. So, once you’ve decided what you want to sow/grow and when, it’s best to visit the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)’s website to find out more.
1. January
The harsh midwinter weather means that there’s not a lot to be done outside in January. But there are still plenty of fruit, vegetable, and flower seeds that you can sow indoors on a south-facing windowsill, with the help of heated propagators, or in a greenhouse.
Some hardy fruit, veg, and flowers can also be planted outside. For example, garlic cloves (which can be planted directly into the soil), rhubarb crowns, and bare root fruit trees and canes.
You can also give your garden an instant splash of colour in January by adding winter bedding plants (like pansies and cyclamen) to pots or hanging baskets.
And finally, if you plan on growing potatoes this year, then January is a good time to chit them. This guide from Gardeners’ World will explain what chitting is and how to get started.
| Fruit and vegetables to sow indoors | Fruit and vegetables to plant outdoors |
| Aubergine | Bare root fruit trees (like apple, pear, and plum) |
| Broad beans | Blueberries |
| Cauliflower | Garlic |
| Celeriac | Raspberry and blackberry canes |
| Celery | Rhubarb |
| Cress | |
| Chillies | |
| Leeks | |
| Lettuce | |
| Mustard | |
| Onion | |
| Parsnips | |
| Onions | |
| Strawberries |
| Some ideas for flowers to sow indoors | Some ideas for flowers to plant outdoors |
| Antirrhinums (snapdragons) | Bare root roses |
| Begonias | Bare root trees and shrubs (like wintersweet and witch hazel) |
| Delphiniums (larkspur) | Cyclamen (sow bread) |
| Geraniums | Lilies |
| Lobelias | Pansies |
| Petunias | |
| Sweet peas |
2. February
February can often be the coldest month of the year, so it’s not necessarily the busiest time for outdoor planting. However, with spring just around the corner, there’s a little more to do outside than in January.
If you live in a milder area of the UK and have light, sandy soil, then there are a few different types of fruit and vegetables that you can sow outdoors under cloches. Alternatively, if you have heavier soil or the weather has been especially cold, it’s generally advisable to start them inside – or to wait until spring when the soil has warmed up.
You can also make your planted rhubarb grow a little faster at this time of the year by covering the crowns with large buckets or pots through a process called ‘forcing’. This guide from Gardeners’ World will show you how.
| Fruit and vegetables to sow outdoors | Fruit and vegetables to sow indoors |
Fruit and vegetables to plant outdoors
|
| Broad beans | Aubergines |
Bare root fruit trees (like apples, pears, and plums)
|
| Cabbages | Basil | Garlic |
| Chicory | Brussel sprouts | Onions |
| Leeks | Cauliflower | Raspberry and blackberry canes |
| Parsnips | Celeriac | Rhubarb |
| Peas | Celery | Shallots |
| Radishes | Cress | |
| Spinach | Chillies | |
| Mustard | ||
| Peppers | ||
| Strawberries | ||
| Tomatoes |
| Some ideas for flowers to sow indoors | Some ideas for flowers to plant outdoors |
| Ageratums (whiteweed) | Agapanthus (lily of the Nile) |
| Antirrhinums (snapdragons) | Bare root roses |
| Begonias | Bare root trees and shrubs (like wintersweet and witch hazel) |
| Carnations | Liatris (blazing stars) |
| Dahlias | Lilies |
| Delphiniums (larkspur) | Poppies |
| Geraniums | |
| Lobelias | |
| Petunias | |
| Salvia (sage) | |
| Matthiola (stocks) | |
| Sweet peas | |
| Erysimum (wallflowers) | |
| Zinnia |
3. March
March marks the beginning of spring, which means there’s plenty to do in the garden this month.
Fairer conditions mean that you can start sowing and planting more fruit and vegetables directly into the ground, from broad beans and beetroot to artichokes and asparagus. But there are still lots of seeds to be sown inside.
To make sure your garden is as beautiful and vibrant as possible come summer, March is also a great time to start sowing some hardy annuals (like sunflowers and poppies) – as well as planting some summer-flowering bulbs (like alliums and agapanthus).
| Fruit and vegetables to sow outdoors | Fruit and vegetables to sow indoors | Fruit and vegetables to plant outdoors |
| Artichokes | Aubergines | Artichokes |
| Asparagus | Basil | Asparagus |
| Beetroot | Brussels sprouts | Bare root fruit trees |
| Broad beans | Cauliflowers | Garlic |
| Cabbages | Celery | Onions |
| Carrots | Celeriac | Potatoes |
| Chicory | Coriander | Rhubarb |
| Chives | Cress | Strawberries |
| Coriander | Chillies | Shallots |
| Dill | Cucumbers | |
| Kale | Dill | |
| Kohl rabi | Gherkins | |
| Leeks | Mustard | |
| Lettuce | Oregano | |
| Parsley | Pak choi | |
| Parsnips | Parsley | |
| Peas | Peppers | |
| Radishes | Rocket | |
| Rocket | Rosemary | |
| Spinach | Salad leaves | |
| Spring onions | Tomatoes | |
| Swiss chard | Thyme | |
| Turnips |
| Some ideas for flowers to sow outdoors | Some ideas for flowers to sow indoors | Some ideas for flowers to plant outdoors |
| Calendulas (marigolds) | Ageratums | Agapanthus (lily of the Nile) |
| Clarkia | Antirrhinums (snapdragons) | Alliums |
| Cornflowers | Aster (michaelmas daisies) | Alstroemerias (Peruvian lilies) |
| Nigellas (love-in-a-mists) | Cleomes (spider flowers) | Aquilegias (columbines) |
| Poppies | Cosmos | Bare root roses |
| Sunflowers | Dahlias | Bare root trees and shrubs (like wintersweet and witch hazel) |
| Wildflowers | Lobelias | Gladioli |
| Virginia stocks | Lupins | Hardy geraniums (cranesbills) |
| Tropaeolums (nasturtiums) | Lilies | |
| Petunias | ||
| Salvia (sage) | ||
| Sweet peas | ||
| Erysimums (wallflowers) | ||
| Zinnia |
4. April
Daylight savings mean that we get more time outside in the garden in April – and with a helpful mix of more sunlight, warmer weather, and the occasional shower, gardens and green spaces really start to come alive.
As well as planting out sweet pea seedlings sown in winter (if you didn’t sow sweet peas, then this is the time to buy some seedlings), there’s plenty of other fruit, veg, and flowers to sow and plant indoors and out. For example, you could sow melon seeds on a sunny windowsill or in a propagator, as well as some hardy annuals (like sunflowers and poppies) directly into the soil outside.
It’s also worth noting that the time to plant bare root fruit trees has now passed. Although, you can plant potted trees at any time of year if you’d like to make new, fruit-bearing additions to your garden.
| Fruit and vegetables to sow outdoors | Fruit and vegetables to sow indoors |
Fruit and vegetables to plant outdoors
|
| Beetroot | Aubergines | Artichokes |
| Broad Beans | Basil | Asparagus |
| Broccoli | Celeriac | Onions |
| Brussels Sprouts | Celery | Potatoes |
| Cabbages | Corn salad (lamb’s lettuce) | Shallots |
| Carrots | Chillies | Strawberries |
| Cauliflower | Courgettes | |
| Chicory | Coriander | |
| Chives | Cress | |
| Coriander | Cucumbers | |
| Dill | Dill | |
| Gherkins | Melons | |
| French Beans | Mustard | |
| Kale | Oregano | |
| Kohl Rabi | Pak choi | |
| Leeks | Parsley | |
| Lettuce | Peppers | |
| Parsley | Pumpkins | |
| Parsnips | Rocket | |
| Peas | Rosemary | |
| Radishes | Salad leaves | |
| Rocket | Squash | |
| Spinach | Strawberries | |
| Spring onions | Sweetcorn | |
| Swiss chard | Tomatoes | |
| Turnips | Thyme | |
| Watercress |
| Some ideas for flowers to sow outdoors | Some ideas for flowers to sow indoors | Some ideas for flowers to plant outdoors |
| Iberises (candytufts) | Ageratums | Agapanthus (lily of the Nile) |
| Clarkia | Aster (michaelmas daisies) | Alstroemerias (Peruvian lilies) |
| Cornflowers | Carnations | Aquilegias (columbines) |
| Calendulas (marigolds) | Cleomes (spider flowers) | Bare root roses |
| Gypsophila (baby’s-breath) | Cosmos | Clematis |
| Hollyhocks | Dahlias | Foxgloves |
| Nigellas (love-in-a-mists) | Delphiniums (larkspur) | Lilies |
| Poppies | Tropaeolums (nasturtiums) | Sunflowers |
| Sunflowers | Salvia (sage) | Sweet peas |
| Virginia stocks | Zinnia | Wisteria |
| Erysimums (wallflowers) | ||
| Wildflowers |
5. May
With the risk of frost becoming less of a concern, lots of herbs, vegetables, and flowers can be directly sown into the soil outside without a covering in May. This also means that lots of indoor sowings from earlier in the year can be planted out as well, and will benefit from being ‘hardened off’.
Hardening off is a process used to toughen up plants that have been raised indoors, in greenhouses, or in heated propagators, by exposing them to colder temperatures. This helps them to acclimatise to their new outdoor homes.
When and how plants are hardened off will depend on the species and how they’ve been raised – but May is generally a great month for hardening off because it’s a bridge between spring and summer.
For more tips on hardening off, check out these guides from the RHS and Gardeners’ World.
| Fruit and vegetables to sow outdoors | Fruit and vegetables to sow indoors |
Fruit and vegetables to plant outdoors
|
| Beetroot | Basil | Broccoli |
| Broad beans | Broccoli | Brussels sprouts |
| Broccoli | Cabbages | Cabbages |
| Brussel sprouts | Cauliflower | Cauliflower |
| Cabbages | Corn Salad (lamb’s lettuce) | Celeriac |
| Carrots | Climbing beans | Celery |
| Cauliflowers | Courgettes | Gooseberries |
| Chicory | Coriander | Kale |
| Chives | Cress | Leeks |
| Climbing beans | Cucumbers | Potatoes |
| Coriander | Dill | Radishes |
| Courgettes | Dwarf beans | Shallots |
| Dill | French beans | Tomatoes |
| Dwarf beans | Marrows | Turnips |
| Gherkins | Melons | |
| Kale | Mustard | |
| Kohl rabi | Oregano | |
| Lettuce | Pak choi | |
| Parsley | Parsley | |
| Parsnips | Pumpkins | |
| Peas | Rocket | |
| Pumpkins | Rosemary | |
| Rocket | Runner beans | |
| Runner beans | Salad leaves | |
| Radishes | Squash | |
| Salad leaves | Sweetcorn | |
| Spinach | Watercress | |
| Spring onions | ||
| Squash | ||
| Sweetcorn | ||
| Swiss chard | ||
| Turnips |
| Some ideas for flowers to sow outdoors | Some ideas for flowers to sow indoors | Some ideas for flowers to plant outdoors |
| Calendulas (marigolds) | Aquilegias (columbines) | Antirrhinums (snapdragons) |
| Iberises (candytufts) | Cleomes (spider flowers) | Alstroemerias (Peruvian lilies) |
| Cornflowers | Myosotises (forget-me-nots) | Calendulas (marigolds) |
| Delphiniums (larkspur) | Foxgloves | Chrysanthemums |
| Myosotises (forget-me-nots) | Hollyhocks | Clematis |
| Foxgloves | Sweet Williams | Cosmos |
| Tropaeolums (nasturtiums) | Dahlias | |
| Nigellas (love-in-the-mists) | Foxgloves | |
| Poppies | Geraniums | |
| Sunflowers | Lobelias | |
| Virginia stocks | Lupins | |
| Erysimums (wallflowers) | Petunias | |
| Zinnia | Sunflowers | |
| Sweet peas |
6. June
Summer officially kicks off in June and on the 21st, we see the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year.
You’ll undoubtedly be busy taking care of your existing plants this month, but there’s no reason why you can’t add new ones to your garden or sow a range of fruit, vegetables, and flowers under glass now that some windowsill or greenhouse space has freed up.
For example, with the risk of frost well and truly passed, June is a great time to plant out annual bedding plants (like snapdragons), and pond plants (like water hyacinths and corkscrew rush).
You can also fill in any gaps with ground cover annuals (like nasturtiums and osteospermums) to give your garden a vibrant colour pop come September.
| Fruit and vegetables to sow outdoors | Fruit and vegetables to sow indoors |
Fruit and vegetables to plant outdoors
|
| Beetroot | Broccoli | Broccoli |
| Broccoli | Cauliflower | Brussels sprouts |
| Carrots | Climbing beans | Cauliflower |
| Cauliflower | Corn salad (lamb’s lettuce) | Celeriac |
| Chicory | Coriander | Celery |
| Climbing beans | Cress | Chillies |
| Coriander | Cucumbers | Cucumbers |
| Dill | Dill | Gooseberries |
| Dwarf beans | Dwarf beans | Kale |
| Gherkin | Mustard | Leeks |
| French beans | Pak choi | Melons |
| Kohl rabi | Parsley | Peppers |
| Lettuce | Rocket |
Some varieties of potatoes (like Charlotte and Maris peer)
|
| Parsley | Runner beans | Strawberries |
| Peas | Summer cabbages | |
| Radishes | Tomatoes | |
| Rocket | ||
| Runner beans | ||
| Salad leaves | ||
| Spinach | ||
| Spring onions | ||
| Squash | ||
| Swiss chard | ||
| Turnips |
| Ideas for flowers to sow outdoors | Ideas for flowers to sow indoors | Ideas for flowers to plant outdoors |
| Aquilegias (columbines) | Myosotises (forget-me-nots) | Antirrhinums (snapdragons) |
| Canterbury bells | Foxgloves | Calendulas (marigolds) |
| Cosmos | Pansies | Chrysanthemums |
| Delphiniums (larkspur) | Erysimums (wallflowers) | Corkscrew rush |
| Myosotises (forget-me-nots) | Dahlias | |
| Hollyhocks | Foxgloves | |
| Tropaeolums (nasturtiums) | Lobelias | |
| Nigellas (love-in-a-mist) | Tropaeolums (nasturtiums) | |
| Sweet rocket | Nigellas (love-in-a-mists) | |
| Sweet Williams | Osteospermums | |
| Petunias | ||
| Sunflowers | ||
| Water hyacinths |
7. July
The warm, sunny days in July mean that you’re going to see some real growth in your plants. Although you’ll undoubtedly be busy harvesting, watering, keeping pests at bay, and maintaining a neat and tidy garden, there’s still lots of planting and sowing to be done.
July is considered to be the last month of the year to sow certain vegetables and flowers; so if you want a crop of things like French beans and carrots, then be sure not to miss your opportunity.
Plus, July is considered by many to be the best month for planting winter cabbages and sowing spring cabbages. It’s also a good time to start planting autumn-flowering bulbs, such as crocuses.
| Fruit and vegetables to sow outdoors | Fruit and vegetables to sow indoors | Fruit and vegetables to plant outdoors |
| Beetroot | Climbing beans | Broccoli |
| Broad beans | Corn salad (lamb’s lettuce) | Brussels sprouts |
| Carrots | Coriander | Cauliflower |
| Chicory | Cress | Kale |
| Climbing beans | Dill | Leeks |
| Coriander | Dwarf beans | Winter cabbages |
| Dill | Mustard | |
| Dwarf beans | Pak choi | |
| French beans | Parsley | |
| Kohl rabi | Rocket | |
| Lettuce | Salad leaves | |
| Parsley | Runner beans | |
| Radishes | ||
| Rocket | ||
| Runner beans | ||
| Salad leaves | ||
| Spinach | ||
| Spring onions | ||
| Turnips |
| Some ideas for flowers to sow outdoors | Some ideas for flowers to sow indoors | Some ideas for flowers to plant outdoors |
| Delphiniums (larkspur) | Foxgloves | Autumn crocuses |
| Foxgloves | Pansies | Calendulas (marigolds) |
| Tropaeolums (nasturtiums) | Sweet Williams | Tropaeolums (nasturtiums) |
| Sweet rocket | ||
| Red clovers | ||
| Erysimum (wallflowers) |
8. August
August is a rewarding and gratifying month for a gardener. Not only is the sun shining (hopefully), but it’s also when we really get to reap the rewards of our work.
Lots of your time will be spent harvesting (and enjoying) crops like sweetcorn, peas, beans, tomatoes, and pumpkins, but it’s important to remember to keep planting and sowing if you want the bounty to continue.
August is a good time to start sowing hardy annuals, like cornflowers and poppies, which will help to make sure your garden is in bloom come springtime. You can start sowing biennials like wild carrot later in the month too, which will flower by the time summer rolls back around.
In the meantime, you can also plant short-term harvests of things like radishes and spinach, and get started with planting other, longer-term vegetables like winter cabbages, as well as summer and autumn lettuces.
| Fruit and vegetables to sow outdoors | Fruit and vegetables to sow indoors | Fruit and vegetables to plant outdoors |
| Chicory | Corn salad (lamb’s lettuce) | Cabbages |
| Coriander | Coriander | Cauliflower |
| Radishes | Cress | Kale |
| Rocket | Mustard | Strawberries |
| Salad leaves | Pak choi | |
| Spinach | Rocket | |
| Spring cabbages | Winter lettuce |
| Some ideas for flowers to sow indoors | Some ideas for flowers to sow outdoors | Some ideas for flowers to plant outdoors |
| Dieramas (angel’s fishing rods) | Cornflowers | Autumn crocuses |
| Hollyhocks | Delphiniums (larkspur) | Nerines |
| Salvia (sage) | Nigellas (love-in-a-mist) | Sternbergias |
| Scabiouses | Poppies | |
| Sweet Williams | Red clovers | |
| Wild carrot (Queen Anne’s lace) |
9. September
September marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Now’s the time when you’ll start to feel your garden or plot emptying of fruit and vegetables as harvesting is in full swing.
However, there’s still lots of sowing and planting to be done if you want to make the most of your garden during winter and spring. For example, towards the end of the month, you can get a head start on planting your autumn garlic, which will be ready for harvest come June time.
You can also plant spring-flowering bulbs (like daffodils and crocuses), as well as sowing hardy annual seeds – from Calendulas (marigolds) to love-in-a-mists. This will hopefully make sure your garden has a vibrant splash of colour next spring.
Plus, September is a good time to sow vegetables like salad leaves and spinach directly into the ground.
| Fruit and vegetables to sow outdoors | Fruit and vegetables to sow indoors | Fruit and vegetables to plant outdoors |
| Salad leaves | Cress | Coriander |
| Spinach | Coriander | Garlic |
| Lettuces | Onions | |
| Mustard | Spring cabbages | |
| Salad leaves |
| Some ideas for flowers to sow outdoors | Some ideas for flowers to sow indoors | Some ideas for flowers to plant outdoors |
| Iberises (candytufts) | Delphiniums (larkspur) | Alliums |
| Calendulas (marigolds) | Dieramas (angel’s fishing rods) | Amaryllises |
| Cornflowers | Myosotises (forget-me-nots) | Clematis |
| Gypsophila (baby’s-breath) | Hollyhocks | Crocuses |
| Nigellas (love-in-a-mists) | Salvia (sage) | Daffodils |
| Poppies | Scabiouses | Foxgloves |
| Red clovers | Hyacinths | |
| Wildflowers | Sternbergias | |
| Erysimum (wallflowers) | ||
| Tulips |
10. October
As well as the colours in your garden changing, and the increased demand for harvesting, the new risk of frost in October means that you’ll need to switch up what you’re sowing and planting.
For one, October signals the beginning of the bare root planting season. During this time, bare root fruit trees are in their dormant state, which means they can survive being dug up and transported without needing a pot. Therefore, you can start introducing things like apple, pear, and plum trees to your garden.
Although you can plant potted trees all year round, there are a few reasons why you might want to introduce bare root fruit trees. For example, they’re cheaper, grow more quickly, and adapt better to their new conditions than their potted counterparts.
To read more about the advantages of bare root fruit trees, check out this article from Ashridge Nurseries.
| Fruit and vegetables to sow outdoors | Fruit and vegetables to sow indoors | Fruit and vegetables to plant outdoors |
| Onions | Cress | Asparagus |
| Salad leaves | Mustard | Bare root fruit trees (like apples, pears, and plums) |
| Spinach | Salad leaves | Blueberries |
| Winter lettuce | Garlic | |
| Kale | ||
| Onions | ||
| Rhubarb | ||
| Shallots | ||
| Spring cabbages | ||
| Strawberries | ||
| Winter lettuces |
| Ideas for flowers to sow outdoors | Ideas for flowers to sow indoors | Ideas for flowers to plant outdoors |
| Iberises (candytufts) | Coleuses | Alliums |
| Calendulas (marigolds) | Delphiniums (larkspur) | Amaryllises |
| Cornflowers | Sweet peas | Bare root trees and shrubs (like witch hazel and wintersweet) |
| Nigellas (love-in-a-mists) | Bare root roses | |
| Poppies | Clematis | |
| Crocuses | ||
| Daffodils | ||
| Foxgloves | ||
| Hyacinths | ||
| Liatris (blazing stars) | ||
| Lilies | ||
| Pansies | ||
| Erysimum (wallflowers) | ||
| Tulips |
11. November
When we’re planning when to sow seeds, many of us think of springtime. But spring is typically one of the busiest times for gardeners, so sowing seeds in autumn can be a helpful way to get a head start and free up some time later on.
For example, late October/early November is a popular time to start sowing sweet peas. This is because by sowing seeds in autumn instead of waiting for spring, you can allow your seedlings an extra six months of growth time – giving you bigger flowers and stronger stems come springtime.
November is also considered to be one of the best months to plant hedging in your garden, which is often supplied as bare root plants.
| Fruit and vegetables to sow outside | Fruit and vegetables to sow inside | Fruit and vegetables to plant outside |
| Broad beans | Cress | Asparagus |
| Mustard | Bare root fruit trees (like apples, pears, and plums) | |
| Winter lettuce | Blackberries | |
| Blueberries | ||
| Garlic | ||
| Onions | ||
| Raspberries | ||
| Rhubarb | ||
| Shallots | ||
| Spring cabbages | ||
| Strawberries |
| Some ideas for flowers to sow indoors | Some ideas for flowers to plant outdoors |
| Coleuses | Amaryllises |
| Delphiniums (larkspur) | Bare root roses |
| Geraniums | Bare root shrubs |
| Hardy cyclamen | Bare root trees |
| Sweet peas | Crocuses |
| Daffodils | |
| Hyacinths | |
| Lilies | |
| Pansies | |
| Tulips |
12. December
Now that winter is well and truly here, the opportunities for sowing and planting outside are far fewer. But December is a great time to start sowing plants inside ready to plant out in the spring.
For example, microgreens like cress and mustard can be sown indoors all year round. Plus, you can also get a head start by sowing some half-hardy annuals like begonias indoors toward the end of the year.
Just as in November, you can still sow greens like winter lettuce in December. But, due to the colder weather, this will now have to be done indoors, inside a greenhouse, or in a cold frame (which is like a greenhouse but much smaller and keeps plants at lower temperatures).
| Fruit and vegetables to sow outdoors | Fruit and vegetables to sow indoors | Fruit and vegetables to plant outdoors |
| Broad beans | Cress |
Bare root fruit trees (like apples, pears, and plums)
|
| Mustard | Blueberries | |
| Winter lettuce | Garlic | |
| Gooseberries | ||
| Raspberry and blackberry canes | ||
| Red, white, and black currants | ||
| Rhubarb | ||
| Strawberries |
| Some ideas for flowers to sow indoors | Some ideas for flowers to plant outdoors |
| Begonias | Amaryllises |
| Coleuses | Bare root roses |
| Delphiniums (larkspur) | Bare root shrubs and trees |
| Geraniums | Cyclamen (sow bread) |
| Lupins | Heather |
| Sweet peas | Hyacinths |
| Ivy | |
| Lilies | |
| Tulips |
Final thoughts...
Hopefully, this calendar will give you a rough guide for what you can plant and sow each month. But remember to visit the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)’s website for more information once you’ve decided what you’d like to grow and/or sow.
For more gardening advice and information, why not head on over to our home and garden section? Here, you’ll find a wide range of articles like 8 superfoods that you can grow from home and 10 tools that can make gardening easier.