Plant Guide
78 crops for UK gardens, each with detailed advice on sowing, growing, harvesting and storing. Pick the sunlight you have and your garden size to narrow the list.
Full sun: 6+ hours of direct sun. Partial shade: 3–6 hours of direct sun. Shade: under 3 hours of direct sun. Many crops cope with more than one level, so they appear under each.
Apple
Medium Full sunPlant bare-root trees Nov–Mar
Asparagus
Hard Full sunPlant crowns Mar–Apr
Aubergine
Hard Full sunFeb–Mar indoors with heat
Basil
Medium Full sunApr–Jul indoors; outdoors from June
Beetroot
Easy Full sunMar–Jul, straight into the soil
Blackberry
Easy Full sunPlant Nov–Mar
Blackcurrant
Easy Full sunPlant Nov–Mar
Blueberry
Medium Full sunPlant Oct–Mar
Borage
Easy Full sunApr–Jun direct
Broad bean
Easy Full sunOct–Nov and Feb–Apr outdoors
Brussels sprouts
Medium Full sunMar–Apr indoors; plant out May–Jun
Butternut squash
Medium Full sunApr–May indoors; plant out late May–June
Cabbage
Medium Full sunMar–Jun in trays; plant out after about 6 weeks
Calabrese
Medium Full sunMar–Jun, indoors or direct
Calendula
Easy Full sunMar–Jun direct; Sep for early flowers
Carrot
Medium Full sunMar–Jul, straight into the soil
Cauliflower
Hard Full sunMar–May indoors; plant out May–Jul
Celeriac
Medium Full sunMar–Apr indoors, plant out May–Jun
Celery
Hard Full sunMar–Apr indoors; plant out late May–June
Chilli pepper
Medium Full sunJan–Mar indoors with heat
Chives
Easy Full sunMar–May, or divide clumps in spring or autumn
Coriander
Medium Partial shadeMar–Sep, little and often
Courgette
Easy Full sunApr–May indoors; plant out late May–June
Cucumber
Medium Full sunApr–May indoors; plant out late May–June
Dill
Easy Full sunApr–Aug, direct
Fig
Medium Full sunPlant Mar–Apr, or container trees in spring
Florence fennel
Medium Full sunMay–Jul outdoors
French bean
Easy Full sunApr–Jun; plant out late May–June
French tarragon
Medium Full sunPlant Apr–Jun
Garlic
Easy Full sunOct–Nov (best) or Feb–Mar, planting cloves
Globe artichoke
Medium Full sunSeed Mar–Apr indoors, or plant offsets Mar–Apr
Gooseberry
Easy Full sunPlant Nov–Mar
Jerusalem artichoke
Easy Full sunFeb–Apr, planting tubers
Kale
Easy Full sunApr–Jul in trays or a seedbed
Kohlrabi
Easy Full sunMar–Aug, straight into the soil
Lamb’s lettuce
Easy Full sunAug–Oct (also Mar–Apr)
Land cress
Easy Partial shadeMar–Apr and Aug–Sep
Leek
Easy Full sunMar–Apr in trays or a seedbed; plant out Jun–Jul
Lemon balm
Easy Partial shadeSeed Mar–May; plant Mar–Oct
Lettuce
Easy Full sunMar–Aug outdoors; Feb and Sep–Oct under cover
Lovage
Easy Full sunSeed Mar–Apr or Aug; plant Mar–Oct
Microgreens
Easy Partial shadeAll year round, indoors
Mint
Easy Partial shadePlant Mar–Oct; seed Mar–May
Mizuna
Easy Partial shadeMar–Sep outdoors; autumn sowings under cover
Nasturtium
Easy Full sunApr–Jun direct; Mar–Apr indoors
Onion
Easy Full sunMar–Apr from sets; Jan–Feb from seed indoors
Oregano
Easy Full sunPlant Mar–Oct; seed Apr–May
Pak choi
Easy Full sunApr–Aug, straight into the soil or in trays
Parsley
Medium Partial shadeMar–Aug
Parsnip
Medium Full sunMar–Apr, straight into the soil
Pea
Easy Full sunMar–Jun outdoors; Oct–Nov for overwintering types
Perpetual spinach
Easy Full sunMar–Aug, straight into the soil
Plum
Medium Full sunPlant Nov–Mar, or container trees in spring
Potato
Easy Full sunMar–May, planting seed potatoes
Pumpkin
Medium Full sunApr–May indoors; plant out late May–June
Radicchio
Medium Full sunJun–Jul for autumn and winter heads
Radish
Easy Full sunMar–Sep, straight into the soil
Raspberry
Easy Full sunPlant bare-root canes Nov–Mar
Redcurrant
Easy Full sunPlant Nov–Mar
Rhubarb
Easy Full sunPlant crowns Nov–Mar
Rocket
Easy Full sunMar–Sep, straight into the soil
Rosemary
Easy Full sunPlant Mar–Oct
Runner bean
Easy Full sunApr–Jun; plant out late May–June
Sage
Easy Full sunPlant Mar–Oct; seed Apr–May
Shallot
Easy Full sunFeb–Apr, planting sets
Sorrel
Easy Full sunMar–Jun, or divide in spring
Spinach
Easy Partial shadeMar–Apr and Aug–Sep, straight into the soil
Spring onion
Easy Full sunMar–Aug (and Aug–Sep for overwintering)
Sprouting broccoli
Medium Full sunApr–May in trays; plant out Jun–Jul
Strawberry
Easy Full sunPlant Aug–Sep or Mar–Apr
Swede
Easy Full sunMay–Jun, straight into the soil
Sweet pepper
Medium Full sunFeb–Mar indoors with heat
Sweetcorn
Medium Full sunApr–May indoors; plant out late May–June
Swiss chard
Easy Full sunApr–Jun outdoors; Mar–Apr in modules
Thyme
Easy Full sunPlant Mar–Oct; seed Mar–May
Tomato
Medium Full sunFeb–Apr indoors; plant out late May–June
Turnip
Easy Full sunMar–Apr and Jul–Aug, straight into the soil
Winter purslane
Easy Partial shadeAug–Oct (also Feb–Apr)