Time your sowing

UK Vegetable Planting Calendar

The right sowing date depends on where you garden. This calendar works out when to start seeds indoors, when to sow or plant out, and the last date for an autumn crop, based on each UK region's average frost dates. Choose the region closest to you.

Choose your region

East of England London & the South East cities North of England Northern Ireland Scotland South East England South West England The Midlands Wales

How this calendar works

Every crop is timed against your region's last spring frost and first autumn frost. Hardy vegetables are sown a few weeks before the last frost, when the soil is workable. Tender crops such as tomatoes, courgettes and French beans are started under cover and only planted out once frost risk has passed. Where a fast crop can still ripen before the autumn frost, we show the last sensible sowing date.

These dates are guides based on approximate regional averages, not a forecast. Your own garden's aspect, altitude and shelter can shift them by two weeks or more. Always check the current weather and your local frost dates before sowing tender crops, and keep fleece ready for a late cold snap.

Frost dates by region Month-by-month calendar Growing guides