Month-by-Month Guide to Growing Vegetables

Growing your own vegetables is a rewarding way to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce throughout the year. However, knowing what to plant and when is key to a successful harvest. This month-by-month guide will help you plan your vegetable garden in the UK, ensuring a steady supply of delicious crops all year round.

Using metal planters can also extend the growing season by keeping the soil warmer for longer, helping seeds germinate earlier in the year and allowing plants to thrive in cooler months.

January – Planning & Preparation

🌱 What to Sow Indoors:

• Tomatoes, peppers, chillies

• Aubergines

• Onions from seed

• Early lettuce and salad leaves

🌱 Garden Jobs:

• Plan your crop rotation for the year.

• Start chitting seed potatoes in a cool, bright place.

• Clean tools, pots, and greenhouses to prevent disease.

  
  

🌿 Tip: Metal planters absorb and retain heat better than wooden or plastic containers, keeping soil temperatures more stable—ideal for overwintering crops like spinach and lettuce.

February – Early Indoor Sowing

🌱 What to Sow Indoors:

• Leeks, onions

• Tomatoes, chillies, and peppers

• Broad beans

• Early brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts)

🌱 Garden Jobs:

• Prepare seed beds if the weather is mild.

• Force rhubarb for an earlier harvest.

• Cover soil with cloches to warm it for early sowings.

  
  

🌿 Tip: For small gardens, raised metal planters positioned in sunny spots help warm the soil faster, letting you start crops earlier.

March – The Growing Season Begins

🌱 What to Sow Outdoors (if the soil is warm enough):

• Carrots, beetroot, radishes

• Parsnips, peas, spinach

• Lettuce, spring onions

• Early potatoes

🌱 What to Sow Indoors:

• Courgettes, cucumbers

• Brussels sprouts, summer cabbage

• Basil, coriander, parsley

🌱 Garden Jobs:

• Mulch fruit trees and bushes.

• Protect young seedlings from frost.

  
  

🌿 Tip: Placing metal planters against south-facing walls maximises heat absorption, helping plants establish strong roots early in the season.

April – Peak Sowing Time

🌱 What to Sow Outdoors:

• Beans (broad, runner, French)

• Carrots, beetroot, turnips

• Spinach, chard, lettuce, radish

• Onions and shallots

🌱 What to Sow Indoors:

• Pumpkins and squash

• Sweetcorn

• Melons (in a heated greenhouse)

🌱 Garden Jobs:

• Harden off plants ready for transplanting.

• Net soft fruits to protect from birds.

  
  

🌿 Tip: Metal planters provide excellent drainage, preventing waterlogged roots—especially useful during April showers!

May – Planting Out

🌱 What to Sow Outdoors:

• Sweetcorn, courgettes, squash

• Cabbages, kale, Brussels sprouts

• Carrots, beetroot, radish

🌱 What to Sow Indoors:

• Winter brassicas (cauliflower, kale)

• More salad crops for succession planting

🌱 Garden Jobs:

• Harden off tender plants before planting them outside.

• Earth up potatoes as they grow.

  
  

🌿 Tip: In cooler regions, planting in metal planters can help keep the soil 2-3°C warmer at night, preventing damage to young plants.

June – Summer Growth

🌱 What to Sow Outdoors:

• French beans, runner beans

• Beetroot, carrots, radish

• Lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard

🌱 Garden Jobs:

• Harvest first crops of salad leaves, radishes, and early peas.

• Water regularly in dry spells.

  
  

🌿 Tip: Metal planters placed on patios retain heat from the day, keeping plants growing strongly overnight.

July – Keep the Harvest Coming

🌱 What to Sow Outdoors:

• Last sowings of carrots, beetroot, and turnips for autumn.

• Salad leaves, radishes, spinach

• Spring cabbage for next year

🌱 Garden Jobs:

• Harvest garlic and onions.

• Keep beans and courgettes picked to encourage more growth.

  
  

🌿 Tip: Planters also help maximise small garden spaces, allowing you to grow vertically by adding trellises for beans and tomatoes.

August – Late Summer Crops

🌱 What to Sow Outdoors:

• Spring onions, lettuce, radish

• Spinach, chard

• Turnips for winter

🌱 Garden Jobs:

• Harvest maincrop potatoes.

• Start drying onions for storage.

  
  

🌿 Tip: Metal planters heat up in the sun, making them ideal for Mediterranean crops like tomatoes, chillies, and peppers.

September – Preparing for Autumn

🌱 What to Sow Outdoors:

• Overwintering onions, garlic

• Spring cabbage

• Salad leaves for autumn

🌱 Garden Jobs:

• Collect seeds from flowers and vegetables for next year.

• Remove spent crops to make space for autumn plantings.

  
  

🌿 Tip: Metal planters allow you to extend the growing season by keeping soil warmer for longer, ensuring healthy late-season crops.

October – Wrapping Up the Growing Season

🌱 What to Sow Outdoors:

• Broad beans for an early harvest next year

• Garlic and onion sets

🌱 Garden Jobs:

• Protect tender plants from frost.

• Mulch around perennials to protect roots.

  
  

🌿 Tip: Use insulated planters or wrap metal planters with bubble wrap to protect roots from frost.

November – Winter Preparations

🌱 What to Sow Outdoors:

• Garlic and shallots (if the weather is mild)

• Broad beans

🌱 Garden Jobs:

• Dig over empty beds and add compost.

• Plant fruit trees and bushes.

  
  

🌿 Tip: Planters placed in greenhouses or polytunnels can help you continue growing leafy greens and hardy herbs through winter.

December – Rest & Plan for Next Year

🌱 What to Sow Indoors:

• Start forcing rhubarb

• Plan crop rotations for next season

🌱 Garden Jobs:

• Clean tools and sharpen blades.

• Check stored vegetables and remove any that are spoiling.

  
  

🌿 Tip: Even in winter, metal planters keep roots insulated, allowing you to grow cold-hardy crops like kale and chard.

Final Thoughts

With this month-by-month guide, you can enjoy fresh, seasonal produce all year round. By planning ahead, staggering sowings, and using metal planters to extend the growing season, you can make the most of your space—even in small gardens or urban environments.

🌿 Looking for the perfect planters to help extend your growing season? Check out our range of high-quality metal planters!