beet family
A dependable root crop whose young leaves are edible too, well suited to repeated small sowings.
- Sow
- Direct sow outdoors from March to July; use protection for the earliest starts.
- Harvest
- June to October, often 8–12 weeks after sowing.
pea and bean family
A hardy bean that provides an early harvest and can free a bed in time for summer crops.
- Sow
- October–November for hardy varieties in mild sites, or February–April.
- Harvest
- May to August, depending on sowing time.
brassica family
The green-headed crop commonly sold as broccoli, producing a main head followed by smaller side shoots.
- Sow
- Sow under cover or in a seedbed from late winter through spring.
- Harvest
- Summer to late autumn, before flower buds open.
brassica family
A long-season winter brassica that occupies substantial space but crops when little else does.
- Sow
- Sow from March to May.
- Harvest
- September to March, depending on variety.
brassica family
A diverse crop with spring, summer, autumn and winter varieties, so packet timing matters more than a single generic calendar.
- Sow
- Variety-dependent; broadly February to August.
- Harvest
- Potentially year-round when seasonal varieties are combined.
carrot family
A compact direct-sown root crop, with short-rooted varieties suitable for containers.
- Sow
- Direct sow from February under protection, then outdoors through July.
- Harvest
- May to late autumn, depending on type and sowing date.
beet family
A robust cut-and-come-again leaf crop that can bridge summer, autumn and the following spring.
- Sow
- Sow outdoors from April to July; baby-leaf batches can start earlier.
- Harvest
- Repeated pickings from summer into autumn and often again in spring.
squash family
A highly productive summer crop where one or two plants are often enough for a household.
- Sow
- Sow indoors in April–May or direct outdoors in late May–June.
- Harvest
- July to October; pick fruits small and frequently.
squash family
A warm-season climbing crop; greenhouse and outdoor varieties need different treatment.
- Sow
- Sow indoors from late winter to spring.
- Harvest
- July to October, depending on protection and variety.
pea and bean family
Fast summer beans available as compact dwarf or space-efficient climbing varieties.
- Sow
- Sow under cover in April–May or direct outdoors from late May into July.
- Harvest
- July to October with regular picking.
onion family
A low-maintenance overwintering crop planted as named, disease-free cloves.
- Sow
- Not normally grown from seed.
- Harvest
- Late spring to early autumn, according to planting time and type.
brassica family
One of the hardiest leafy crops, with regular picking possible through winter and into spring.
- Sow
- Sow from March to June.
- Harvest
- Autumn through spring; baby leaves can be earlier.
onion family
A long-season, cold-hardy allium that provides valuable autumn and winter harvests.
- Sow
- Sow under cover from January or outdoors in spring.
- Harvest
- August to April, depending on variety.
lettuce family
A succession-friendly salad crop, especially useful as loose-leaf or cut-and-come-again types.
- Sow
- Small batches from late winter to early autumn, with protection at the season edges.
- Harvest
- Spring to autumn outdoors, and longer under protection.
onion family
A space-efficient staple grown most simply from sets, with autumn and spring planting options.
- Sow
- Sow seed indoors from January or direct in spring.
- Harvest
- Early summer to early autumn, depending on planting time.
brassica family
A fast oriental green that performs best in cool, moist spring or late-summer conditions.
- Sow
- Spring under cover, or direct from late spring with a particularly useful late-summer window.
- Harvest
- Baby leaves in about 30 days; fuller heads in roughly 45–75 days.
pea and bean family
A cool-season climbing crop, with early and maincrop varieties and edible-pod options.
- Sow
- Sow from late winter to early July; hardy varieties may be autumn sown.
- Harvest
- May to September, often about three months after sowing.
potato and tomato family
A popular crop whose early types are especially valuable because they clear in time for a second crop.
- Sow
- Chit seed potatoes from late winter if desired.
- Harvest
- First earlies from June; maincrops into autumn.
brassica family
One of the fastest food crops, ideal for gaps and repeated small sowings.
- Sow
- Direct sow in spring, early summer and late summer; winter types in July–August.
- Harvest
- Salad types in roughly 4–8 weeks; winter types later.
brassica family
A compact peppery leaf crop that can be harvested repeatedly and grows well in containers.
- Sow
- Direct sow from March to September, extending later with protection.
- Harvest
- From about four weeks, then pick regularly.
pea and bean family
A tall, productive summer bean that makes excellent use of vertical space.
- Sow
- Sow under cover in April–May or direct outside in May–June.
- Harvest
- July to October with frequent picking.
beet family
A quick cool-season leaf crop for spring and autumn, with repeat pickings from small sowings.
- Sow
- Sow in spring and again from August into early autumn.
- Harvest
- Spring to early summer and again in autumn or winter under protection.
onion family
A slender, quick allium suited to short rows, mixed containers and repeated sowings.
- Sow
- Direct sow in batches from spring through late summer.
- Harvest
- Late spring through autumn, depending on sowing.
potato and tomato family
A high-value warm-season crop, with bush and cordon habits requiring different training.
- Sow
- Sow indoors from February to April.
- Harvest
- July to October, earlier under protection.
brassica family
A fast root crop sown little and often, with edible tops as well as roots.
- Sow
- Early varieties March–June; maincrops July to mid-August.
- Harvest
- May to early winter, often 6–10 weeks after sowing.
grass family
A warm-season block-planted crop whose late-summer clearance creates a useful autumn handover.
- Sow
- Sow indoors from mid- to late spring; outdoor sowing is possible later in mild areas.
- Harvest
- August to October, according to variety and summer warmth.
squash family
Sprawling, productive summer crops that release a large footprint from late summer into autumn.
- Sow
- Sow indoors in mid-spring or outdoors from late spring once conditions warm.
- Harvest
- Summer squash from July; pumpkins and winter squash mainly September–October before hard frost.
brassica family
A demanding brassica with seasonal varieties whose clearance can fall anywhere from summer to spring.
- Sow
- Mainly March–May, with earlier and later windows for specific seasonal types.
- Harvest
- Potentially most of the year when correctly timed varieties are combined.
brassica family
UK sprouting broccoli is a long-season brassica that often clears in spring, unlike summer-cropping calabrese.
- Sow
- Sow spring to early summer, depending on type and intended harvest.
- Harvest
- Sprouting broccoli mainly late winter to spring; calabrese generally summer to autumn.
rose family
A compact perennial fruit usually kept for several seasons before the old bed is replaced elsewhere.
- Sow
- Usually bought as runners or plants rather than sown.
- Harvest
- Early summer into autumn, depending on type.