Vegetable growing guide

Find out what to grow in your garden and when

You don't need a big patch of land to grow your own produce – with a bit of careful planning, you can enjoy home-grown vegetables all year round.

Download our exclusive Beginner's Vegetable Patch plan for a small area of land and design the ideal plot.

Plus, follow our guide on what to plant and when.

Carrots
Buy baby carrot varieties as these can be planted close together.
PLANT May to July
HARVEST August to November

Cherry tomatoes
Grow in hanging baskets. Choose a variety such as 'Tumbler'.
PLANT May to June
HARVEST August to October

Chives
Will die back in late autumn, then reappear in spring.
PLANT May
HARVEST July to September

Climbing courgettes
Train up the fence alongside runner beans.
PLANT May to June
HARVEST September to October

Dwarf broad beans
Train up a wigwam support made by tying four bamboo canes together at the top with string.
PLANT May
HARVEST September

Lettuces
Opt for 'cut and come again' varieties.
PLANT May
HARVEST August to September

Parsley
Cut regularly to keep it sprouting all season.
PLANT May to June
HARVEST August to first frosts

Parsnips
As with carrots, buy a baby variety so you can pack more into your plot.
PLANT May
HARVEST September to December

Peppers or chillies
Buy them as plug plants, ready to go straight into the ground.
PLANT May to June
HARVEST September to October

Potatoes
Plant in a deep barrel and top up with compost as shoots appear. Harvest when flowers start to bloom at the top.
PLANT up until mid-May
HARVEST September/October

Radishes
Plant among parsnips and carrots as they will be ready to pick first.
PLANT May
HARVEST July

Runner beans
Train up a trellis and tie the new shoots in regularly.
PLANT July
HARVEST August or September

Thyme
Trim at the end of each summer to prevent it getting straggly.
PLANT spring/summer
HARVEST any time

For more
See our guide to buying fresh, local produce.

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