A simple UK seed sowing calendar by month
Knowing when to sow is half the battle in a UK garden. A gardening subscription that sends seeds is most rewarding when you sow at the right time for the season and your region.
This is a general calendar for the UK temperate climate. Local conditions vary, so treat it as a starting point and check each seed packet for specifics.
Late winter: January and February
These are quiet months, but you can make an early start indoors or under cover with a heated propagator. Slow growers such as chillies and aubergines benefit from an early sowing, and you can start onions from seed and sweet peas.
Outdoors, focus on planning, clearing beds and chitting seed potatoes. Avoid sowing tender crops outside, as frost will kill young seedlings.
Spring: March, April and May
March and April are the busiest sowing months. Start tomatoes indoors, and sow hardy vegetables outdoors as the soil warms, including carrots, beetroot, peas and broad beans. Harden off indoor-raised plants before moving them outside.
May is the turning point once the risk of frost has passed in your area. Tender crops such as courgettes, beans, squash and sunflowers can go outside. Always harden off seedlings over a week or so to avoid shock.
Summer: June, July and August
Keep sowing salads, carrots and beetroot in succession every few weeks for a continuous harvest. June is good for direct sowing many crops as the soil is warm.
In July and August, look ahead to autumn and winter by sowing spring cabbage, oriental greens and some biennial flowers. Regular watering matters most during dry spells.
Autumn and early winter: September to December
Autumn is the time to plant garlic and autumn-sown broad beans, and to sow hardy annual flowers that will establish before winter. Spring-flowering bulbs go in during this window too.
By November and December, sow sweet peas under cover for strong early plants, plant garlic if you have not already, and plan next year. Frost dates vary widely across the UK, so adjust to your local climate.
Frequently asked questions
What does hardening off mean?
Hardening off is gradually acclimatising indoor-raised seedlings to outdoor conditions over about a week, so they are not shocked by cold, wind and stronger light.
When is the last frost in the UK?
It varies by region and year, often from late spring in milder areas to later in colder or northern areas. Wait until your local last frost has passed before sowing tender crops outside.
Can I sow seeds in winter?
Some, yes. Slow crops and sweet peas can be started under cover, but most tender crops should wait until spring. Check the packet for timings.