Planting at the right time is crucial for a thriving garden. Whether you’re growing vegetables, fruit or flowers, timing your planting ensures a bountiful harvest or beautiful blooms in the right season.
As a result, Google searches for ‘What to plant now’ have skyrocketed 42% in the last month to 63K.
That’s why gardening expert and founder of Gardeners Dream, Craig Wilson, has provided the exact dates to start planting what and when for a productive and bountiful all-year-round garden.
Craig says following a planting calendar is essential
“Following a seasonal planting calendar ensures you can enjoy a continuous cycle of growth, harvests and vibrant blooms throughout the year. Whether you’re growing food for the table or flowers for your home, a little planning can make sure your garden is always full of life.”
Mid – Late February – Start indoors for a head start
“If you’re eager to grow tomatoes and peppers, starting them indoors now means they’ll be strong enough to move outside once temperatures start to increase. A sunny windowsill or a heated propagator can work wonders for early growth.
From the 18th to the 28th of February, plant tomatoes, peppers and aubergines indoors to give them a strong start before transplanting them outside in the springtime. Hardy annuals like sweet peas and calendula can be started under covers or in brassica cages for early blooms.”
Mid – Late March – The start of outdoor planting
“March is when the garden really starts to awaken, so now is the perfect time to plant root vegetables like carrots and beetroot. Hardy garden plants can also be planted from now including shrubs and perennials. However, make sure the soil is free of stones and other large debris so they can grow large and straight.
Mid to late March is the best time to sow a variety of salad crops like lettuce, spinach, mustard and corn salad. These can be prepared directly in the soil as soon as the ground is no longer frozen. For flowers, tubers like dahlias can be started indoors and planted outside when matured a little further.”
Mid – Late April – The garden springs to life
“April is one of the most exciting months for gardeners. This is when the soil starts to warm up, and planting outdoors becomes a reality. This is a great time to establish a herb garden with basil, parsley and chives in pots or garden beds.
If you’re planning to grow strawberries, consider planting them in hanging baskets to keep them safe from slugs or in raised beds with slug wool as an alternative deterrent. Now is also a great time to sow your sunflowers, pumpkins and courgettes for a late summer/early autumn harvest.”
Early – Late May – The main growing season begins
“Once the last frost has gone, May is the best time to get your starter tomatoes, peppers, and beans in the ground. Support them with canes or trellises early so they are able to grow straight up and avoid flopping.
This is the best time to plant cosmos, marigolds and nasturtiums, which can also be companion planted with your vegetables to deter pests like squash bugs and white flies. They can also repel larger animals like deer or rabbits to prevent them from eating your plants.”
Early June – Plant for summer and late harvests
“June is a great month to plant fragrant plants like lavender and jasmine, which are perfect for attracting pollinators to your garden. An essential for flowers if you want to see a healthy harvest this year.
If you’re planning to plant melons or squash, these thrive in warm conditions, so plant them in well-drained soil, with plenty of sun to help them thrive. Late-season varieties of spinach and other salad greens like mizuna are also a great option to plant during this month too.”
Mid – Late July – Keep planting for a continuous harvest
“In the height of summer, there’s still plenty to plant. Cabbage and kale, if planted now, will provide fresh greens in the colder months up to Christmas if maintained correctly, making them perfect options for Christmas dinner.
Continue planting pest deterrents like borage and chrysanthemums, as they will be out in full force between mid-summer and autumn. Planting winter varieties of carrots like ‘Eskimo’ carrots is another great option for a winter harvest, with this variety proving to be sweeter than your everyday carrot.”
Early – Late August – Preparing for autumn harvests
“August is the month when you can see the results of your hard work from earlier in the year come to life and be ready for harvest. It’s also a perfect time to think ahead for next year.
Planting spring bulbs, such as daffodils and tulips, in early August ensures you’ll have a healthy crop to harvest next year. Additionally, you can grow leafy greens like winter purslane, winter lettuce, and rocket under brassica cages to enjoy fresh leaves during the cooler months.”
Late September – The start of the cool season
“Planting in late September is a good idea as it provides you with an earlier crop in spring, makes use of otherwise empty soil and saves you time on spring planting hardy varieties of herbs like rosemary and thyme. Plants like these are able to handle the frosts of winter and add flavour to winter dishes.
In addition to your herbs, overwintering onions and garlic will develop strong roots before the first frosts and will be ready to harvest in mid to late spring. Also, making use of the last of the warm weather is useful for growing the last radishes and turnips of the year as they mature in a matter of weeks.”
Early October – Late January – Prepping your garden for winter and spring
“Late autumn is perfect for planting dormant fruit trees as they’ll establish strong roots over winter and burst into life in the springtime. Just avoid planting when the ground is frozen solid, as this will prove difficult to get in the ground.
Winter flowers like crocuses, cyclamens and winter pansies are essential for brightening up dull patches over colder months. For your vegetable patch, sowing broad beans and sweet peas in January gives them a strong head start and makes them hardier plants come springtime. Planting in autumn before the ground freezes allows your plants to establish larger root systems in the run-up to spring for bigger blooms the next year.”
