Knowing what to plant and when is one of the most rewarding parts of gardening. Whether you’re growing veg, herbs, or flowers, timing is everything. To help you get the best results from your garden all year round, we’ve created a simple, month-by-month planting calendar tailored to UK conditions. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned green thumb, this guide offers expert advice with a friendly touch—straight from the team at Chessington Garden Centre.
January – Planning & Preparation
While the garden may be resting, it’s the perfect time to plan.
What to Do:
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Clean pots, tools, and greenhouses
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Order seeds and summer-flowering bulbs
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Start a garden journal
What to Sow:
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Indoors: Chillies, aubergines, and early tomatoes (under heated propagators)
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Garlic and shallots (in trays for planting out later)
February – Early Indoor Sowing
Days are still short, but light levels are increasing.
What to Sow:
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Indoors: Tomatoes, chillies, sweet peas, and lettuce
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Outdoors (if mild): Broad beans, onion sets, shallots
Garden Tip:
Cover prepared veg beds with fleece or cloches to warm the soil early.
March – Spring into Action
Now the garden really starts waking up.
What to Sow:
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Indoors: Courgettes, cucumbers, and brassicas
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Outdoors: Carrots, beetroot, peas, spinach, and parsnips
Flowers:
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Sow hardy annuals like calendula and cornflowers directly
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Plant summer-flowering bulbs like gladioli
April – The Busy Month
April is a key month for sowing and planting.
What to Sow:
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Outdoors: Lettuce, radish, turnips, leeks, and more peas
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Indoors: French beans and runner beans (for later planting out)
Flowers:
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Sweet peas can be planted out
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Sow nasturtiums, cosmos, and marigolds
Top Tip:
Watch out for late frosts—keep fleece handy for young seedlings.
May – Final Frosts & Full Speed Ahead
The risk of frost starts to ease, so planting kicks off in earnest.
What to Sow/Plant:
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Outdoors: Beans, courgettes, squashes, sweetcorn, pumpkins
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Harden off and plant out tomatoes and cucumbers
Flowers:
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Bedding plants like petunias and lobelia can be planted after mid-May
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Start hanging baskets
June – Garden in Full Swing
Everything starts growing fast in June.
What to Sow:
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Succession sowings of salad crops, carrots, and beetroot
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Florence fennel, chicory, and dwarf French beans
Flowers:
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Deadhead spring flowers and plant summer perennials
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Start planting autumn-flowering bulbs
July – Summer Maintenance & Successions
Enjoy the harvest while preparing for late-season crops.
What to Sow:
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Leafy greens like kale, pak choi, and winter lettuces
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Turnips, swedes, and kohlrabi
Garden Tip:
Water deeply and mulch to retain moisture during warm spells.
August – Late Planting Opportunities
Still time for a few final sowings and harvesting galore.
What to Sow:
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Spring cabbages, spinach, oriental greens, and salad leaves
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Green manures like phacelia and clover to enrich soil
Flowers:
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Sow hardy annuals for next spring (e.g. poppies, nigella)
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Plant autumn bulbs
September – Shift to Autumn
The garden begins to slow down, but there’s still plenty to do.
What to Sow:
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Garlic and overwintering onion sets
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Broad beans for overwintering (in milder regions)
Flowers:
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Plant autumn-flowering crocus and colchicum
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Divide congested perennials
October – Tidy & Prepare
Time to wind down the growing season and prep for winter.
What to Plant:
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Spring-flowering bulbs: daffodils, tulips, hyacinths
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Garlic and autumn onions
Garden Tip:
Clear spent plants, compost green waste, and mulch beds.
November – Wrap Up the Year
It’s mostly about maintenance and protecting your garden now.
What to Plant:
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Bare-root trees, shrubs, and hedging plants
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Garlic (still time in milder regions)
Garden Tip:
Clean and store tools, cover beds with compost or leaf mulch.
December – Reflect and Rejoice
Take stock of your successes, enjoy your harvests, and plan ahead.
What to Do:
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Feed birds and maintain winter interest with evergreens
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Final chance to plant bare-root fruit trees
Garden Tip:
Use this quiet month to review your garden journal and dream big for spring.
Final Thoughts
Gardening is a journey through the seasons, and the more in tune you are with the calendar, the more rewarding your harvest will be. Whether you’re growing veggies, flowers, or both, a little planning goes a long way.
Need help choosing the right seeds or tools? Pop into Chessington Garden Centre and chat with our friendly experts—we’re always here to help you grow with confidence.
