Vegetable Growing Guides

Onions and shallots can be grown from seeds or sets, the choice is yours and depends on your set up and i have listed the options below. I get equal success with both but generally i like sowing from seed so have a look at the sowing instructions a bit further down....

Spring Onions can be sown all year round from February onwards. I multi sow my onions and that includes spring onions.  Sow approx 8 seeds per module which has been filled with compost and watered prior to sowing. Sow seeds approc 0.5cm deep and cover lightly with...

Broad beans are a favourite for an early crop of fresh beans. They are hardy annuals and can therefore be sown in Autumn or Spring and can be grown in any soil but they dont like to dry out. Sowing in Autumn gives crops early the following year, as early as late April...

  Sow direct into a prepared bed in late August onwards for winter leaves, seeds will need to be covered with a fine layer of compost and kept moist.  Sowing made in the latter part of the year stand well through the colder months covered by fleece or inside a...

  Garlic are grown from individual cloves and can be planted in Autumn or in Spring. Advantage of planting in Autumn is that the cloves will have more time to grow than planting in Spring but in both cases the bulb fattens in early summer and is ready to harvest...

Onions and shallots can be grown from seeds or sets, the choice is yours and depends on your set up and i have listed the options below. I get equal success with both but generally i like sowing from seed so have a look at the sowing instructions a bit further down....

A member of the Brassica family, although its also known as a German turnip. It has a long sowing period, you can sow from April to August if you are sowing into modules inside or undercover, or you can sow direct into your prepared bed. As with most sowings, I prefer...

Easy to grow. Sow indoors always into modules as direct sowing may suffer due to rodent attack! Sow into modules filled with compost from April to May and grow on until ready to plant out. They are really for growing in a bed and not suited to containers, they also...

  Melons really love heat and for me I would only attempt to grow these in a greenhouse or poly tunnel and they also need a long season so good to start early if you can they’re like cucumbers for sowing just earlier. Sow seed late Feb or  March, indoors in...

Sow seed undercover May - June or direct early June. Don’t be tempted to go too early you will get much healthier plants when the weather is warmer. A late sowing in late June will give a second harvest in September and October Sow undercover in large modules,  or...

Sow seed undercover May - June or direct early June. Don’t be tempted to go too early you will get much healthier plants when the weather is warmer. A late sowing in late June will give a second harvest in September and October Sow undercover in large modules,  or...

  Sow from April to June for indoor or outdoor sowing. For sowing indoors, which is preferable with all brassicas, these seeds are perfect for sowing in seed trays, filled with compost, sow a group of seeds on the surface and then cover with a light sprinkling of...

There are two times you can sow cabbage, for autumn/winter eating and for eating in spring.  For winter cabbages sow May to June. Sowing in May you will get cabbage hearts in May and a June sowing will give later winter cabbage. For an early spring cabbage sow in...

  Sow from April to May, best to sow in April for outdoor sowing direct. For sowing indoors, which is preferable with all brassicas, these seeds are perfect for sowing in seed trays, filled with compost, sow a group of seeds on the surface and then cover with a...

 Calabrese is the name for Broccoli forming heads in Summer or Autumn. Sown from March to June for heads in Summer or Autumn, sowings in June should make heads by October. These seeds are perfect for sowing in seed trays, filled with compost, sow a group of seeds on...

  Spinach is good to sow at times that will encourage leaf and not the flower. Best times to sow, if you are sowing indoors are February to April and late July. If sowing outside direct then sow from March to April and then early July. I also like to do a winter...

  Sow July to August for late autumn and winter harvest.  Sow a scattering of seed into a seed tray or sow into modules filled with compost. When large enough to handle if you’ve sown into a seed tray you will need to prick out individually into modules to grow...

  Sow seed with warmth Feb - March. Sow in modules, seed trays or small pots and cover with a light covering of compost. Keep moist. Grow with warmth provided by a heat mat or germinate inside house on a radiator or in airing cupboard. Once germinated, transfer...

Sow seed using heat Feb - March. Sow in modules, seed trays or small pots and cover with a light covering of compost. Keep moist. Grow with warmth provided by a heat mat or germinate inside house on a radiator or in airing cupboard. Once germinated, transfer to an...

Sow April to May individually in modules or small pots and cover with 1 cm compost and keep moist. For winter squash and large fruiting varieties, its important to sow early rather than later, so try to sow April. If it's still cold they'll benefit from being...

Sow undercover from February to September, sowing sparingly into seed trays filled with compost, seeds need a light covering of compost for germination which can be very quick. February sowings may benefit from some warmth but not higher than 18-20 degrees. Seeds like...

 Sow seeds either direct in prepared ground March to May or for late harvests July - August. Germination takes 10 days approx. Thin seedlings as required but roughly about a 20cm gap in-between. In spring I find that I like to sow the more traditional red varieties...

Sow into modules in March or seed direct into a prepared bed April -  June. A late sowing in late June / July will give a second harvest in September. They are strong growers so I sow 3-4 seeds per 3 inch pots and grow on until they are ready to plant out which is...

Sow seed undercover May - June or direct early June. Don’t be tempted to go too early you will get much healthier plants when the weather is warmer. A late sowing in late June will give a second harvest in September and October Sow undercover in large modules,  or...

  Sow seed in June - September. Sow undercover in seed trays or small pots and cover with a light covering of compost, or you can sow direct into prepared ground ( not ideal as slugs love it).  Prick out into modules and keep in plenty of light, once pricked out...

  Sow seed in June - August. Sow undercover in modules, seed trays or small pots and cover with a light covering of compost or sow direct. If sowing direct seeds can be sown quite close together if harvesting for leaves, if you want hearting chicory then sow seed...

Sow seed April - July indoors or direct into prepared ground. Can also be sown in August - September for indoor winter leaves.  Sow into modules or seed trays or small pots and cover with a light covering of compost. Seeds are a bit like beetroot, that is one seed may...

Sow seed indoors March - April, or direct in April, either singularly or in groups. You can sow several to one large module or large pot filled with compost, cover lightly with compost after sowing and water well. Keep moist and  grow in a sheltered location.  ...

  Sow seed April - June, don’t sow any earlier as plants can bolt.  Sow undercover in modules, seed trays or small pots. Sow onto surface of compost but do not cover seed as it needs light to germinate. I cover with glass which helps hold moisture and keep out of...

These are not suitable for sowing in modules or seeds trays, rather like carrots they are direct sow only. Sow direct Feb - June.  Sow thinly, 3 seeds per 1cm, in pre watered shallow rows and cover with approx 2cm compost. Cover with fleece for early sowings will hep...

Carrots cannot be sown in modules or seeds trays, despite what you may see in a garden centre! They need to be sown direct and preferably into soil with no stones, although not an issue if you don’t mind wonky veg! Sow direct end March - April or mid June for winter...

    A member of the Brassica family. Sow seed indoors from Feb- June or outdoors March to early June. I sow into seed trays or small pots, cover with a light covering of compost. Keep moist. Prick out when first two leaves appear and modules and grow on....

  Sow from March to April into modules not seed trays and cover with compost. Can also be sown later for second harvests from May - June. Sow approx 3-4 seeds per module, these seeds produce multiple seedlings sometimes so thin to 3 or 4 seedlings once...

  Sow seed April - May indoors in modules and cover with compost, they are fairly sensitive and don’t like being tampered with too much. Germination should be with warmth provided by a heat mat, it should take 10 days approx. With temp. 20-30 degrees C. Once...

Sow seed Feb - March indoors in modules, seed trays or small pots and cover with a light covering of compost and keep moist. Grow with warmth provided by a heat mat or germinate inside house. Germination takes 14-21 days approx 18-25 degrees. Once germinated, if...

  Sow seed Feb - March. Sow undercover individually in modules, seed trays or small pots and cover with a light covering of compost. Grow with warmth provided by a heat mat, germination takes 14-21 days. Once germinated move to a position with plenty of light. If...