| | Plant | Number | Spacing | Spacing in Rows | Notes |
![]()
|
Alyssum
| 25 | 15cm | 15cm x 15cm | |
![]()
|
Apple (Dwarf)
| 2 | 2.00m | 2.00m x 2.00m | |
![]()
|
Beans (French)
| 20 | 20cm | 15cm x 30cm | Sowing and planting French beans
French beans need sun, shelter and a fertile, moisture-retentive soil. They don’t do well on heavy clay, so dig in plenty of well-rotted organic matter, such as garden compost, before planting.
As a tender crop, French beans need to be sown indoors from April, then planted outside after the last frost, usually in late May or early June.
For a supply of beans through to autumn, keep sowing every three weeks until early summer. Later sowings can be made outdoors, but seedlings need to be covered with a cloche to keep them warm.
Looking after French bean plants
For a good crop of beans, water plants regularly, especially while they’re flowering. Maintain the moisture in the soil around the roots by applying a mulch of garden compost.
|
![]()
|
Beetroot
| 30 | 15cm | 10cm x 20cm | How to grow beetroot
Sow beetroot seeds outdoors from mid-April to late June, into a shallow drill, 1cm deep. Space seeds 10cm apart, with 30cm between rows. Water regularly and keep the area free from weeds. Harvest the beetroot when they're the size of a cricket ball - larger roots can become woody.
|
![]()
|
Blackberry
| 4 | 90cm | 90cm x 90cm | |
![]()
|
Blackcurrant
| 4 | 90cm | 90cm x 90cm | |
![]()
|
Brussels Sprouts
| 6 | 60cm | 60cm x 60cm | How to grow Brussels sprouts
Sow seeds in spring and plant out into fertile soil after all risk of frost has passed. Water regularly, feed with an organic nitrogen-rich fertiliser and stake in autumn to prevent wind rock. Harvest the sprouts as and when they are produced.
How to plant Brussels sprouts
For a successive harvest, sow seeds every fortnight from March to May, in pots or modular seed trays – one seed per module or small pot – and keep them in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame. After around four weeks (or when seedlings are large enough to handle), transplant them into individual pots of peat-free compost. Then, from May onwards, when plants are 10-15cm tall, harden them off before planting out into well-prepared soil enriched with well-rotted horse manure. Space plants 60cm apart with 75cm between rows. Firm the soil around the plants thoroughly, as Brussels sprouts do best in firm soil. Water well and continue to water throughout the growing season, particularly in periods of drought. If cabbage root fly is a problem in your area, fix cabbage collars around the base of the stems.
Feed fortnightly with an organic nitrogen-rich fertiliser. Prevent weeds from competing with the plants by hoeing regularly. Stake plants in autumn and earth up around the roots to prevent them rocking in high winds. Remove any yellowing leaves from the plants as they can harbour disease. |
![]()
|
Cabbage (Summer)
| 14 | 50cm | 45cm x 55cm | How to grow cabbages
Grow cabbages in firm, alkaline to neutral soil in a well-prepared bed. Pay attention to the seed spacing requirements on the packet – different varieties should be spaced at different intervals. Firm them in well to prevent cabbage root fly laying eggs in the soil around the stem, and use a root collar if necessary. Feed cabbages with a nitrogen-rich liquid food every fortnight. Your cabbages should be ready to harvest after around 20 weeks.
|
![]()
|
Calendula
| 49 | 30cm | 25cm x 60cm | |
![]()
|
Carrot
| 190 | 10cm | 10cm x 15cm | Growing carrots from seed
Sowing carrot seeds
How to grow carrots - sowing carrot seeds
There are two types of carrot to choose from – early varieties, which are sown in spring and ready to pick about 10 weeks later, and late varieties, which can be sown from the end of spring and are ready to lift in about 14-16 weeks.
The main sowing season is late March to June, but earlier and later sowings are worth it if you can protect them with fleece or a cloche.
Good soil preparation is essential. Fork it thoroughly to break up lumps and remove as many stones as possible. Carrots thrive in light, well-drained but moisture-retentive soil, so it's also worth adding some well-rotted organic matter.
Growing carrots from seed
Sow carrots directly into the ground. Make a seed drill (shallow trench) about 1cm deep using the edge of a hoe or trowel. Sow the seeds thinly along the bottom of the drill about 5-8cm apart. Cover them with soil, and water well using a watering can with a rose attached.
To extend your cropping period, sow seeds successionally at two-week intervals. You can also sow a selection of carrot varieties that will crop at different times over the season. |
![]()
|
Cauliflower
| 12 | 50cm | 45cm x 60cm | How to grow cauliflower
Plant cauliflowers in rich, heavy soil with plenty of moisture. Prepare the soil well and add plenty of organic matter such as well-rotted horse manure or compost. Firm them in well to prevent cabbage root fly laying eggs in the soil around the stem, and use a root collar if necessary. Feed fortnightly with nitrogen-rich liquid food and harvest between three and five months after sowing.
Cauliflowers can be sown direct in a seedbed although results tend to be better from sowings made in seed trays and then planted out later. Sow from February under glass or March direct. You can also make later sowings under glass from October, and overwinter the plants for an early harvest the following year.
To sow direct, sow thinly, 2cm deep in a well-prepared bed, free of weeds. Thin seedlings to 60cm.
To sow under glass, fill a multi-celled tray with moist, peat-free seed or multi-purpose compost and sow seeds 2cm deep. Thin seedlings to one per cell and wait until all risk of frost has passed before gradually acclimatising plants to outside conditions before planting out.
Plant deeply, spacing summer and autumn cropping varieties at 60cm, and winter varieties at 75cm. Reduced spacings of 30-45cm apart will result in 'mini' cauliflowers suitable for one person. You can expect to grow one cauliflower head per plant.
Ensure the soil is moist before planting – dry soil could lead to a check in growth which can cause cauliflowers to bolt or bear deformed heads. Firm soil around the plants and water thoroughly. Add a collar to prevent cabbage fly if needed.
Water every 10 days to two weeks, more frequently in dry weather. Hoe around the base of plants to reduce competition from weeds. Once the plants are established, start feeding with a high nitrogen feeder to boost growth and aid the formation of curds.
Growing cauliflowers: problem solving
Protect plants from pigeons and the caterpillars of small and large white butterflies, known as 'cabbage whites'. Cover plants with a fine mesh netting to deter caterpillars, and string up some old CDs to deter birds. If you do find eggs or caterpillars on your cauliflower plants, transfer them to nasturtium leaves, which they also eat. This will enable them to continue to complete their lifecycle without harming your cauliflower plants.
Clubroot is a fungal disease, affecting the roots of cauliflowers and other brassicas, including Brussels sprouts, cabbages, turnip and swede. Roots become swollen and distorted and overall growth can be stunted. It's difficult to completely remove from soil, but there are plenty of ways to prevent it. |
![]()
|
Celery
| 14 | 20cm | 15cm x 30cm | Sow thinly into a seed tray containing seed compost, water lightly, keep somewhere warm.
Prick out into individual pots, plant out when ready into a block |
![]()
|
Cherry (Dwarf)
| 1 | 3.00m | 3.00m x 3.00m | |
![]()
|
Courgette
[polytunnel]
| 2 | 60cm | 60cm x 60cm | Jobs to do each month:
April or May: sow seeds indoors
April to May: pot on seedlings indoors
Late May to early June: sow seeds outdoors for a late crop
May to June: plant out young plants
July to October: harvest fruits
How to grow courgettes
Buy young courgettes at the garden centre in late spring, or sow courgette seeds indoors in April or May, in pots of peat-free, multi-purpose compost. Pot on seedlings when they're big enough to handle, and plant the young plants outside when all risk of frost has passed. Alternatively, you can sow seeds direct outside in late May or early June. Courgettes are hungry plants, so do well grown in soil enriched with plenty of well-rotted horse manure or compost and need feeding weekly with a high-potash feed, such as tomato food. Water plants regularly to keep the soil moist. Harvest courgettes when they are around 10cm long – leaving courgettes to grow larger will reduce the plant's vigour and fruiting potential.
How to sow courgette seeds indoors
Step 1
Fill a small pot with peat-free, multipurpose compost that has been kept in the greenhouse, so that it is already warm. Firm well and press a couple of seeds, on their sides, into the compost.
Step 2
Cover the seeds with compost or vermiculite, which is warm and free-draining and helps stop young seedlings from rotting during cool night temperatures.
Step 3
Soak with tepid water and place in a propagator or a tray covered with a clear lid, at a temperature of 20°C.
Step 4
When seedlings appear, move stronger ones to larger pots. Throw away weaker seedlings. Grow on indoors until ready to plant outside in late spring, after the last frost. Space plants 90cm apart, then mulch the surrounding soil generously to hold in moisture. |
![]()
|
Cucumber
| 3 | 60cm | 60cm x 60cm | Cucumber seeds need heat to germinate – at least 20°C – so place pots in a greenhouse, heated propagator or on a sunny windowsill for the best results. Sow in February or March if your greenhouse is heated, or in April if you have an unheated greenhouse. Fill small 5cm pots with peat-free, multi-purpose compost and sow the seeds vertically or on their sides (not flat), 1cm-2cm deep. Sow two cucumber seeds per pot, then water. You should see the seeds germinating in 7-10 days. Once the seedlings appear, remove the weakest seedling to leave one per pot. Pot seedlings on into a 9cm pot after they have developed their first pair of large 'true' leaves.
How to plant cucumbers
In the greenhouse, plant seedlings out when they have two or three leaves. They can be planted into greenhouse borders that have been enriched with plenty of garden compost, 60cm apart, or in growing bags – two plants per bag. You can also grow them in large containers filled with peat-free multi-purpose compost.
Train the main stem up a sturdy support, such as a bamboo cane, wire, string or trellis, tying it in if necessary. |
![]()
|
Gooseberry
| 5 | 90cm | 90cm x 90cm | |
![]()
|
Leek
| 34 | 20cm | 15cm x 30cm | How to grow leeks
Sow seed in pots or modules of peat-free seed or multi-purpose compost in spring. Keep pots moist and plant out in summer, either individually, using a dibber, or in small clumps. Harvest leeks from autumn. Some varieties are hardy and can be harvested right through to spring.
You can sow leek seeds directly into well prepared soil and thin them later. However, the more reliable method is to sow into pots and transplant seedlings when they are about 20cm high. It’s also possible to buy seedling leeks from nurseries or by mail order.
Leeks need a sunny, sheltered site with well-drained, well prepared soil with plenty of added manure or fertiliser. To plant the traditional way, make a hole with a dibber, 20cm deep, drop a seedling in and water in. This method, called 'puddling in' will produce large single leeks with well-blanched stems. But you can also plant in small clumps.
|
![]()
|
Lettuce (Headed)
| 10 | 25cm | 20cm x 30cm | |
![]()
|
Lettuce (Loose Leaf)
| 36 | 10cm | 10cm x 15cm | |
![]()
|
Mint
| 1 | 20cm | 15cm x 25cm | |
![]()
|
Onion
| 48 | 15cm | 10cm x 20cm | |
![]()
|
Parsnip
| 14 | 20cm | 20cm x 30cm | Step 1
Part-fill a polythene bag with moist, peat-free, multi-purpose compost and empty your seed packet onto the surface. There’s no point in successionally sowing parsnips as you don’t need to harvest them all in one go. What’s more, parsnip seed stays viable for only one year, so saving seed could lead to wasting it.
Step2
Mix the seed and compost together so the seed is evenly distributed in the bag. Tie the top of the bag together and place in a dark, warm spot such as your airing cupboard. Leave for around four days.
Step 3
After around four days, remove the bag from the airing cupboard and check on your seeds. They should have germinated, and small seedlings will be poking out of the compost.
Step 4
Make a shallow trench in well-prepared soil with stones removed. Remove the seedlings from the bag and place them 10cm apart in the trench. Cover with a thin layer of soil and water with a watering can with a fine rose attached. The seedlings should continue to grow in their new growing positions. |
![]()
|
Peas
| 29 | 10cm | 10cm x 20cm | |
![]()
|
Plum (Dwarf)
| 1 | 3.50m | 3.50m x 3.50m | |
![]()
|
Potatoes (Maincrop)
| 42 | 45cm | 35cm x 75cm | |
![]()
|
Raspberry
| 1 | 70cm | 60cm x 90cm | |
![]()
|
Rhubarb
| 6 | 90cm | 90cm x 90cm | |
![]()
|
Spinach (Perpetual)
| 4 | 35cm | 30cm x 40cm | |
![]()
|
Spring Onion
| 36 | 10cm | 10cm x 10cm | |
![]()
|
Strawberry
| 11 | 50cm | 45cm x 60cm | |
![]()
|
Swede
| 24 | 25cm | 20cm x 40cm | |
![]()
|
Sweetcorn
| 20 | 35cm | 30cm x 45cm | How to grow sweetcorn
Sow sweetcorn seed in small pots or modules in late spring and plant out into rich, moist soil in a sunny spot, when all risk of frost is passed. Sweetcorn is wind pollinated so plant in blocks, rather than rows. Water plants regularly, and consider mulching around the base of each plant to lock moisture into the soil. Harvest the sweetcorn cobs when the silky tassels turn brown and the kernels, when pressed with a thumbnail, exude a milky liquid. Twist the cobs to remove them from the main stem. Eat as soon after harvesting as possible, for the sweetest taste.
Sweetcorn is a tender plant, so choose a sunny, sheltered spot for it. Ideally, you should have dug in lots of well-rotted garden compost the previous autumn to feed the soil.
In April or May, sow seeds in pots filled with good quality compost. Sweetcorn seedlings hate root disturbance so it's best to give each seed it's own pot. Water well, then place on a warm, sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse to germinate.
Once all danger of frost is over, harden off the young plants by putting them outdoors during the day for a week or so to acclimatise them to cooler outdoor conditions. Plant sweetcorn outside in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot, spacing plants in a grid at least 45cm apart. As sweetcorn is wind pollinated, plants must be grown in a large block (perhaps 4x4 or 5x5) rather than a single row. Try planting sweetcorn with courgettes, which thrive in the same conditions.
Caring for sweetcorn
Water plants regularly, especially during dry spells, as sweetcorn uses a lot of water due to the large leaf area of each plant. Spread mulch around the base of the plants to keep the roots cool and moist. In windy weather, plants may loosen in the ground, so build soil up around the stem bases to stabilise them.
|
![]()
|
Tomato (Regular)
| 12 | 50cm | 45cm x 60cm | |
Garden Planner
Journal
Gardening Guides
Gardening How-to Videos
About GrowVeg
Contact Us
