The seed catalogues have been sent out and a lot of enthusiastic gardeners have already started to sow in the greenhouse. However, soon you will be able to direct sow in the ground. It is important not to miss the right times of the year to sow your annual/perennial seeds of herbs/ornamentals to enable them to germinate and a long time to grow during the seasons.
Important considerations:
it’s paramount to understand that seed sowing is highly dependent on your local climate and the specific microclimate of your garden or greenhouse. However, I can provide a general guide with common examples, categorized for clarity.
Here’s a breakdown of seeds you can sow throughout the year, both outdoors and in a greenhouse:
- Greenhouse: It provides a controlled environment, extending the growing season, especially for tender plants.
- Outdoors: Here the sowing is dependant on the last frost date and soil temperature.
- Annuals: The complete their life cycle in one growing season.
- Perennials: They can live for many years.
Easy to grow seeds table
| Month | Location | Plant Name | Type & Cycle | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan / Feb | Greenhouse | Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) |
Vegetable (Annual) |
Start early for summer crops. |
| Jan / Feb | Greenhouse | Pepper (Capsicum annuum) |
Vegetable (Annual) |
Needs warmth to germinate. |
| Feb / Mar | Greenhouse | Lobelia (Lobelia erinus) |
Ornamental (Annual) |
For summer bedding. |
| March | Outdoors | Peas (Pisum sativum) |
Vegetable (Annual) |
Direct sow when soil is workable. |
| March | Outdoors | Onion (sets) (Allium cepa) |
Vegetable (Biennial) |
Plant onion sets. |
| March | Outdoors | Carrot (Daucus carota) |
Vegetable (Biennial) |
Direct sow in well-prepared soil. |
| April | Outdoors | Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) |
Vegetable (Annual) |
Succession sowing for continuous harvest. |
| April | Outdoors | Calendula (Calendula officinalis) |
Orn/Herb (Annual) |
Easy to grow, edible flowers. |
| May | Outdoors | French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) |
Vegetable (Annual) |
Sow after last frost. |
| May | Outdoors | Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) |
Ornamental (Annual) |
Direct sow in sunny location. |
| May / June | Outdoors | Courgette / Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) |
Vegetable (Annual) |
Sow after risk of frost has passed. |
| June / July | Outdoors | Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) |
Vegetable (Biennial) |
For late summer / autumn harvest. |
| Aug / Sept | Outdoors | Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) |
Vegetable (Ann/Bien) |
For autumn / winter harvest. |
| Sept / Oct | Outdoors | Garlic (cloves) (Allium sativum) |
Vegetable (Perennial) |
Plant garlic cloves for next year’s crop. |
| All Year | Greenhouse | Microgreens (Many varieties) |
Vegetable (Annual) |
Can be grown all year in a greenhouse. |
| All Year | Greenhouse | Herbs (Basil, etc.) (Many varieties) |
Herb (Ann/Per) |
Can be grown all year indoors; outdoors in warm months. |