Spring is the main planting season for UK vegetable gardens and allotments. Between March and May, you can start hardy crops outdoors, raise tender vegetables under cover and gradually move young plants into their growing positions.
Timing matters. Soil conditions, local frost dates and the needs of individual crops determine when to sow or plant. This guide covers the best options for each month, with practical advice to help you get established before summer.
Spring Planting at a Glance
Spring planting changes quickly between March and May. Hardy vegetables can be started early, while tender crops need warmer conditions. Use this table as a quick overview, then check the monthly sections below for more detail.
| Month | Main Focus | Worth Sowing | Main Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | Start hardy crops | Peas, broad beans, carrots, radish and spinach outdoors; tomatoes and peppers indoors | Prepare beds, plant first early potatoes where conditions allow and check frost risk |
| April | Expand outdoor sowing | Carrots, beetroot, peas and chard outdoors; courgettes, squash and French beans indoors | Plant potatoes, protect early crops and prepare tender seedlings |
| May | Establish summer crops | Runner beans, French beans, sweetcorn and courgettes when conditions are warm enough; continue salad sowings | Harden off seedlings, plant tender crops after frost and begin succession planting |
Timing varies across the UK. Check local frost dates and soil conditions before sowing or planting tender crops outdoors. Colder regions may need to wait until late May or June.
What Can You Plant Right Now?
Open the UK Planting Calendar to see what you can sow and plant today, plus what’s coming up over the next few weeks.
Preparing Your Plot for Spring Vegetables
A productive spring harvest starts with healthy soil. After months of winter rain and cold, beds can become compacted, waterlogged, or low in nutrients. Spending a little time now preparing your garden makes a big difference once you begin sowing your spring vegetables.
Clear and Tidy
Remove leftover winter crops, weeds, and debris. Clearing beds early helps reduce pests and disease, makes sowing easier, and gives new seedlings a cleaner start.
Improve the Soil
Add well-rotted compost or manure before planting. Work it into the top layer or use it as mulch to improve structure, drainage, and fertility.
Mulching and Warming
Warm the soil before sowing with cloches, fleece, or polythene. This helps seeds germinate faster and protects young plants from sudden cold snaps.
Check Your Frost Dates
Keep an eye on local frost dates before sowing tender crops. Hardy vegetables can go in earlier, but beans, courgettes, and similar crops should wait.
For a full year-round overview, see our complete What to Plant Each Month in the UK guide.
What Vegetables to Sow in March UK
March marks the start of the spring sowing season in the UK. Hardy vegetables can be sown outdoors once the soil is workable, while tender crops need the warmth and protection of indoor growing. Focus on getting early crops established without rushing planting in cold or waterlogged ground.
Sow hardy crops into prepared, well-drained soil. Protect early sowings with fleece or cloches if cold weather is forecast, and delay sowing when the ground is frozen or waterlogged.
Start tender crops indoors with suitable warmth and plenty of light. Peppers and aubergines particularly benefit from an early start and consistently warm germination conditions. Keep seedlings protected until outdoor conditions are suitable.
Plant onion and shallot sets in prepared soil when conditions allow. First early potatoes can usually be planted from late March in milder areas, provided the soil is workable. Protect emerging potato shoots from frost.
Wondering what’s ready to pick? See our What to Harvest in March UK guide for vegetables and other crops you can harvest this month.
Vegetables to Plant in April UK
April brings warmer soil and longer days, opening up more opportunities to sow vegetables outdoors. Hardy crops can be started directly in prepared beds, while tender plants such as courgettes, squash and French beans are best started indoors for planting out after the last frost.
Sow hardy vegetables directly into workable, well-prepared soil. Start brassicas in a seedbed for transplanting later, and make smaller repeat sowings of salad crops to extend the harvest. Use fleece or cloches when cold weather threatens.
Start tender crops indoors with suitable warmth and plenty of light. Peppers and aubergines particularly benefit from an early start and consistently warm germination conditions. Keep seedlings protected until outdoor conditions are suitable.
Plant onion and shallot sets in prepared soil when conditions allow. First early potatoes can usually be planted from late March in milder areas, provided the soil is workable. Protect emerging potato shoots from frost.
Once your spring crops begin to mature, you can see exactly what’s ready to pick in our guide to what to harvest in April in the UK.
What to Plant in May UK
By May, the gardening season is in full swing. The soil is warmer, the days are longer, and in many regions of the UK the last frost has passed. This is the month to plant out tender crops and see your spring vegetables beds burst into life.
Continue sowing carrots, beetroot, lettuce and radishes in smaller batches. Runner and French beans can be sown outdoors once the soil is warm and frost risk has passed, often from late May or early June.
Continue raising tender crops in a greenhouse or indoors with suitable warmth and light. Cucumbers and melons can be started in warm conditions, while established chilli plants need continued protection from cold nights. Sweetcorn can also be started in modules for planting out once conditions improve.
Plant onion and shallot sets in prepared soil when conditions allow. First early potatoes can usually be planted from late March in milder areas, provided the soil is workable. Protect emerging potato shoots from frost.
As your crops start maturing, you can see exactly what will be ready to pick in our What to Harvest in May UK guide.
Succession Planting for Steady Harvests
Instead of sowing everything at once, plant smaller batches throughout spring. This helps avoid gluts, fills gaps as crops are harvested and keeps fresh vegetables coming into summer.
Best Crops for Succession Sowing
How to Keep Harvests Coming
Sow small batches every few weeks, adjusting the interval to the crop and growing conditions. Use quick-growing vegetables such as radishes between slower crops, and prepare the next sowing before clearing finished plants.
Use the UK Planting Calendar to check suitable sowing windows, then plan follow-on crops with the free Allotment Planner.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Planting Spring Vegetables
Even experienced growers can make mistakes when it comes to spring planting. With the UK’s unpredictable weather and the rush of sowing, it’s easy to get caught out. Here are the most common errors to avoid when growing spring vegetables—and how to stay on track.
Planting Too Early
It’s tempting to sow as soon as the sun appears. However, cold soil and late frosts can wipe out tender crops overnight. Always check your local last frost dates UK before planting outdoors, especially for beans, courgettes, and tomatoes.
Use your usual last frost window to plan ahead, then check the UK Frost Map when deciding whether tender crops can safely go outside.
Forgetting to Harden Off Seedlings
Moving seedlings directly from a warm windowsill to the open garden often shocks them. Harden off seedlings gradually over 7–10 days so they adjust to outdoor conditions and grow stronger.
Overcrowding Crops
Sowing too many seeds in one row might seem efficient, but overcrowding limits airflow, encourages pests, and increases the risk of disease. Thin seedlings early and follow spacing guidelines to ensure healthier plants and higher yields.
Neglecting Soil Preparation
Spring vegetables thrive in fertile, well-drained soil. Skipping compost, mulch, or soil amendments often leaves crops undernourished. Preparing your soil before sowing improves structure and boosts nutrients for stronger growth.
Not Planning for Succession
Sowing everything in one go usually creates gluts and gaps. Instead, stagger sowings of quick growers like lettuce, radishes, and salad leaves. Succession planting keeps harvests steady and makes the most of your growing space.
For a full breakdown of what to sow and when, read the Summer Vegetable Planting Guide (June–August UK) and plan your crops with confidence.
FAQs: Spring Vegetables UK
Yes. Quick-growing spring vegetables such as lettuce, radishes, spinach, and beetroot can be sown well into late May and June. Tender crops like beans, courgettes, and tomatoes are usually safer to plant later, once the UK frost dates have fully passed.
Radishes, salad leaves, spinach, and spring onions are the quickest to mature. Many are ready to harvest within 4–6 weeks, making them perfect for beginners following a spring planting guide UK.
In early spring, you’ll typically see carrots, lettuce, spinach, peas, broad beans, cabbage, and beetroot. By May, you can also include courgettes, sweetcorn, and runner beans in your garden beds.
Lettuce and radishes are among the easiest crops to grow. They germinate quickly, need little space, and provide repeat harvests throughout the season.
Use fleece, cloches, or polytunnels to protect young plants when frost is expected. Alternatively, hold off and plant tender vegetables like beans and courgettes outdoors after your local last frost date UK has passed.
