Autumn is still a productive planting season in the UK. From September to November, you can sow fast-growing salad crops, plant hardy vegetables such as garlic and onion sets, and establish crops that will overwinter for an earlier harvest next year.
What you can plant changes quickly as temperatures and daylight fall, so use the month-by-month guide below to see what to sow and plant now.
Quick List – Vegetables to Plant in Autumn UK
If you’re wondering what vegetables to plant in autumn in the UK, the good news is that there are still plenty of crops you can grow. Autumn planting can keep your vegetable garden productive long after summer harvests have finished.
Green manures such as grazing rye, mustard, field beans, or phacelia are especially useful at this time of year. Not only do they protect the soil through winter, but they also improve soil structure, suppress weeds, and add organic matter when they are later dug back into the beds.
Autumn Vegetable Planting Calendar UK
Timing matters when it comes to planting your vegetables in the cooler months, especially here in Britain. As the season moves from September through October and into November, the types of crops you can plant gradually change.
The calendar below provides a simple overview of what vegetables to plant in autumn in the UK, organised by month.
| Month | Direct Sow | Transplant / Plant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | Spinach, lettuce, rocket, radish | Spring cabbage | Last chance for fast-growing salad crops |
| October | Broad beans, spinach | Garlic, onion sets | Ideal time for overwinter vegetables |
| November | — | Garlic, onion sets | Focus shifts to planting rather than sowing |
Timing varies by location: gardeners in colder parts of the UK may need to sow or plant slightly earlier. As daylight and temperatures fall, the aim increasingly becomes establishing hardy crops before winter rather than expecting rapid growth.
Vegetables to Sow in September UK
September is one of the best autumn sowing months in the UK. The soil is usually still warm enough for quick germination, while there is enough daylight for young plants to establish before colder weather arrives.
Overwinter Crops
- Spring cabbage
- Chard
Herbs for Autumn Sowing
- Coriander
- Parsley
Tip: If early frosts are forecast, protect young plants with fleece or cloches, or move containers into an unheated greenhouse.
Vegetables to Plant in October UK
By October, growth is slowing, so the focus shifts towards hardy crops that can establish before winter and resume growth in spring.
Best Crops to Plant
- Garlic
- Onion sets
- Broad beans
- Spinach
Tip: Choose well-drained ground for overwintering crops, particularly garlic and onions, as cold, waterlogged soil can cause problems through winter.
What to Plant in November UK
By November, planting options are more limited as temperatures and daylight fall. Focus on hardy crops that can establish or remain dormant through winter before growing away in spring.
Best Crops to Plant
- Garlic
- Onion sets
Tip: Avoid planting into waterlogged or frozen soil. Good drainage is especially important for garlic and onions over winter.
Why Autumn Is a Great Time for Vegetable Planting
Autumn can be an excellent time to plant vegetables in the UK. Warm soil helps new crops establish, pest pressure begins to fall, and hardy vegetables can overwinter for an earlier start next spring.
Warm Soil Helps Crops Establish
Soil retains warmth into September and October, giving crops such as spinach, lettuce and rocket time to germinate and establish before colder weather arrives.
Fewer Pests
Many common pests, including aphids, flea beetles and cabbage white butterflies, become less active as temperatures fall. This can make autumn easier for young plants than the height of summer.
Earlier Harvests from Overwintering Crops
Garlic, onion sets and broad beans can be planted in autumn and left to overwinter. Once temperatures rise in spring, established plants begin growing again and can produce earlier harvests than spring-planted crops.
Keep Beds Productive
Autumn planting keeps recently harvested beds in use rather than leaving them bare. Where you do not want another vegetable crop, green manure can protect the soil, suppress weeds and add organic matter for the following season.
Autumn Planting Tips
Don’t Plant Too Late
Fast-growing crops such as spinach, lettuce, rocket and radish need time to establish before daylight and temperatures fall sharply. Sow these earlier in autumn and use later autumn for hardy overwintering crops.
Choose Crops That Suit Cooler Weather
Avoid starting vegetables that need a long period of warmth. Garlic, onions, broad beans, spinach and winter salads are much better suited to autumn conditions.
Prepare Tired Beds
Remove finished summer crops and add compost or well-rotted organic matter where needed before planting again.
Protect Young Plants
Keep fleece or cloches available for young crops when colder weather arrives, particularly in exposed gardens or colder parts of the UK.
Watch the Soil
Autumn rain can create waterlogged conditions. Avoid planting garlic, onions and other overwintering crops into persistently wet ground.
After Planting
Once autumn crops are established, there is usually little to do through winter. Check plants after frost or strong winds, replace displaced fleece or cloches, keep beds weed-free and watch for waterlogging.
Growth may slow almost completely during the coldest part of winter. Hardy crops should begin growing again as temperatures and daylight increase in spring.
Continue Planning Your Growing Year
- UK Planting Calendar Tool – discover what vegetables to plant each month in the UK
- UK Harvest Calendar – see what crops are ready to harvest throughout the year
- Winter Growing Guide – learn how to grow vegetables through the colder months
- Allotment Planner – map out your beds before the next growing season
