Vegetables
Vegetables for UK kitchen gardens, raised beds and pots — what to sow and when, plus feeding, spacing and harvest tips for reliable crops.
Growing GuideHow to Grow Shallots
22 July 2026Growing shallots is one of the most rewarding tasks for a UK gardener. These mild, sweet bulbs, often mistaken for small onions, add depth to countless dishes from French coq au vin to Asian…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Broad Beans
22 July 2026Broad beans are a cornerstone of the British vegetable garden, offering reliable yields, nitrogen-fixing benefits, and a delicious, versatile harvest.
Growing GuideHow to Grow Pumpkins and Winter Squash
22 July 2026Growing pumpkins in your UK garden brings that perfect autumnal charm and a harvest of versatile, nutritious squash. Whether you’re aiming for carving giants or flavourful pies, success hinges on…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Sweetcorn
22 July 2026Sweetcorn is a summer delight that transforms your garden into a fragrant, sun-drenched haven.
Growing GuideHow to Grow Rhubarb
22 July 2026Rhubarb is a reliable, low-maintenance perennial that rewards UK gardeners with its vibrant stalks for decades. With its deep roots and hardy nature, it’s perfect for borders, allotments, or even…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Chillies
22 July 2026Growing chillies in the UK is a rewarding challenge, especially with the right timing and care. While they crave warmth, many varieties thrive in our temperate climate when started indoors and…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Spinach
22 July 2026Spinach is a cool-season superstar in UK gardens, offering quick harvests of nutrient-packed leaves that thrive in our mild springs and autumns.
Growing GuideHow to Grow Lettuce and Salad Leaves
22 July 2026Growing crisp, fresh lettuce in your UK garden is a rewarding way to enjoy homegrown salad all year. With careful timing and the right varieties, you can harvest tender leaves from early spring…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Kale: A Hardy Winter Crop
22 July 2026Kale is the ultimate UK winter workhorse: hardy, nutritious, and sweeter after frost.
Growing GuideHow to Grow Beetroot
22 July 2026Beetroot is a joy to grow in UK gardens, offering vibrant colour, sweet earthy flavour, and remarkable versatility in the kitchen—from raw salads to roasted sides or pickled condiments. Thriving in…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Peas
22 July 2026Peas are a classic British garden staple, offering sweet, tender pods and a reliable crop for cool-season gardening. With their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil and minimal pest issues, they’re…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Leeks: Sowing to Harvest
22 July 2026Leeks are a garden staple that thrive in UK conditions, offering a mild, versatile flavour perfect for soups, stews, and raw salads. Their remarkable cold tolerance means they can be grown from late…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Parsnips in the UK: A Complete Guide
20 July 2026A single 3 m row will produce 8–10 kg of roots that can be lifted from October right through to March.
Growing GuideHow to Grow Turnips in the UK: A Complete Guide
20 July 2026Summer sowing (late July to mid-August): for an autumn harvest of maincrop turnips, which can be stored or left in the ground through winter.
Growing GuideHow to Grow Cabbage in the UK: A Complete Guide
20 July 2026They’re cheap to grow, store well, and a single 200 g portion covers your weekly vitamin C needs three times over.
Growing GuideHow to Grow Peas in the UK: A Complete Guide
20 July 2026They’re also one of the easiest crops to grow, fix their own nitrogen, and the plants are decorative enough to grow in a flower border.
Growing GuideHow to Grow Swiss Chard in the UK: A Complete Guide
20 July 2026The bright stems in red, yellow, orange, pink and white, paired with large glossy green or burgundy leaves, make it as decorative as any flower.
Growing GuideHow to Grow Brussels Sprouts in the UK
20 July 2026They want a long season, a firm soil, and protection from pigeons and cabbage white butterflies.
Growing GuideHow to Grow Broad Beans in the UK
20 July 2026Broad beans (Vicia faba) are one of the first satisfying harvests of the UK summer. Sown in late winter or early spring, they germinate vigorously, shrug off frost, and produce pods from late May…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Leeks in the UK: A Complete Guide
20 July 2026Most UK varieties need 20–30 weeks from sowing to harvest, so timing matters more than for almost any other vegetable.
Growing GuideHow to Grow Kale in the UK: A Complete Guide
20 July 2026Kale (Brassica oleracea, Acephala group) is the workhorse of the winter vegetable garden. A single sowing in spring produces plants that crop from late summer right through to the following April…
A-Z PlantsCarrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)
22 June 2026The cultivated carrot — region-aware UK sowing, the deep stone-free soil it needs, and how to beat carrot fly.
A-Z PlantsBroad Bean (Vicia faba)
22 June 2026Broad bean is a cool-season annual pulse grown for its large, tender seeds. It suits UK vegetable plots, raised beds and large containers, and can be among the first home-grown vegetables harvested…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Carrots in the UK: A Complete Guide
18 June 2026Carrots sown from March to early May crop from June to September; a late-June or July sowing carries roots through autumn and into winter storage. Most UK carrot failures come down to two things:…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Onions in the UK: Sets and Seed
18 June 2026Want a row of fat, sweet bulbs you can store until next spring? Plant onion sets in March or April and you’ll be lifting your own crop 20 weeks later — or start seed in January under cover for a…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Cucumbers in a UK Greenhouse or Garden
18 June 2026You can grow cucumbers successfully in a UK greenhouse, polytunnel or sheltered garden: sow indoors in March-April, then plant out only after frost risk has passed and nights remain reliably above…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Sweet Peas: Sowing to Cutting in the UK
18 June 2026Sow sweet peas in October or November for the earliest, strongest plants, or January to March if you missed the autumn window — they climb 1.8-2.4 m, need a tall support, and flower from June to…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Courgettes: Sowing to Harvest
18 June 2026Yes — a single courgette plant will keep a family fed through July and August, often producing four to six fruits a week once it gets going. Sow indoors in late April or early May, plant out after…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Runner Beans in the UK
18 June 2026Three 2.4 m bamboo canes tied at the top, six scarlet flowers per truss, and a child tugging the first pod off in July — runner beans are the vegetable most UK gardeners learn on, and the one that…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Potatoes: From Chitting to Harvest
18 June 2026Potatoes reward a bit of patience with the sort of harvest that fills a kitchen drawer. Chit your seed tubers in late January, plant from mid-March once the soil has warmed to about 7°C, and you can…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Garlic in the UK: Planting to Harvest
18 June 2026Yes — garlic grows reliably in UK gardens. Plant individual cloves in October-November for the best-sized bulbs the following July; February-March planting is possible but generally less reliable. At…
Growing GuideHow to Grow Tomatoes: From Seed to Harvest in the UK
18 June 2026Quick Answer Yes — tomatoes grow brilliantly in the UK, and most gardeners get their heaviest crops from a greenhouse, polytunnel or a sunny windowsill. Sow seed indoors in late February to…
Growing GuideContainers for Growing Vegetables
12 June 2026Growing vegetables in containers is the single most useful trick for UK gardeners with bad soil, small gardens, paved courtyards, or rented flats where the only "ground" available is a balcony slab.…
Seasonal CareSummer Vegetable Garden: What to Grow and When
12 June 2026A productive summer vegetable plot in the UK isn't built in July — it's planned in late winter and steadily planted from March through June. This guide walks through the vegetables that actually earn…
A-Z PlantsCourgette (Cucurbita pepo)
11 June 2026Grow perfect courgettes in your UK garden. Essential tips for planting, care & harvesting Cucurbita pepo summer squash.
A-Z PlantsPumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)
11 June 2026Discover how to grow Cucurbita maxima pumpkins in UK gardens - perfect for British soil, with tips on planting, care and popular varieties.
A-Z PlantsBeet (Beta vulgaris)
11 June 2026Grow delicious beetroot (Beta vulgaris) easily in your UK garden with full sun and pH-neutral soil - perfect for home growers.
A-Z PlantsPea (Pisum sativum)
11 June 2026Grow perfect peas at home with our guide to Pisum sativum - cool-season crop for UK gardens, covering planting, care and harvest.
A-Z PlantsBulb Onion (Allium cepa)
11 June 2026Grow perfect bulb onions as an annual crop in your UK garden with our guide to planting, care and harvesting for best results.
A-Z PlantsLettuce (Lactuca sativa)
11 June 2026Discover how to grow lettuce successfully in UK gardens: varieties, planting tips and care for Lactuca sativa.
A-Z PlantsRunner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus)
11 June 2026Grow runner beans in your UK garden for edible pods, stunning flowers & ornamental value - expert planting guide with tips for success.
A-Z PlantsPotato (Solanum tuberosum)
11 June 2026Grow potatoes in the UK with this guide. Learn about chitting, soil pH needs and rotation cycles to prevent disease.
A-Z PlantsTomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
10 June 2026Grow perfect tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) in your UK garden. Learn care, varieties, and why modern types often lack flavour. Love apple guide.