When to sow what: the sowing calendar
Timing is the secret to growing from seed. Sow at the right moment and seed germinates fast and grows strongly. Sow too early or too late and even good seed struggles.
How a sowing calendar works
Seed goes into the ground in one of two ways. Tender crops and many flowers are started indoors several weeks before the last frost, then planted out as it warms. Hardy, fast crops are sown direct where they will grow.
Your local last-frost date is the anchor. Count back from it for indoor sowings, and forward from it for sowing and planting outdoors.
The growing year
Period | What there is to do |
|---|---|
Late winter (Feb–Mar) | Start slow and tender crops indoors: tomatoes, peppers, chillies and many flowers, on a warm bright sill or in a propagator. |
Spring (Mar–May) | The main season. Sow hardy vegetables and flowers direct as the soil warms, keep sowing indoors, and harden off early plants. |
Summer (Jun–Aug) | Keep sowing little and often for a steady supply, and start crops that mature into autumn. Water and feed as growth speeds up. |
Autumn (Sep–Nov) | Sow hardy crops, plant overwintering varieties, and collect and store seed for next year. |
Winter (Dec–Jan) | Mostly planning and tidying: order seed, clean pots, get ready to start again in late winter. |
Vegetable sowing calendar
These timings are for a temperate climate — the Netherlands, the UK and Northern Europe. Somewhere milder or colder, shift everything by a week or two around your own last-frost date. The data comes from our own seed packets.
Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
Tomato | Feb–Apr | May | Jul–Oct |
Pepper and chilli | Feb–Apr | May | Aug–Oct |
Cucumber | Mar–Apr | May–Jun | Jul–Oct |
Pea | — | Feb–May | Jun–Aug |
Lettuce | Mar | Apr–May | Jun–Oct |
Carrot | — | Mar–Jun | Jul–Oct |
Radish | — | Mar–Apr | May–Oct |
Kale | — | Apr–Jun | Sep–Dec |
The packet is always the authority for the variety in your hand.
Why the right moment matters
Sowing in season means warmer soil, longer days and stronger light — exactly what seedlings need. Sow too early and plants sit cold and check their growth, or stretch indoors while they wait for it to warm up outside. Sow too late and there is no time to crop before the season ends.
All four calendars
There are four detailed calendars on our website, each with a free printable PDF:
Frequently asked questions
What if I sow a little late? For many fast crops it is fine — you simply harvest later. Choose a quick-maturing variety to catch up.
Do these dates work for my area? Use them as a guide and adjust to your own last-frost date: a week or two earlier in mild areas, later in cold ones.
Can I sow indoors all year? Many herbs and salad leaves grow on a windowsill year-round. Most fruiting crops need the longer days of spring and summer.
The overview page with all the calendars is on seedschoice.com.
Ready to sow? What you can sow now
- Vegetables you can sow this month
- Flowers you can sow this month
- Herbs you can sow this month
- Vegetables to sow directly outdoors
- Fast-growing vegetables — quick results, ideal for beginners
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Updated on: 05/10/2026
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