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Belfast, Northern Ireland · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Belfast

This month's sowing list for Belfast, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

6 vegetables to sow or plant now

6 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around 30 April, and frost is unlikely after about 15 May.

Sow or plant in Belfast in October

Sow in a tray

Nothing this month.

Sow in the ground

  • Broad beans
  • Peas

Plant out

  • Cabbage
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Strawberry

Last month to start: cabbage and strawberry.

Ready to pick in October

  • Beetroot
  • Broad beans
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Chives
  • Coriander
  • Dill
  • Kale
  • Leek
  • Lettuce
  • Onion
  • Pak choi
  • Parsley
  • Parsnip
  • Peas
  • Potato
  • Radish
  • Rocket
  • Spinach
  • Spring onion
  • Strawberry
  • Swede
  • Swiss chard
  • Turnip

Coming up in November

Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.

When to plant the favourites in Belfast

Tomato

Tomatoes

Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot in Belfast.

Potato

Potatoes

Plant: April to July.

Best time to start: April to June.

Pick: August to December.

First pick about 15 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Garlic

Plant: October to December.

Best time to start: October to December.

Pick: July to August.

First pick about 33 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Lettuce

Sow in the ground: March to August.

Best time to start: April to August.

Pick: June to December.

First pick about 9 weeks after starting.

Carrot

Carrots

Sow in the ground: April to August.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: July to February.

First pick about 12 weeks after starting.

Dwarf French beans

Dwarf French beans

Sow in the ground: May to June.

Best time to start: May to June.

Pick: August to September.

First pick about 10 weeks after starting.

Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety here.

Onion

Onions

Sow in a tray: February to March and June to September.

Plant out: April to May and August to November.

Best time to start: April to May and August to November.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 48 weeks after starting.

Strawberry

Strawberries

Plant: April to May and October.

Best time to start: April to May and October.

Pick: July to December.

First pick about 19 weeks after starting.

Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety here.

Pumpkin

Pumpkins

Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot in Belfast.

Courgette

Courgettes

Sow in a tray: May to June.

Plant out: June to July.

Pick: August to September.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety here.

The planting year in Belfast

VegetableONDJFMAMJJASFirst pick
BeetrootSSSSSabout 9 weeks
Broad beansSSSSSSSSSSSSabout 20 weeks
BroccoliTPPPPPabout 15 weeks
Brussels sproutsTTPPabout 24 weeks
CabbagePTPPPPPPabout 20 weeks
CarrotSSSSSabout 12 weeks
CauliflowerTPPPPabout 18 weeks
CeleriacTTPPabout 28 weeks
CeleryTTPPPabout 25 weeks
ChivesTTSSSPPabout 12 weeks
Climbing French beansSSabout 12 weeks
CorianderSSSSabout 7 weeks
CourgetteTPPabout 7 weeks
DillSSSSabout 7 weeks
Dwarf French beansSSabout 10 weeks
GarlicPPPabout 33 weeks
KaleSSSSSabout 9 weeks
LeekTTPPPPabout 23 weeks
LettuceSSSSSSabout 9 weeks
OnionPPTTPPTTPPabout 48 weeks
Pak choiSSSSSabout 7 weeks
ParsleyTTSSSSabout 11 weeks
ParsnipSSabout 18 weeks
PeasSSSSSSSSSSSSabout 18 weeks
PotatoPPPPabout 15 weeks
RadishSSSSSSabout 4 weeks
RocketSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
Runner beansSabout 12 weeks
SpinachSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
Spring onionSSSSSabout 9 weeks
StrawberryPPPabout 19 weeks
SwedeSSSSabout 15 weeks
Swiss chardSSSSSabout 9 weeks
TurnipSSSSSabout 9 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety of: climbing French beans, courgette, dwarf French beans, runner beans and strawberry.

Belfast season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chives, climbing French beans, coriander, courgette, dill, dwarf French beans, kale, lettuce, pak choi, parsley, parsnip, potato, radish, rocket, spinach, spring onion, strawberry, swede, Swiss chard and turnip.

Last chance for: strawberry.

Summer June to August

Time to start: runner beans.

Last chance for: beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, climbing French beans, coriander, courgette, dill, dwarf French beans, kale, leek, lettuce, pak choi, parsley, parsnip, potato, runner beans, spring onion, swede, Swiss chard and turnip.

Autumn September to November

Time to start: garlic and strawberry.

Last chance for: cabbage, chives, onion, radish, rocket, spinach and strawberry.

Winter December to February

Time to start: leek and onion.

Last chance for: garlic.

Any time of year: broad beans and peas.

Frost in Belfast

Last frost, most years
around 30 April
Frost is unlikely after
about 15 May
First frost, most years
around 31 October
Frost-free days in a year
about 184

The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, French and runner beans, courgettes, pumpkins and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.

Harder to grow in Belfast

Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot: basil, cucumber, pumpkin, sweetcorn and tomato.

Too cold here: aubergine, chilli, melon, okra, sweet pepper, sweet potato and watermelon.

Questions about planting in Belfast

What can I plant now in Belfast?

In October, 6 vegetables can be sown or planted in Belfast, including broad beans, cabbage, garlic, onion, peas and strawberry. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Belfast?

Tomatoes are hard to grow in Belfast: they need a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot.

When should I plant potatoes in Belfast?

In Belfast, plant potatoes from April to July. The best time to start is from April to June. Picking runs from August to December.

When should I plant garlic in Belfast?

In Belfast, plant garlic from October to December. The best time to start is from October to December. Picking runs from July to August.

When is the last frost in Belfast?

In most years the last frost in Belfast comes around 30 April. Frost is unlikely after about 15 May, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around 31 October.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Belfast?

The quick ones are radish (about 4 weeks), rocket (about 6 weeks), coriander (about 7 weeks), courgette (about 7 weeks), pak choi (about 7 weeks), spinach (about 7 weeks), beetroot (about 9 weeks) and lettuce (about 9 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

What to plant now in London · What to plant now in Birmingham · What to plant now in Manchester · What to plant now in Leeds · What to plant now in Bristol · What to plant now in Edinburgh · What to plant now in Glasgow · What to plant now in Cardiff

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Belfast. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).

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