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Cork, Ireland · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Cork

This month's sowing list for Cork, 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 10 April, and frost is unlikely after about 30 April.

Sow or plant in Cork in October

Sow in a tray

  • Cabbage
  • Onion

Sow in the ground

  • Broad beans
  • Peas

Plant out

  • Cabbage
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • 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 Cork

Tomato

Tomatoes

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

Potato

Potatoes

Plant: March to July.

Best time to start: March to June.

Pick: August to December.

First pick about 16 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Garlic

Plant: October to December.

Best time to start: October to December.

Pick: July to August.

First pick about 31 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Lettuce

Sow in the ground: March to August.

Best time to start: April to August.

Pick: June to January.

First pick about 9 weeks after starting.

Carrot

Carrots

Sow in the ground: March to August.

Best time to start: March 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 July.

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: January to March and June to October.

Plant out: March to May and August to December.

Best time to start: March to May and August to December.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 45 weeks after starting.

Strawberry

Strawberries

Plant: April to May and October to November.

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

Pick: July to December.

First pick about 20 weeks after starting.

Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety here.

Pumpkin

Pumpkins

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

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 Cork

VegetableONDJFMAMJJASFirst pick
BeetrootSSSSSabout 9 weeks
Broad beansSSSSSSSSSSSSabout 19 weeks
BroccoliTPPPPPabout 15 weeks
Brussels sproutsTTPPPabout 25 weeks
CabbagePPTPPPPPPabout 20 weeks
CarrotSSSSSSabout 12 weeks
CauliflowerTPPPPPabout 18 weeks
CeleriacTTTPPabout 29 weeks
CeleryTTTPPPabout 25 weeks
ChivesTTSSSSPabout 12 weeks
Climbing French beansSSabout 12 weeks
CorianderSSSSSabout 7 weeks
CourgetteTPPabout 7 weeks
DillSSSSSabout 8 weeks
Dwarf French beansSSSabout 10 weeks
GarlicPPPabout 31 weeks
KaleSSSSSSPabout 10 weeks
LeekTTPPPPPabout 24 weeks
LettuceSSSSSSabout 9 weeks
OnionPPPTTPPPTTPPabout 45 weeks
Pak choiSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
ParsleyTTSSSSPabout 11 weeks
ParsnipSSSabout 19 weeks
PeasSSSSSSSSSSSSabout 18 weeks
PotatoPPPPPabout 16 weeks
RadishSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
RocketSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
Runner beansSabout 12 weeks
SpinachSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
Spring onionSSSSSSabout 10 weeks
StrawberryPPPPabout 20 weeks
SwedeSSSSSabout 16 weeks
Swiss chardSSSSSabout 9 weeks
TurnipSSSSSSabout 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.

Cork season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, 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, courgette, dwarf French beans, leek, lettuce, 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, coriander, dill, kale, pak choi, parsley, radish, rocket, spinach and strawberry.

Winter December to February

Time to start: celeriac, celery and leek.

Last chance for: garlic.

Any time of year: broad beans, onion and peas.

Frost in Cork

Last frost, most years
around 10 April
Frost is unlikely after
about 30 April
First frost, most years
around 21 November
Frost-free days in a year
about 225

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 Cork

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 Cork

What can I plant now in Cork?

In October, 6 vegetables can be sown or planted in Cork, 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 Cork?

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

When should I plant potatoes in Cork?

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

When should I plant garlic in Cork?

In Cork, 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 Cork?

In most years the last frost in Cork comes around 10 April. Frost is unlikely after about 30 April, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around 21 November.

What can I plant at any time of year in Cork?

Broad beans, onion and peas can be started in Cork in every month of the year.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Cork?

The quick ones are radish (about 5 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 Dublin

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Cork. 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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