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London, England · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in London

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

October

7 vegetables to sow or plant now

6 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around 8 April, and frost is unlikely after about 2 May.

Quick, easy wins this month: radish.

Sow or plant in London in October

Sow in a tray

  • Cabbage
  • Onion

Sow in the ground

  • Broad beans
  • Peas
  • Radish

Plant out

  • Cabbage
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Strawberry

Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time.

Last month to start: radish.

Ready to pick in October

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

Coming up in November

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

When to plant the favourites in London

Tomato

Tomatoes

Sow in a tray: April.

Plant out: May to June.

Pick: August to September.

First pick about 20 weeks after starting.

Potato

Potatoes

Plant: March to August.

Best time to start: March to July.

Pick: July to December.

First pick about 12 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Garlic

Plant: October to December.

Best time to start: October to December.

Pick: June to July.

First pick about 29 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Lettuce

Sow in the ground: February to September.

Best time to start: March to August.

Pick: June to January.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Carrot

Carrots

Sow in the ground: February to August.

Best time to start: March to August.

Pick: June to March.

First pick about 10 weeks after starting.

Dwarf French beans

Dwarf French beans

Sow in the ground: May to July.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 10 weeks after starting.

Onion

Onions

Sow in a tray: January to October.

Plant out: February to December.

Best time to start: February to December.

Pick: June to November.

First pick about 37 weeks after starting.

Strawberry

Strawberries

Plant: March to June and September to November.

Best time to start: March to June and September to November.

Pick: June to January.

First pick about 20 weeks after starting.

Pumpkin

Pumpkins

Sow in a tray: May.

Plant out: May to June.

Best time to start: May.

Pick: September to October.

First pick about 18 weeks after starting.

Courgette

Courgettes

Sow in a tray: April to July.

Sow in the ground: June to July.

Plant out: May to August.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

The planting year in London

VegetableONDJFMAMJJASFirst pick
BasilTSPabout 9 weeks
BeetrootSSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
Broad beansSSSSSSSSSSabout 19 weeks
BroccoliTPPPPPPPabout 13 weeks
Brussels sproutsTPPPabout 22 weeks
CabbagePPTPPPPPPPabout 17 weeks
CarrotSSSSSSSabout 10 weeks
CauliflowerTPPPPPPabout 15 weeks
CeleriacTTPPPPabout 24 weeks
CeleryTTPPPPPabout 21 weeks
ChilliTPabout 18 weeks
ChivesTSSSSSPabout 9 weeks
Climbing French beansSSSabout 11 weeks
CorianderSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
CourgetteTPSSPabout 8 weeks
CucumberTSPabout 10 weeks
DillSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
Dwarf French beansSSSabout 10 weeks
GarlicPPPabout 29 weeks
KaleSSSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
LeekTPPPPPPPabout 20 weeks
LettuceSSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
OnionPPPTPPPPPPPPabout 37 weeks
Pak choiSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
ParsleyTSSSSSPabout 9 weeks
ParsnipSSSSSabout 14 weeks
PeasSSSSSSSSSSSSabout 14 weeks
PotatoPPPPPPabout 12 weeks
PumpkinPPabout 18 weeks
RadishSSSSSSSSabout 4 weeks
RocketSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
Runner beansSSabout 11 weeks
SpinachSSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
Spring onionSSSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
StrawberryPPPPPPPabout 20 weeks
SwedeSSSSSSSabout 13 weeks
Sweet pepperTPabout 19 weeks
SweetcornSSPabout 13 weeks
Swiss chardSSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
TomatoTPPabout 20 weeks
TurnipSSSSSSSSabout 7 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: chilli and sweet pepper.

London season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: basil, beetroot, Brussels sprouts, chilli, chives, climbing French beans, coriander, courgette, cucumber, dill, dwarf French beans, pak choi, parsley, parsnip, potato, pumpkin, radish, rocket, runner beans, strawberry, sweet pepper, sweetcorn, Swiss chard and tomato.

Last chance for: chilli and sweet pepper.

Summer June to August

Time to start: chilli and sweet pepper.

Last chance for: basil, broad beans, Brussels sprouts, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chilli, climbing French beans, courgette, cucumber, dwarf French beans, leek, parsnip, potato, pumpkin, runner beans, strawberry, swede, sweet pepper, sweetcorn and tomato.

Autumn September to November

Time to start: broad beans, garlic and strawberry.

Last chance for: beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, chives, coriander, dill, kale, lettuce, pak choi, parsley, radish, rocket, spinach, spring onion, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip.

Winter December to February

Time to start: broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, kale, leek, lettuce, spinach, spring onion, swede and turnip.

Last chance for: garlic.

Any time of year: onion and peas.

Frost in London

Last frost, most years
around 8 April
Frost is unlikely after
about 2 May
First frost, most years
around 4 November
Frost-free days in a year
about 210

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 London

Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot: aubergine, melon, okra, sweet potato and watermelon.

Questions about planting in London

What can I plant now in London?

In October, 7 vegetables can be sown or planted in London, including broad beans, cabbage, garlic, onion, peas, radish and strawberry. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in London?

In London, sow tomatoes in a tray in April and plant them out from May to June. Picking runs from August to September.

When should I plant potatoes in London?

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

When should I plant garlic in London?

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

When is the last frost in London?

In most years the last frost in London comes around 8 April. Frost is unlikely after about 2 May, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around 4 November.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in London?

The quick ones are radish (about 4 weeks), coriander (about 5 weeks), rocket (about 5 weeks), pak choi (about 6 weeks), spinach (about 6 weeks), lettuce (about 7 weeks), turnip (about 7 weeks) and beetroot (about 8 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

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 · What to plant now in Belfast

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