Planning Your Spring Vegetable Garden

Spring is the most exciting time in the vegetable garden. Here's how to plan, prepare, and plant for the best possible harvest.

Spring is when the vegetable garden wakes up. Getting the timing right — not too early, not too late — makes the difference between a good harvest and a great one.

Know Your Last Frost Date

Everything in spring planting revolves around your last expected frost date. In the UK, this is typically late March in the south and mid-May in the north. In the US, use GreenScout's Zone Finder to get your frost dates.

What to Sow in Late Winter (Under Cover)

Tomatoes (12 weeks before last frost)

Peppers and chillies (12–14 weeks)

Aubergines (12 weeks)

Onions and leeks (10 weeks)

What to Direct Sow After Last Frost

Courgettes and squash (direct sow outside)

French and runner beans

Sweetcorn

Cucumbers

What to Sow Early (Cold-Hardy)

Broad beans, peas — can go out 6 weeks before last frost

Lettuce, spinach, rocket — tolerate light frost

Carrots, parsnips — direct sow as soon as soil can be worked

Preparing the Bed

Add compost or well-rotted manure to beds in late winter. Don't dig unnecessarily — no-dig methods preserve soil structure and beneficial organisms.

Succession Sowing

Sow salad leaves, radishes, and spinach every 2–3 weeks for a continuous harvest rather than a glut.

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