Find out how to grow each vegetable on your allotment plot or in your kitchen garden. Click the vegetable below, that you would like to learn more about and discover all the information you need to grow a successful crop this season.
Click Fruit, Herbs or Nuts for more growing your own information pages.
If you want to embrace clean eating habits but are gobsmacked by the prices of organic produce at your local supermarket, then it might be time to start growing your own veggies.
While the thought of growing vegetables at your allotment might seem daunting, the key is just to start! If you’re new to allotment growing, you’ll be glad to hear that vegetables are usually the easiest crop to grow.
Are you starting a vegetable garden? Or would you like to know ‘easy to grow’ vegetables? Allotment Online is your helping hand. We are here to help you with all kinds of resources, from how to procure the best seeds, to sowing, growing and harvesting. Sign up and join our community!
When starting a vegetable garden, you must first consider which vegetables you would like to grow. Top tip: choose your favourites!
Following this, you should establish when you start growing them and what vegetables are compatible next to each other. Check out our companion planting page for more information on this topic.
To achieve the best results, it’s worth dedicating the time to a vegetable garden planner. Our guide on Monthly Allotment Jobs may help you!
If you’re a beginner, it’s worth doing some research on easy to grow vegetables as this will help to build confidence and allow you to make mistakes, without compromising results. Whether you’re growing vegetables from your home vegetable garden or allotment patch, it’s worth having a scan over our easy to follow table.
Growing your own veggies can be a thrilling experience but it is often riddled with problems and mistakes that can hamper your crop output. When starting a vegetable garden you must be aware of these problems so that you can take proactive steps to ensure a good yield.
A common mistake when growing your own vegetables is planting your seed or seedlings too early, which can be attributed to the eagerness and excitement of first-time gardeners. It is extremely important to read the sowing dates mentioned on the seed pack and avoid jumping the gun. If a summer crop is sown too early, it becomes difficult for the young plant to survive in the frost-covered soil or during the cold nighttime temperatures.
Conversely, sowing your vegetable seeds too late can also adversely affect your yield. Certain vegetables need a few months to grow, and if you are sowing them too late in the spring/summer, chances are they will not be able to mature before it's time for harvest.
Another common mistake is not planting your vegetables in the right space. When starting a vegetable garden, it’s important to select a spot that receives ample sunlight, but also has enough shade. Optimal planting for your vegetables very much depends on the type and variety, but typically, too much exposure to sunlight or rain can harm the crops, especially during the early days. For optimal yield, your vegetable patch should be receiving 6-8 hours of sunlight.
A crucial mistake when growing your own veggies is not checking the quality of the soil, as this dramatically impacts the quality and quantity of your yield. You need to check the soil quality and then work on improving the quality as naturally as possible. Mulching is a great way to enhance soil quality without adding artificial fertilisers.
Dig the soil well, so that the roots are able to go deep. Additionally, you must regularly weed the soil, so that the pests and diseases do not destroy your vegetables.
It’s easy to get overly excited and end up planting multiple crops in a small space- but this can backfire. Plant either one or two crops at a time or plant alternatively once you finish harvesting one crop, sow the next one. Here’s our guide on crop rotation!
|
Vegetable |
Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
Asparagus |
March-April |
April-June (2-3 years after planting) |
|
Beetroot |
March-July |
June-October |
|
Broad Beans |
February-May |
June-August |
|
Broccoli |
March-May |
July-November |
|
Brussel Sprouts |
March-April |
September-Februry |
|
Cabbage |
March-May (Summer) July-September (Winter) |
June-December |
|
Carrot |
February-July |
May-October |
|
Celery |
February-April |
September-February |
|
French Beans |
May-July |
July-September |
|
Garlic |
October-December/January-march |
June-August |
|
Horseradish |
Spring to Early Summer |
Late Autumn to Early Winter |
|
Jerusalem Artichoke |
March-April |
October-February |
|
Kale |
March-June |
September-April |
|
Leeks |
March-April |
August-March |
|
Lettuce |
February-July |
April-October |
|
Okra |
April-May |
July-October |
|
Onions |
March-April |
July-August |
|
Parsnips |
February-May |
October-February |
|
Peas |
March-June |
June-September |
|
Potato |
March-May |
June-September |
|
Raddish |
March-August |
April-October |
|
Rhubard |
October-March |
April-June |
|
Shallots |
February-April |
July-September |
|
Spinach |
March-May (Spring)/ August-September (Winter) |
May-October |
|
Sweet corn |
May-June |
August-September |
|
Turnips |
March-August |
May-October |
We are a group of amateur and professional allotment growers at Allotment Online. Our community is ready to share its expertise and help you in growing your vegetables. Whether you are looking for fun vegetable-growing stories, advice, tips or secret strategies- you will find anything on our platform.
Starting a vegetable garden? Share your journey here!
