Growing vegetables is a rewarding blend of art and science. Success starts with knowing the right planting times, managing pests effectively, and harvesting at peak ripeness.
As experienced gardeners from trusted sources like Good to Be Home (a UK-based authority), we've compiled this comprehensive guide with proven secrets for thriving home vegetable gardens. Discover optimal planting locations, care routines, and strategies for abundant harvests every season.
Ready for bumper crops? Dive in:
To easily print this guide in PDF, click here.
These vegetables thrive in flower beds:
- Beet
- Borlotti bean (Roman bean)
- Beans*
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Zucchini*
- Cucumber*
- Green bean*
- Kale
- Leek
- Lettuce
- Snow peas
- Onion
- Parsnip
- Spinach
- Potato*
- Radish
- Green onion
- Squash*
- Sweetcorn*
- Chard
- Tomato*
- Turnip
These are the easiest vegetables for container gardening:
- Beet
- Carrot
- Zucchini*
- Cucumber*
- Green bean*
- Lettuce
- Snow peas
- Spinach
- Radish
- Green onion
- Chard
- Tomato*
*For these varieties, start seeds in pots (like this germination kit) before transplanting.
Seed spacing: 2-5cm
Sprouting: full sun
Thinning: 5-10cm between plants
Germination: 7-10 days
Maturity: 55-65 days
Plant: April-May-June-July
Harvest: June-July-August-September
Start seeds: in pots before planting
Sprouting: full sun
Germination: 9-12 days
Maturity: 50-70 days
Pests: slugs
Plant: April-May-June
Harvest: July-August-September-October
Start seeds: in pots before planting
Sprouting: full sun
Transplant: after 1 month to bed or 30cm pot
Germination: 7-14 days
Maturity: 80-100 days
Pests: flies, mice
Plant: February-March-April-October-November
Harvest: July-August-September-October
Seed spacing: 2-5cm
Sprouting: full sun
Germination: 3-10 days
Maturity: 60-80 days
Pests: caterpillars
Plant: April-May
Harvest: July-August-September
Seed spacing: 2-5cm
Sprouting: full sun or greenhouse
Transplant: after 1 month to bed or 1-2m pot
Germination: 3-10 days
Maturity: 80-90 days
Pests: slugs
Plant: March-April
Harvest: August-September-October-November-December-January
Seed spacing: 7cm
Sprouting: full sun
Transplant: after 1 month to bed or 1-2m pot
Germination: 4-10 days
Maturity: 65-95 days
Pests: caterpillars, slugs
Plant: March-April
Harvest: July-August-September
Seed spacing: 1-2cm
Sprouting: full sun
Thinning: 2-5cm between plants
Germination: 10-17 days
Maturity: 60-80 days
Pests: flies
Plant: April-May-June-July
Harvest: July-August-September-October
Start seeds: in pots before planting
Sprouting: full sun or greenhouse
Transplant: after 1 month to bed or 50cm pot
Germination: 4-8 days
Maturity: 45-60 days
Plant: April-May
Harvest: July-August-September-October
Seed spacing: 3-4 seeds per pot
Start seeds: in pots before planting
Sprouting: greenhouse
Transplant: after 1 month to bed or 30cm pot
Germination: 6-10 days
Maturity: 55-65 days
Plant: April-May
Harvest: July-August-September
Seed spacing: 20cm
Start seeds: in pots before planting
Germination: 7-14 days
Maturity: 80-100 days
Pests: snails, slugs
Plant: May-June-July
Harvest: August-September-October
Seed spacing: 5cm
Sprouting: full sun
Transplant: after 1 month to bed or larger pot
Germination: 3-10 days
Maturity: 55-80 days
Pests: caterpillars
Plant: May-June
Harvest: August-September-October-November-December
Seed spacing: 1cm
Sprouting: full sun
Transplant: after 1 month to bed or 15cm pot
Germination: 7-12 days
Maturity: 80-90 days
Pests: slugs
Plant: April
Harvest: September-October-November-December
Seed spacing: 1-2cm
Sprouting: full sun
Thinning: 20cm between plants
Germination: 4-10 days
Maturity: 55-80 days
Pests: mice
Plant: April-May-June-July
Harvest: June-July-August-September-October-November
Seed spacing: 5cm
Sprouting: full sun
Transplant: after 1 month to bed or larger pot
Germination: 7-10 days
Maturity: 80-100 days
Pests: mice
Plant: March-April-May-June
Harvest: June-July-August-September-October
Sprouting: full sun
Germination: 7-12 days
Maturity: 100-155 days
Plant: March-April
Harvest: August-September-October
Seed spacing: 1cm
Sprouting: full sun
Thinning: 7cm between plants
Germination: 15-25 days
Maturity: 100-120 days
Plant: April-May-June
Harvest: October-November-December-January-February
Seed spacing: 2cm
Sprouting: full sun
Thinning: 15-20cm between plants
Germination: 5-15 days
Maturity: 37-45 days
Pests: slugs
Plant: April-May-June-July
Harvest: July-August-September-October-November-December
Seed spacing: 1-2m
Start seeds: in pots before planting
Germination: 8-16 days
Maturity: 90-105 days
Plant: May
Harvest: August-September
Discover: 4 Simple Steps to Grow 45kg Potatoes in a Barrel!
Seed spacing: 1cm
Sprouting: full sun
Thinning: 2-5cm between plants
Germination: 3-10 days
Maturity: 20-50 days
Pests: beetles
Plant: April-May-June-July-August
Harvest: May-June-July-August-September-October
Seed spacing: 1cm
Sprouting: full sun
Germination: 14-21 days
Maturity: 50-80 days
Plant: March-April-May-June-July
Harvest: May-June-July-August-September-October-November-December
Start seeds: in pots before planting
Sprouting: full sun or greenhouse
Germination: 3-12 days (summer), 6-10 days (winter)
Maturity: 50-60 days (summer), 85-120 days (winter)
Plant: April-May
Harvest: September-October
Start seeds: in pots before planting
Sprouting: full sun or greenhouse
Transplant: after 1 month to bed or 30cm pot
Germination: 6-10 days
Maturity: 60-90 days
Plant: April-May
Harvest: July-August-September-October
Seed spacing: 2cm
Start seeds: in pots before planting
Sprouting: full sun or greenhouse
Thinning: 30cm between plants
Germination: 7-10 days
Maturity: 55-65 days
Plant: April-May-June-July
Harvest: July-August-September-October-November-December
Start seeds: in pots before planting
Sprouting: greenhouse
Transplant: after 1 month to bed or 1-2m pot
Germination: 6-14 days
Maturity: 55-90 days
Plant: March-April
Harvest: July-August-September-October
Discover: 13 Tricks for More, Bigger, Tastier Tomatoes.
Sprouting: full sun
Transplant: after 1 month to bed or 5-7cm pot
Thinning: 5-10cm between plants
Germination: 3-10 days
Maturity: 45-60 days
Plant: April-May-June-July-August
Harvest: June-July-August-September-October-November
Companion planting optimizes space and deters pests. Here are proven vegetable pairings:
Beets: with broccoli, onion, chard, cabbage, Brussels sprouts.
Cabbage: with tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, chard, kale, Brussels sprouts.
Carrots: with cabbage, leek, radish, snow peas, onion, lettuce.
Potatoes: with cabbage, snow peas, squash, beans, corn.
Tomatoes: with onion, carrot, cabbage.
Onions: with parsnips, lettuce, beets, cabbage, carrots.
Radishes: with snow peas, carrots, parsnips, lettuce, cucumber, spinach.
Chard: with onion, cabbage, beets.
Snow peas: with carrots, parsnips, cucumbers, radishes, corn, beans.
Cucumbers: with cabbage, radish, beans, corn.
Lettuce: with carrots, beets, parsnips, radishes.
Parsnips: with onion, radish, lettuce.
- Tomatoes repel cabbage caterpillars.
- Onions deter most pests.
- Radishes repel striped cucumber beetles.
- Onions and radishes repel carrot flies.
- Radishes attract leaf miners away from spinach.
- Lettuce tenderizes summer radishes.
With these time-tested gardener secrets, enjoy fruitful harvests! This guide is adapted from Good to Be Home.
Southern hemisphere gardeners: Adjust seasons accordingly; other tips apply universally.
Recommended reading: The Practical Guide to Square Foot Gardening: Everything to Plan and Cultivate.
Happy harvesting!
