When is best to start planting main crops in the UK?

In the UK, when we consider the things we might grow in our gardens or greenhouses we might think of carrots, potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, beetroot, beans, parsnips, onions and more. In truth, we are very fortunate in the UK that our climate, at a certain time of year enables us to grow a huge variety of crops.

You can grow all year round

Of course, we do have the ability to grow all year round which is great for those of us who love to spend time in the garden nurturing plants. However, growing during the winter months does leave us limited and so, the main crop is grown during the warmer months of the year, mainly, March/April.

When is the right time to grow main crops?

The majority of gardeners are fair-weather gardeners and that means that we only like to spend time in the garden when the weather is good and that is great for our main crops. The majority of them have to be sown during the spring months and the earlier they can be sown, the sooner you will be able to pick that wonderful fresh produce. However, choosing the right time is not about waiting for a specific date to arrive and putting your seeds in the ground.

There is more to it than that because although the end of March is the beginning of spring, it does not mean that you can start sowing immediately then because there is still a risk of cold weather. If you choose to put your seeds in the ground then and we are hit with a few weeks of ice or even snow then you can say goodbye to your main crops and you will have to go through the hassle and expense of having to do it all again.

So, on the whole, April is more of a safer month to begin sowing seeds as this is the time when the change becomes more noticeable. Even though we are not out of the woods, at this point when it comes to cold spells of weather, there is a reduced chance of experiencing bad weather.

However, if you feel as though you need to put your seeds out at a time when the weather is still risky, you should do all you can to give your crops the best chance of surviving. While the warmer days will make a difference, the cold nights can cause damage and so, protecting them with a fleece or even a cloche can help to provide the right level of care.

In some ways, sowing your seeds can be a bit of a gamble because of our climate. Despite this, there are many things that you can do to enhance your chances of having a bumper crop that you can pick during those balmy, summer months. So, plan correctly, check the long-range forecast and be prepared to protect those beloved crops of yours.