When do I sow what? The sowing calendar helps
At the start of every season the same question comes up: what can I sow already, what still has to wait – and when is harvest time? Our free sowing calendar for vegetables and herbs gives you the answer at a glance: clearly arranged by month, with indoor pre-culture, direct sowing and harvest time shown in colour.
Straight to the month
Choose a month to see all the seeds that can be sown in it.
My sowing calendar
Save your varieties with the heart symbol – this is where they turn into your personal year plan with sowing, planting and harvest times.
Sowing calendar for vegetables
When do I sow what? The right timing is one of the most common stumbling blocks in the vegetable garden. Sown too early, the plants become spindly on the windowsill; too late, the harvest no longer ripens. This sowing calendar gives you practical guidance through the gardening year.
Basically, one distinguishes protected raising (indoors) from direct sowing into the bed – and the Ice Saints in mid-May are the most important marker for warmth crops.
In short
- Raise warmth-lovers (tomato, pepper) indoors from February/March.
- Sow robust species (carrot, radish, pea) directly into the bed from March/April.
- Warmth crops go outdoors only after the Ice Saints (mid-May).
- Re-sow for autumn and winter from summer.
Sowing calendar at a glance
| Month | Raise indoors | Direct sowing / planting |
|---|---|---|
| February | Pepper, chilli, aubergine | — |
| March | Tomato, cabbage, celery, lettuce | Radish, pea, spinach, carrot (mild) |
| April | Pumpkin, cucumber, courgette | Carrot, radish, lettuce, onion, beetroot |
| May | — | after Ice Saints: bean, cucumber; plant out tomato & co. |
| June | — | bean, autumn lettuces, fennel |
| July | — | lamb’s lettuce, radish, set out winter cabbage |
| August | — | lamb’s lettuce, spinach, Asian salads (for autumn/winter) |
Rules of thumb on timing
The details on the seed packet are decisive – they take the respective crop into account. Also pay attention to the soil temperature: many seeds only germinate from 8–12 °C. Start pre-cultures around 6–8 weeks before the planned planting out, depending on the species.
Frequently asked questions
Can I raise plants too early?
Yes – plants raised too early become too big on the windowsill and grow spindly. Better to plan around the planned planting-out date.
Does the calendar apply everywhere the same?
It is a guide. In mild regions you can start a little earlier, in harsh locations a little later.
Tip
Note your sowings with the date – this way you learn from year to year which timings work best in your garden.
Caution
Do not let warm spring days lure you outdoors too early – late frosts until mid-May are the most common cause of total losses.
Anyone who has missed the optimal time can catch up with strong young plants. We raise ours ready to plant and robust.
How to read the calendar
Each crop has a row, and the twelve months form the columns. The coloured bars show at a glance what to do and when:
- Light green – pre-culture/propagation: raise under cover on the windowsill or in the greenhouse.
- Dark green – direct sowing: the seeds can go straight into the open bed.
- Orange – harvest: harvest time!
The three columns on the right give the key facts: sowing depth in centimetres, optimal germination temperature and germination time in days. An asterisk (*) marks light germinators – their seeds are only pressed down and not covered with soil.
Pre-culture or direct sowing?
Warmth-loving crops such as tomatoes, peppers, chilli or aubergines need a long lead time and are raised under cover from February/March before they can go outdoors after the Ice Saints in mid-May. Robust species such as carrots, radish, peas or spinach, on the other hand, go straight into the bed. The calendar shows you the right approach for each crop.
Tips for successful sowing
- Use low-nutrient seed-starting compost for propagation – it encourages root formation.
- Keep the seeds evenly moist, but not wet.
- Sow fast-growing crops such as lettuce and radish in several batches – that way you harvest fresh over many weeks.
- Label your sowings so you keep track.
Ready to start
You will find the right seed right here with us: from vegetable seeds and herb seeds to tomato seeds and pepper & chilli seeds. If you would rather start with sturdy young plants, take a look at our Plants category.
