Keter Manor Outdoor Apex Double Door Garden Storage Shed (6 x 8ft)
A durable and stylish beige and brown garden storage shed perfect for storing garden tools, equipment, bikes, and outdoor essentials. Weather-resistant, low maintenance, and ideal for any garden or allotment setup.
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Introduction
Want a constant flow of food from your plot—not just summer gluts? A month-by-month harvest guide is your secret to timed sowings, quick re-planting, and never missing a harvest window again. Whether you’re a traditionalist or experimental grower, this guide will help you plan, tweak, and maximise every month’s potential for fresh, local food.
Table of Contents
- Why Plan Monthly? Benefits for Plot and Plate
- Key Sowing & Harvesting Cycles (The Big Picture)
- Monthly Breakdown: What to Plant, Pick, and Prep
- January–March: Early Starts and Winter Jobs
- April–June: Full Sowing Swing
- July–September: Peak Harvests & Succession
- October–December: Winter Crops and Soil Prep
- Quick-Reference Charts
- Essential Tools: Calendar, Markers, and Journals
- Tips for Success: Staying Ahead & Weather-Proof
- FAQs
- Conclusion
1. Why Plan Monthly? Benefits for Plot and Plate
- Never miss the “sweet spot” for quick crops or seasonal picks
- Maximise plot use—no wasted space between harvests
- Boost year-round food security and variety
- Smoothens workload—avoiding “everything at once” chaos
2. Key Sowing & Harvesting Cycles (The Big Picture)
- Early spring: Sow indoors/undercover for jump-starts (broad beans, onions, salads).
- Mid spring-summer: Direct sowing, bed succession, non-stop lettuce, beetroot, carrot, bean sowings.
- Late summer: Squeeze in last crops, prep for autumn/winter (brassicas, overwintering onions).
- Autumn-winter: Root veg, leeks, hardy salads, sprouts, parsnip—plus soil health building and cover crops.
3. Monthly Breakdown: What to Plant, Pick, and Prep
January
- Harvest: Leeks, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, kale.
- Plant/Sow: Garlic, shallots (if not done earlier), broad beans undercover.
- Prep: Clean tools, order seeds, finalise rotation plan.
February
- Harvest: PSB (purple sprouting broccoli), leeks, sprouting chard.
- Plant/Sow: Chit potatoes indoors, sow onions, early tomatoes inside.
- Prep: Warm soil with fleece, start propagator for chillis and aubergines.
March
- Harvest: Kale, late leeks, spinach, overwintered lettuce.
- Plant/Sow: Early spuds, beetroot, peas, salad leaves, carrots in warm corners.
- Prep: Build compost heaps, set up rainwater catchers.
April
- Harvest: Spring onions, over-wintered spinach/chard.
- Plant/Sow: Broad beans, more carrots, brassicas, maincrop potatoes, lettuce, radish.
- Prep: Harden off seedlings, start regular weeding.
May
- Harvest: Asparagus, radishes, first lettuce.
- Plant/Sow: Beans (french, runner), sweetcorn, direct summer squash, courgettes, cucumbers, succession salads.
- Prep: Watering routine begins, net strawberries.
June
- Harvest: Strawberries, peas, early spuds, turnips, salad leaves.
- Plant/Sow: More beans, beetroot, cucumbers, autumn cabbage, kohlrabi.
- Prep: Mulch beds, watch for bolting salad, regular feeding.
July
- Harvest: Courgettes, potatoes, carrots, currants, raspberries.
- Plant/Sow: Winter brassicas, autumn/winter leeks, last beans; sow Florence fennel, kale.
- Prep: Water, mulch, and net fruit/veg heavily.
August
- Harvest: Runner/french beans, tomatoes, sweetcorn, onions, maincrop spuds.
- Plant/Sow: Winter spinach, spring cabbage, overwinter salad crops, catch radish.
- Prep: Keep harvesting regularly—more you pick, more grows!
September
- Harvest: Apples, pears, main onions, late potatoes, late beans.
- Plant/Sow: Overwintering onions, garlic, first green manures.
- Prep: Clear spent beds, compost plant debris.
October
- Harvest: Pumpkins, squash, carrots, main leeks, beetroot.
- Plant/Sow: Garlic, autumn salad under cloche.
- Prep: Mulch beds, sow green manure.
November
- Harvest: Parsnips, leeks, sprouts, kale, hardy herbs.
- Plant/Sow: Last chance for broad beans, green manure, bare-root fruit.
- Prep: Clean, oil tools; insulate water butts; order/plan for new season.
December
- Harvest: Sprouts, parsnip, celeriac, winter veg.
- Plant/Sow: Plan, journal, save seeds, scope out new crops.
- Prep: Rest, reflect, prepare for next rush.
4. Quick-Reference Charts
(Optional: insert calendar table or PDF download with each sow/harvest window for main UK crops.)
5. Essential Tools: Calendar, Markers, and Journals
- A physical or digital calendar for key sow/harvest dates
- Laminated quick-check plot planner in your shed
- Highlighters, plant labels
- Weekly log or photos for tracking growth (and reminding you what worked when!)
6. Tips for Success: Staying Ahead & Weather-Proof
- Succession sow: every 2–3 weeks for salad, beans, beetroot in main season.
- Keep fleece/cloche handy for surprise late frosts or chilly starts.
- Compare notes to previous years—shift timings to match your site and local climate changes.
- Don’t panic on missed windows—many crops have ‘catch-up’ sowing slots!
7. FAQs
Q: What’s the best month to start an allotment?
A: Any month! If mid-summer, start with fast crops and prep beds for next year.
Q: Can I plant “out of season” with a greenhouse or cloche?
A: Yes! Protecting early/late crops adds weeks or months to your sow/harvest seasons.
Q: What if I miss a sowing month for a crop?
A: Try a quick-growing variety, or use that space for green manure/fast greens.
Conclusion
Monthly sowing and picking isn’t about rule-following—it’s about unlocking every season’s potential. With a simple plan, some notes, and a bit of flexible routine, you’ll turn every month into a harvesting month, no matter the weather or plot size!