As the days grow longer and the chill of winter fades, gardeners everywhere start itching to get their hands dirty. But successful spring planting isn’t just about enthusiasm — it’s about timing. Knowing when to plant different varieties is key to creating a vibrant and flourishing garden.
Early Spring (March – April)
As soon as the soil is workable, it’s time to sow hardy vegetables and cool-season flowers. Think peas, spinach, radishes, and lettuce. For flowers, pansies, violas, and snapdragons are excellent choices that can handle a light frost and still thrive. Starting these now ensures you have a colourful, productive garden while many plants are still waking up.
Mid-Spring (April – May)
Once the risk of frost is mostly behind you, it’s safe to introduce tender vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and courgettes — though it’s wise to start them indoors or under cover. Hardy annuals such as marigolds, calendula, and cosmos can be sown directly outside, adding a burst of cheerful colour that will last well into summer.
Late Spring (May – June)
Now it’s time to get adventurous. Beans, sweetcorn, and cucumbers can be planted outdoors directly. It’s also a perfect moment for planting more delicate summer favourites like dahlias, gladioli, and sunflowers. These heat-loving plants will revel in the warmer soil and longer daylight hours. You can also move earlier sowings of seedlings to their final positions in the garden.
Timing Tips for Success
- Always check your local last frost date before planting sensitive varieties.
- Use cloches or fleece to protect tender plants if a sudden cold snap threatens.
- A staggered planting approach — sowing every two weeks — can extend harvests and flowering periods through the season.
Bringing It All Together
Spring planting is a dance between patience and eagerness. While the temptation to fill every bed as soon as the sun appears is strong, waiting for the right conditions ensures stronger, healthier plants. Planning your sowing and planting schedules carefully — and adjusting them according to your local climate — is the secret to a thriving, colourful garden that rewards you from early summer right through to autumn.
Take your time, nurture your soil, and enjoy every step of the journey — after all, each seed sown in spring holds the promise of a beautiful season ahead.