11 Easy Vegetables You Can Plant in the UK

From rain that seemingly never stops to not-so-hot summers that bring more humidity than warmth, the weather here can have its pitfalls. In fact, if you’ve ever tried gardening or sowing seeds, then you’re likely all too aware of the havoc British weather can cause.   

But don’t fear – it’s not all doom and gloom! By choosing the right plants and giving them a bit of TLC, you’ll find there’s plenty of veg you can plant from the comfort of your own backyard. So, get those gloves back on, and dig out the gardening tools from your shed! For 11 easy vegetables to grow in UK gardens, read, below.

From pickled beetroot for your salads to the Eastern European soup borscht, beetroot may be a humble veg, but it sure has star power. And the good news is that this versatile veggie makes the list of UK vegetables to grow in your garden! Ready to start making your own homegrown beetroot? We’ve got some top tips for you.

How to grow beetroot: 

1.      These veggies prefer the cooler weather of spring and autumn, ideally around the 16°C mark, so aim to sow the seeds between May and June.

2.      Plant your seeds 1cm deep and at least 10cm apart to give them the best chance of growing.

3.      Make sure to water your beetroot plant regularly and give some water to the surrounding soil as well to help keep weeds at bay.

Courgettes are known for being a delicious meat substitute and a healthy replacement for fries, but did you know they’re also an easy vegetable to grow in UK gardens? The best part of growing your own courgette is that just one plant can sprout several for you to enjoy – so, let’s get planting!

How to grow courgettes:

1.      It’s best to sow your courgette seeds in late spring to early summer, around May or June will give them the best chance of growing.

2.      Pop some soil in a large plant pot, 1.5cm deep should do it, then sow one or two seeds with about 90cm between them.

3.      Next, cover the pot up for a few weeks until the seedlings start to show. In warmer weather, water every day, but make sure not to wet any sprouted leaves as this can harm your tasty courgette.

Tired of last minute pumpkin shopping every Halloween? Well, you can skip the supermarket queues come autumn, as these are just another veg you can plant in your own garden!

How to grow pumpkins:

1.      It might seem odd given their spooky-season reputation, but you should plant your pumpkin seeds in spring, late May or early June is best.

2.      Pick a spot that’ll give them the best sun cover and plant your seeds around 90cm apart.

3.      Then, cover them up with some garden compost, which you can learn how to make on our DIY compost blog!

There’s nothing more refreshing than a crunchy, tasty salad on a summer’s day. Well, an ice cream would hit the spot too, but they are definitely not a veg you can plant…unfortunately. Salad leaves are a great vegetable to plant in June in the UK, and as they’re able to grow in just four weeks, you’ll have plenty ready for a summertime salad!#

How to grow salad leaves:

1.      Get rid of any stones or weeds and rake over the soil for a smooth surface.

2.      Then, dig holes right down into the soil, about 1cm deep.

3.      Give the soil a little bit of water, just enough to give it some moisture without collapsing the holes.

4.      Lastly, sprinkle your seeds into the bottom of the holes, before covering them back up with soil.

Hot, hot, hot! The weather may not be the best in the UK, but you can give your garden a bit of heat by planting some chillies!

How to grow chillies:

1.      This is an easy vegetable to plant in UK gardens, but it does need a bit of time to grow – if you plant in March, they’ll be ready around June.

2.      It’s best to start growing them indoors first, then move them to a sunny spot in your garden once they’ve started to grow.

3.      To make sure their soil doesn’t get too dry, water them once or twice a day as chillies get quite thirsty.

From roasties to bangers and mash, potatoes are a good ol’ British classic, making them an excellent veg to plant in the UK!

How to grow potatoes:

1.      Start by removing any weeds to give your potato the best chance of growing.

2.      Dig straight down into the prepared soil to create trenches about 12cm deep and 60cm apart.

3.      Plant your seeds in the trenches and cover them with heaped mounds of soil.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy veg you can plant now and get speedy results, then radish is for you! From sowing to harvesting, you can be nibbling on this fiery little veggie in as little as four weeks. But how can we grow them? Well, let’s take a look!

How to grow radish:

1.      Prepare the soil by breaking up any large clumps, it’s best to do this with a rake to get a thin and even ground for the seeds.

2.      Plant your radish in rows 1cm deep, 5cm apart, leaving 15cm between each row.

3.      Radish grows best in sunny weather, so try to find a spot with lots of sunshine, and make sure to thoroughly soak the soil at least once a week.

Carrot cake, carrot sticks and humous, coleslaw, lots of tasty foods come from carrots – so why not pop a few in your garden? Now, carrots are actually a great vegetable to plant in winter here in the UK, so you can make the most of your garden all year round! What’s even better is that they’re not difficult to grow either.

How to grow carrots:

1.      Start by planting your carrot seeds around 1cm deep with 7cm between each to allow them to grow properly.

2.      Carrots don’t need watering all that much, especially during the dreary winter. Sprinkle a bit of water on them around once a week for best results.

From smoothies to salads to crunchy, fried kale, this veggie sure gives you a lot to work with in the kitchen. But how do we get it from the garden to your plate? Well, it’s actually quite simple!

How to grow kale:

1.      Kale are a good vegetable to plant in summer months as they prefer a bit of heat to grow properly.

2.      Create a hole around 1cm deep to plant your seeds.

3.      Water them once a week to keep them strong and healthy.

We looked at how to grow potatoes before and what is a better accompaniment to those than leeks? You’ll be whipping up a steaming hot bowl of leek and potato soup in no time! But before we get the chef’s hat, let’s get the gardening gloves on to see how these vegetables can be planted.  

How to grow leeks:

1.      It’s best to plant leeks in spring as they prefer a spot of sunshine to keep them growing strong.

2.      You’ll need to dig a narrow hole 20cm deep, dropping the seeds in the bottom.

3.      Cover your leeks up with soil and give them a generous amount of water.

Who doesn’t love a few honey roasted parsnips on their roast dinner, and rumour has it that they taste even sweeter when you’ve grown them yourself! So, let’s see how you can do it.

How to grow parsnips:

1.      To get the best results from your parsnips, sow the seeds in an open and sunny spot in your garden.

2.      Create a shallow hole of about 1cm, splashing on a bit of water if the soil looks dry.

3.      Scatter your parsnip seeds in a thin layer, before covering with soil again.

With so many delicious vegetables planted in your garden, you might be wondering how you can keep the rest of your outdoor space looking just as lush! You can explore our range of lawn mowers to keep your grass in tip top shape, while our hedge trimmers are perfect for tidying up shrubbery. Alternatively, if you’re looking for more gardening tips, we’ve got you covered there too. From how to care for an apple tree to help with trimming your hedges and bushes, head over to our blog!