260 appendix Planting charts Use the following charts to work out a sowing order for your chosen crops based around the last spring frost date and first autumn frost date for your area. Sowing and planting for spring & summer crops a guide to which annual crops need planting out in spring from early spring to late spring. Take your local conditions and plant growth into account as well. 12 10 8 6 4 2 Last spring frost 2 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost potato (early) Spinach 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost Onion & Shallot Broad Bean dill 4 to 6 weeks before last spring frost Kohl Rabi Kale parsley Calabrese Lettuce & salad leaves Lettuce & salad leaves Cauliflower Cabbage (summer) Onions & Shallot 2 to 4 weeks before last spring frost pak Choi Turnip (summer) Beetroot Carrot (summer) Radish (summer) Florence Fennel Chard, Swiss Chard Straight after last spring frost Coriander Sweetcorn
appendix 261 indoor growth period started with seed Outdoor growth period stared with seed Outdoor growth period stared with set Outdoor growth period stared with tuber Outdoor growth stared with plant Harvest period 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 harvest lasts for up to 22 weeks
262 appendix Sowing and planting for spring & summer crops (continued) 12 Straight after last spring frost (continued) Climbing Bean Bush Bean Tomato Chives Celery Celeriac Brussels Sprouts Leek endive After the last spring frost Cucumber Okra Sweet pepper & Chilli aubergine Courgette, Summer Squash (from seed) Courgette, Summer Squash (from plants) Winter squash Basil Melon Chicory 10 8 6 4 2 Last spring frost 2 indoor growth period started with seed Outdoor growth period stared with seed Outdoor growth period stared with set Outdoor growth period stared with tuber Outdoor growth stared with plant Harvest period
appendix 263 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 harvest lasts for up to 24 weeks
264 appendix Indoor germination temperatures ALLIACeAe Allium ampeloprasum Leek Allium cepa Onion Allium schoenoprasum Chives APIACeAe Apium graveolens var. dulce Celery Apium graveolens var. rapaceum Celeriac Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce Florence Fennel Petroselinum Parsley ASTeRACeAe Cichorium endivia endive Lactuca sativa Lettuce and other Salad Leaves BRASSICACeAe Brassica rapa var. chinensis Pak Choi Brassica oleracea var. botrytis Cauliflower Brassica oleracea Capitata Group Cabbage (summer) Brassica oleracea Gemmifera Group Brussels Sprouts Brassica oleracea italica Group Calabrese CHenOPODIACeAe Beta vulgaris Chard and Swiss Chard CuRCuRBITACeAe Cucumis sativus Cucumber Cucumis melo Melon Cucurbita pepo Courgette and Summer Squash Cucurbita Winter Squash LAMIACeAe Ocimum Basil MALvACeAe Abelmoschus esculentus Okra PAPILIOnACeAe Phaseolus coccineus, P. vulgaris Climbing Bean Phaseolus vulgaris Bush Bean Pisum sativum Pea POACeAe Zea mays Sweetcorn 5 C (41 F) 10 C (50 F) Temperature 15 C (59 F) 20 C (68 F) 25 C (77 F)
appendix 265 Indoor germination temperatures (continued) 5 C (41 F) 10 C (50 F) Temperature 15 C (59 F) 20 C (68 F) 25 C (77 F) SOLAnACeAe Capsicum annuum Sweet Pepper and Chilli Lycopersicon esculentum Tomato Solanum melongena Aubergine Germination temperature range Autumn planting schedule if you want to extend your cropping season, plan ahead to sow for autumn harvests and also, if local conditions allow, plant hardy crops in autumn for earlier cropping the following year. Lettuce & salads (hardy) endive Chicory (hardy) Onions Cabbage (spring) Strawberry Shallot Broad Bean Garlic Chicory (forced) 8 6 4 2 First autumn frost 2 4 6 planting period of seed planting period of plants planting period of sets Lifting period for roots s for an Autumn harvest Summer crops still cropping until the first frost Celery Radish (summer) Celeriac Winter Squash Carrot Mint endive Oregano and Marjoram Chicory pepper and Chilli pak Choi Tomato Cauliflower potato Calabrese Turnip (summer) Plants still growing outside ready for harvest or lifting after first frost Leeks parsley Swede Kale Brussels Sprouts Turnip (winter) Radish (winter) Beetroot Chard, Swiss Chard