Growing Advice for Your Allotment

Welcome to the Rodborough Glebe growing guide! This section provides a month-by-month overview to help you plan your allotment year, from sowing seeds to harvesting your delicious produce.

Please remember: This information is for general guidance only. Always refer to specific seed packet instructions for the most accurate sowing and growing advice for your chosen varieties, as timing can vary.

The Allotment Growing Year: Month by Month

January

  • Harvest: Leek, Brussels Sprout, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Winter Cabbage, Kale.
  • Other Jobs: Chit early seed potatoes (place them in a light, cool, frost-free place to encourage sprouts).

February

  • Sow: Broad Bean (Aquadulce Claudia), Pea (Meteor), Onion (Setton or Radar), Cabbage (Pixie).
  • Harvest: Leek, Brussels Sprout, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Winter Cabbage, Kale.
  • Other Jobs: Continue chitting potatoes.

March

  • Sow: Broad Bean (Aquadulce Claudia), Pea (Meteor), Onion (Setton or Radar), Cabbage (Pixie), Lettuce (Tom Thumb), Parsnip (Tender and True), Beetroot (Boltardy), Spinach, Radish, Salad Leaves, Spring Onion.
  • Plant Out: Onion Sets, Garlic.
  • Harvest: Leek, Brussels Sprout, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Winter Cabbage, Kale.
  • Other Jobs: Plant early potatoes; prepare beds for spring planting.

April

  • Sow: Beetroot (Boltardy), Parsnip (Tender and True), Cabbage (Pixie), Lettuce (Tom Thumb), Spinach, Radish, Salad Leaves, Spring Onion, Carrot (Early Nantes), Calabrese, Brussels Sprout (Crispus), Peas (Hurst Green Shaft), Kohl Rabi, Swede (Marian), Turnip (Snowball), Cauliflower, Leek, Runner Bean, French Bean, Sweetcorn, Dwarf Bean, Courgette, Marrow, Pumpkin, Squash.
  • Plant Out: Broad Beans, Lettuce.
  • Harvest: Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Kale, Spinach, Radish, Salad Leaves, Spring Onion.
  • Other Jobs: Plant main crop potatoes.

May

  • Sow: Beetroot (Boltardy), Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Parsnip (Tender and True), Carrot (Early Nantes), Calabrese, Brussels Sprout (Crispus), Kohl Rabi, Swede (Marian), Turnip (Snowball), Cauliflower, Leek, Runner Bean, French Bean, Sweetcorn, Dwarf Bean, Courgette, Marrow, Pumpkin, Squash, Lettuce (Tom Thumb), Spinach, Radish, Salad Leaves, Spring Onion.
  • Plant Out: Celery, Chillies, Brussels Sprout (Crispus), Leeks, Cabbage, Calabrese, Cauliflower, Tomatoes, Sweetcorn, Courgette, Marrow, Pumpkin, Squash, Runner Bean, French Bean.
  • Harvest: Spinach, Radish, Salad Leaves, Spring Onion, Lettuce, early Peas.
  • Other Jobs: Earth up new potatoes.

June

  • Sow: Runner Bean, French Bean, Dwarf Bean, Courgette, Marrow, Pumpkin, Squash, Lettuce (Tom Thumb), Spinach, Radish, Salad Leaves, Spring Onion, Beetroot (Boltardy), Calabrese, Swede (Marian), Turnip (Snowball).
  • Plant Out: Leeks, Cabbage, Calabrese, Cauliflower, Tomatoes, Sweetcorn, Courgette, Marrow, Pumpkin, Squash, Runner Bean, French Bean.
  • Harvest: Spinach, Radish, Salad Leaves, Spring Onion, Lettuce, Peas, Broad Beans, early Potatoes, Calabrese, Cabbage, Turnip, Beetroot.

July

  • Sow: Lettuce (Tom Thumb), Spinach, Radish, Salad Leaves, Spring Onion, Calabrese.
  • Plant Out: Leeks, Cabbage, Calabrese, Cauliflower.
  • Harvest: All types of Beans, Peas, Potatoes, Calabrese, Cabbage, Turnip, Beetroot, Carrots, Onions, Courgettes, Marrow, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Spinach, Radish, Salad Leaves, Spring Onion, Lettuce.

August

  • Sow: Spinach, Radish, Salad Leaves, Spring Onion.
  • Harvest: All types of Beans, Peas, Potatoes, Calabrese, Cabbage, Turnip, Beetroot, Carrots, Onions, Courgettes, Marrow, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Spinach, Radish, Salad Leaves, Spring Onion, Lettuce, Sweetcorn, Parsnip (small).

September

  • Sow: Winter Lettuce (Winter Gem), Spring Cabbage, Onion (White Lisbon), Broad Bean (Aquadulce Claudia), Pea (Meteor).
  • Harvest: All types of Beans, Peas, Potatoes, Calabrese, Cabbage, Turnip, Beetroot, Carrots, Onions, Courgettes, Marrow, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Spinach, Radish, Salad Leaves, Spring Onion, Lettuce, Sweetcorn, Parsnip, Pumpkin, Squash.

October

  • Sow: Winter Lettuce (Winter Gem), Spring Cabbage, Onion (White Lisbon), Broad Bean (Aquadulce Claudia), Pea (Meteor).
  • Plant Out: Garlic.
  • Harvest: Brussels Sprout, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Winter Cabbage, Kale, Leek, Parsnip, Carrots, Beetroot, Pumpkin, Squash, Swede.

November

  • Harvest: Brussels Sprout, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Winter Cabbage, Kale, Leek, Parsnip, Carrots, Beetroot, Pumpkin, Squash, Swede.

December

  • Harvest: Brussels Sprout, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Winter Cabbage, Kale, Leek, Parsnip, Carrots, Beetroot.

Understanding Key Terms

  • Sowing: This is the process of putting dormant seeds into the soil or growing medium to begin germination.
  • Planting Out: This refers to the process of transferring a living plant (which has already germinated and grown a little, either from a seed you’ve sown indoors or a plant you’ve purchased) into its final growing position in the allotment soil.