For UK allotment plots and kitchen gardens
Your allotment, made simple —
UK climate, UK calendar, UK retailers.
RHS-aligned sowing dates, hardiness banding from H1a–H7, and the UK seed merchants we actually trust. Six guides, six crops, six starter prompts for the chat.
UK growing isn’t US growing on a different calendar — frost dates run April–May in the Midlands, the Gulf Stream extends the south-west season, and the RHS hardiness bands (H1a–H7) replace USDA zones. Our UK-tagged guides use UK cultivar names, RHS guidance, and English/Scottish/Welsh/Northern Irish frost-date variance. Start with the six guides below, then let Growli ground every answer in your postcode.
Start with these guides
When to plant tomatoes (UK)
Indoor-sow February–March, transplant after last frost. UK regional timing built in.
Read guideWhen to plant garlic (UK)
Autumn-plant October–November for the biggest bulbs. UK hardneck and softneck cultivars covered.
Read guideHow to grow tomatoes (UK)
Greenhouse vs outdoor. The cultivars that ripen in a British summer.
Read guideUK RHS hardiness zones
The H1a–H7 system explained, with maps for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Read guideVegetable garden layout
Allotment-scale planning. Crop rotation across four beds, the no-dig route, and pathways.
Read guideCompanion planting guide
Carrots + onions, brassicas + dill, tomatoes + basil. The pairings that boost yield.
Read guideUK seed merchants we trust
For seeds and plug plants, we recommend Suttons (1806, Devon), D.T. Brown (allotment-favoured pack sizes), Marshalls Garden (resealable foil packs), Mr Fothergill’s (high germination, eco packaging), Sarah Raven (design-led varieties), and Chiltern Seeds (family-run since 1975, 2,500+ varieties). All six are operating in 2026 — Wilko closed in October 2023 and Wyevale was dissolved in 2019, so ignore older lists that still reference them.
Plants we recommend for you
Tomato
Under cover in the north; outdoors in the south after late May. Cordon and bush cultivars both work on plot.
Garlic
Plant October–November for biggest bulbs the following July. UK hardneck cultivars overwinter best.
Potato
Earlies, second-earlies, and maincrop give a 5-month harvest window. Chit before planting in March–April.
Pea
Direct-sow March onwards. A 3-metre row gives a household of fresh peas for six weeks.
Bean
Broad beans autumn or spring; runner and French beans late May after frost. Heavy croppers in UK summers.
Kale
Sow June–July, harvest October–March. The most reliable winter brassica on a UK plot.
What to ask Growli first
These are the conversation starters that get the most useful answers for your situation. Open the app and tap the chat bubble.
1. "When can I sow [crop] in [my region]?"
UK frost dates vary by 3–4 weeks between Cornwall and the Highlands. Send Growli your postcode and we’ll give you the actual sow-out date, not a generic "after the last frost" reply.
2. "What’s my RHS hardiness rating?"
Type your town and Growli returns your H1a–H7 band. Most of England is H4–H5; the south-west extends to H3 in sheltered spots; the Highlands run H6–H7.
3. "Which seed merchant has [cultivar] in stock?"
Ask Growli to check the six trusted UK suppliers above. We’ll flag if the cultivar is out of season or has been discontinued.
4. "What do I sow this week on my plot?"
Set your allotment’s postcode and Growli gives you a weekly sow/plant/harvest checklist tuned to your RHS band and current weather.
Frequently asked questions
+What are the best crops for a UK allotment?
Tomatoes, garlic, potatoes, peas, beans, and kale are the foundation. They all crop reliably in UK summers, store well, and tolerate the typical UK allotment workload of one or two visits a week. Add brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, sprouts), root crops (carrots, beetroot, parsnips), and salads for a full-rotation plot.
+When should I plant garlic in the UK?
October to November is the prime window for autumn-planted garlic in the UK. The cold snap is what triggers bulb formation — without it, you get a single onion-like clove. Spring-plant in February if you missed autumn, but bulbs will be smaller. Hardneck cultivars overwinter most reliably across all UK regions.
+Where can I buy seeds in the UK?
Suttons, D.T. Brown, Marshalls Garden, Mr Fothergill’s, Sarah Raven, and Chiltern Seeds are the six UK seed merchants we recommend. All are operating in 2026 with mail-order delivery. For organic and rare cultivars, Vital Seeds, Real Seeds, and the Heritage Seed Library (Garden Organic) are additional specialist options.
+What is my RHS hardiness rating?
The RHS hardiness scale runs H1a (heated greenhouse only, above 15°C) to H7 (very hardy, below −20°C). Most of England sits in H4 (hardy, average winter) or H5 (hardy, cold winter). The south-west and coastal Wales extend to H3 in sheltered spots. The Scottish Highlands and northern Pennines run H6–H7. See our /blog/uk-hardiness-zones guide for a full regional map.
+When is the UK last frost date?
Roughly 15 April in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, 1 May in the Midlands, 15 May in northern England and lowland Scotland, and late May to early June in the Highlands. Frost-tender crops (tomatoes, courgettes, runner beans) should be hardened off and planted out 2–3 weeks after your local last frost date.
+Should I dig my allotment or go no-dig?
Both methods produce good crops. Traditional digging incorporates compost and breaks compacted soil but disrupts soil biology. No-dig (Charles Dowding method) layers compost on top, suppresses weeds with cardboard, and improves soil structure over years. Most modern UK allotments lean no-dig — less work, fewer weeds, equivalent yields after season two.
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