If this is the year you plan to start a vegetable garden, the best place to begin is by deciding how much space you want to devote to your growing area and then plan exactly what you want to grow. If you want to start your vegetables from seed rather than buying young plants the good news is you can begin now by planting them indoors until the weather warms up and the seedlings can be moved outside. All you need to get started is some seeds, planting trays and compost.
Another key piece of advice is to focus on what you like to eat. If you're new to vegetable growing it's best to choose the varieties that are quick and easy to grow, such as cut and come again salad leaves, herbs, runner beans, courgettes and tomatoes. These will all crop generously right through the summer season too, so will definitely earn their place in your vegetable patch.
Whether you're going to grow veg in raised garden beds or in containers, it's also a good idea to include a selection of flowers that bees love with your vegetables so they help pollinate your crops and improve your harvest. Choose nectar-rich flower varieties like salvia, lavender, foxgloves and nasturtium, which will also enhance the look of your vegetable plot.
1. Assess the available space
"Before you undertake any project in your garden it’s important to get to know your space and your needs," says Emma O'Neill, head gardener at sustainable gardening charity Garden Organic. "Start by assessing the space you have to determine if it's in full sun, shade, or a bit of both. You will need to know what direction it's facing too – north, south, east or west." The aspect of your garden will affect what you can grow.
Emma also advises assessing if there are any obstacles that will create shade, reduce moisture or inhibit growth. "Always keep the phrase 'right plant, right place' at the forefront or your mind to improve your chances of success in the vegetable garden."
It's also a good idea to put your ideas down on paper. "Prepping the space is as simple as mapping out an area in your garden and ensuring it's flat, so the soil isn’t prone to waterlogging," says Paul Parker, CEO of garden retailer J. Parker’s. "Many gardeners like to build raised garden beds for a vegetable garden. This is generally because they offer better drainage and more space for roots to develop."
It's easier to maintain raised beds too. If you don't want to build them yourself, try these stylish galvanised steel raised planter boxes from Amazon which come in green, black or cream, and are perfect for the veg patch.
Emma O'Neill is head gardener at sustainable gardening charity Garden Organic. She studied horticulture at Pershore College and has been gardening professionally since 2003 on a variety of different sites including National Trust gardens. She now manages a team of staff and volunteers at Garden Organic, while creating the occasional award-winning show garden.
Paul Parker is CEO of garden retailer J. Parker’s, started in 1933 by his grandfather. After studying business at university he joined the family company in 1998 and became CEO in 2015. Paul has a deep understanding of the horticultural industry, and his passion lies in making gardening accessible to all.
Shop raised garden beds for your veg plot
Measuring H27xW62.5xL241.5cm, this timber raised bed is made from premium fir wood and has been left unpainted. It comes with a divider so you can split it into two separate growing areas.
Herbs are a valuable addition to any veg garden and this classic herb planter in a stylish sage colourway is a great buy. It measures H91xW66xD31.5cm and it comes with a heavy-duty recycled liner ready for instant planting.
If you only have a patio space for growing veg, this raised planter is a smart choice. Measuring H84xW100xD40cm, it's made from solid FSC-certified Acacia wood and comes with a practical shelf underneath for your veg garden tools and compost.
2. Determine what type of soil you have
"Soil is at the heart of every garden design and learning about yours is key to vegetable growing success," says Emma O'Neill. "There are several things you can do to find out what type of soil you have. It's easy to carry out a pH test, and you can buy the kits at your local garden centre." You can also buy a quick and accurate Soil pH Test Kit at Amazon.
Alternatively do the squeeze test. Take a handful of slightly damp soil, form a ball that you squeeze tightly to reduce air pockets, open your hand and see how it reacts. If your soil is clay it will hold its shape, and feel sticky or smooth. With loam soil it holds together but crumbles when gently poked. Sandy soil falls apart immediately and feels gritty.
"Once you’ve established what kind of soil you have, you can make a more informed choice about what to grow where. But always remember to grow what you and your family love to eat too," adds Emma.
3. Plan and sketch a vegetable garden layout
“January is the thinking month of the growing year," says Kris Collins, nursery manager at Thompson & Morgan, the UK's largest mail order seed and plant company. "With the soil too cold to work, it’s the perfect time to step back indoors and think how to start a vegetable garden by mapping out your veg plot, and deciding what you want from the season ahead."
A little time spent planning how to start a vegetable garden now pays off later in the season with healthier crops and fewer mistakes.
"Create a simple scale drawing to decide where beds, paths, compost bays, water access, and structures will go," says Lucy Hutchings, co-founder of She Grows Veg. "This is especially helpful during renovations, where you're considering reshaping outdoor spaces. A winter plan helps avoid the common mistake of over-planting or underestimating access needs."
The early months of the year are the ideal time to plan and begin the foundations of a successful vegetable garden. While it may still be too cold to sow much outside, says Lucy, thoughtful preparation with your January gardening jobs sets you up for abundant harvests later in the year.
Kris Collins works as Thompson & Morgan’s nursery manager, making sure customers new and old are kept up to date on the latest plant developments and company news via a wide range of media sources. He trained in London’s Royal Parks and spent more than a decade writing for UK gardening publications before joining the team at Thompson & Morgan.
Lucy Hutchings is the co-founder of @shegrowsveg. She grew a huge Instagram following that served as the springboard for the business. Lucy has written a book on Grow Your Own and featured on TV programmes such as Gardeners' World and Building Your Dream. Lucy loves to bring new and interesting varieties to UK growers, and her gardening knowledge is second to none.
4. Think about introducing the no-dig technique
No-dig gardening is ideal for beginners and seasoned growers alike as part of your organic gardening plans. It means less weeds and healthier soil that plants will thrive in. No-dig growing is often less work and is a great option if you prefer not to spend hours digging and killing weeds. It can also benefit the environment, especially if you use compost made in your own garden.
"Now is the ideal time to mark out bed shapes using string or hosepipe," says Lucy Hutchings. "Lay down brown cardboard, with all the tape and stickers removed, to smother weeds, then top with 10–15 cm of compost. The beds will begin settling through winter, ready for planting in spring."
No-dig is now considered a key element of how to start a vegetable garden as your crops will rely on good soil to thrive and this should come first when planning. Soil is a living entity full of micro-organisms, minerals and organic matter that ideally shouldn't be disturbed. Digging disrupts this delicate balance, whereas the idea behind no-dig gardening is to disturb the soil as little as possible to create the best growing conditions.
5. Get a head start by sowing seeds indoors
"In winter, you can start growing vegetable seeds indoors or in a greenhouse where the temperature can be controlled," says Paul Parker. "This makes them more likely to survive when transplanted into your vegetable patch."
Paul recommends getting a head start by sowing brassica seeds such as kale, broccoli, and cabbage indoors from February to April, keeping the soil moist during germination. Broad beans can be sown from February to March in 7cm deep pots, so their roots have space to grow.
"Early potatoes can be chitted on a windowsill from mid-January onwards too," says Paul. "This is where you encourage them to sprout before planting to get a head start. Then, depending on the weather, pop them in the ground in late February or early March for an early crop." Onions can also be started indoors from seed, roughly 8-10 weeks before transplanting them outdoors.
"I like to start early sowings of chillies, spring onions, leeks, aubergines and hardy salads in January and February on a bright windowsill or in a heated propagator," agrees Kris Collins. "This gives you strong young plants ready for spring planting." This heated electric medium-size propagator for seed germination from Amazon is great as it's so compact and easy to use.
Chris recommends trying some his favourite varieties, which include chilli 'Padron' (excellent flavour minimum heat), leek 'Below-Zero' F1 (cold tolerant), spring onion 'Lilia' (vibrant red), aubergine 'Pinstripe' F1 (great flavour and interesting colours), and 'Winter Gem' lettuce (specially bred cos lettuce for sowing under cover).
Our guide on where to buy a greenhouse has some great budget-friendly options to get you started on your growing journey.
6. Prep the soil with nutrients
Most vegetables need well-draining, nutrient-rich soil to grow to their full potential so prepare the soil in your veg plot before you plant anything. "Before you do any sowing or transplanting outside, ensure the soil is prepped," advises Emma O'Neill. "Layer well-rotted organic matter on the surface as a 'mulch' and this will help to protect your soil, suppress weeds and maintain moisture."
When you’re ready to sow seeds, the ground needs to be raked over to a fine tilth. "Put in a string marker, label either end, then use a draw hoe, sharp stick or label to create a drill," says Emma. "This is when you need to know what depth drill will be on the seed packet.
"Don't sow direct if the ground is frosty or waterlogged. Sow your seeds (generally thinly) and cover, then water in. Remember each seed requires a slightly different method, be that depth, coverage or soil temperature, as recommended in the Garden Organic vegetables and herbs growing guides.
In winter, Emma recommends sowing broad beans, onion sets, winter spinach, and winter lettuce outdoors under a cloche or fleece. From March she suggests sowing carrots, beetroot, radish and peas outside, and from May try runner beans, French beans and pumpkins.
7. Think early about adding supportive structures
Winter is the perfect planning window for elements that shape the garden long-term. "Now is the time to install arches, trellis, bean frames, and obelisks, or at least plan where they’ll go," says Lucy Hutchings. Try a traditional garden obelisk like this one from Amazon for growing climbing vegetables like beans that love to twine round a support.
Any type of vertical support allows space-hungry crops like beans, cucumbers, squash varieties and gourds to grow upward, freeing up precious bed space. "Consider the visual effect too," say Lucy. "An archway with runner beans or squash cascading down can become a real focal point in summer." They can also be a clever garden screening idea so you can zone your space and hide areas such as the compost bin from view.
Lucy recommends allowing plenty of room for popular varieties like pumpkins and winter squash when planning how to start a vegetable garden. "It's best to set aside a separate pumpkin patch where these large sprawling vines won’t smother other crops. If space is tight, try growing climbing varieties up a sturdy structure like a wooden frame. Planning now will prevent mid-summer chaos!"
When planning your vegetable garden, it's also a good idea to think about your garden path ideas to ensure you can traverse the space easily and access your crops for maintenance.
Keep accessible garden design at the forefront of your mind too so that your space is future-proofed and as inclusive as possible.
