Your first year of growing food

Starting a kitchen garden is one of the most satisfying things you can do. Even a small patch of soil or a few containers on a patio can produce salad leaves, herbs, courgettes, and beans through summer—food that tastes noticeably better than anything you'll find in a shop. The first year is about learning more than harvesting. You'll make mistakes, lose crops to slugs, and discover that some plants thrive in your particular spot while others sulk. That's normal. This guide gives you a practical framework for year one: what to grow, when to do it, and what to ignore until you've got the basics down.

Start smaller than you think

The most common first-year mistake is taking on too much space. A bed 1.2 m wide and 3 m long is plenty to start with. You'll learn faster, stay on top of weeding, and actually enjoy it.

Assess your site

Before you plant anything, spend a few weeks observing your space:

Sunlight. Most vegetables need at least six hours of direct sun per day. Track where shadows fall across the day and through the month. South-facing spots are ideal; north-facing walls are challenging but fine for salad leaves and some herbs.

Soil. Dig a spade's depth. Is the soil heavy clay (sticky, slow to drain), sandy (gritty, drains fast), or loam (crumbly, dark, holds moisture)? Most UK gardens sit somewhere between clay and loam. Don't worry about perfection—you'll improve it over time. Our soil guide covers the basics of understanding and improving your soil.

Drainage. After heavy rain, does water pool or drain away within a few hours? Waterlogged soil rots roots. If drainage is poor, raised beds are the simplest fix.

Wind. Exposed sites dry out faster and batter tall crops. A hedge, fence, or trellis as a windbreak makes a significant difference.

Access to water. You'll need to water regularly in dry spells, especially containers. A nearby tap or water butt saves time and effort.

No garden? No problem

Containers on a patio, balcony, or doorstep can produce surprising amounts of food. Tomatoes, herbs, salad leaves, chillies, beans, and strawberries all grow well in pots. Use large containers (at least 30 cm diameter), multipurpose compost, and water daily in summer.

What to grow in year one

Resist the temptation to grow everything. Focus on crops that are:

Easy and forgiving — tolerant of beginner mistakes
Fast — you'll see results quickly, which keeps motivation high
Productive — small space, big yield
Tasty — noticeably better than shop-bought

The recommended year-one list:

Salad leaves

Sow directly into soil or containers from April. Cut-and-come-again varieties (rocket, mixed leaves, lettuce) regrow after harvesting, giving you weeks of salad from a single sowing. Sow a short row every two to three weeks for continuous supply.

Courgettes

One or two plants produce an absurd quantity of fruit from July to September. Direct sow in May or plant seedlings after the last frost. Give each plant a square metre of space. Pick regularly at 15–20 cm for best flavour and to encourage more fruit.

Runner or French beans

Sow directly in May. Climbing varieties grow up canes or a wigwam, saving ground space. Pick every few days once they start producing—regular picking means more beans. Children love growing these because the plants are fast and dramatic.

Herbs

Parsley, chives, coriander, and basil are essential. Grow in pots near the kitchen door for easy access. Most herbs prefer sun and good drainage. Buy small plants rather than growing from seed in your first year—quicker results, less fuss.

Potatoes

Drop seed potatoes into a trench in March or April, earth up as they grow, harvest from June onwards. Satisfying to dig up, hard to get wrong, and first earlies taste incomparably better than supermarket potatoes.

Radishes

Sow directly from March. Ready in four to six weeks. The fastest crop you can grow—perfect for impatient beginners and children.

Tomatoes (in a sheltered spot or containers)

Buy young plants in May, grow in large pots or a sunny border. Cherry varieties are the most reliable in the UK climate. Feed weekly once fruiting starts. The flavour gap between a sun-ripened garden tomato and a supermarket one is enormous.

Myth: You need a big garden to grow food

A window box produces herbs and salad leaves. A single grow bag yields three tomato plants. Two square metres of soil can grow enough courgettes to feed a street. Space is less important than sunlight and attention.

Essential tools (and nothing more)

For your first year, you need:

A spade for digging and turning soil
A hand fork and trowel for planting and weeding
A watering can or hose with a rose attachment for gentle watering
A rake for levelling soil and creating a fine surface for sowing
String and canes for supporting beans and tomatoes
Labels and a waterproof pen — you will forget what you planted where

That's it. Avoid buying specialist tools, propagators, or gadgets until you know what you actually need.

Month-by-month first-year calendar

January–February

Plan. Decide what to grow, order seeds, sketch your layout.
Prepare soil. Spread compost or well-rotted manure on beds. Fork it in lightly.
Chit potatoes. Stand seed potatoes in egg boxes in a cool, light spot to encourage sprouts.

March

Sow radishes directly into the soil (if ground is workable).
Plant seed potatoes in trenches or large containers.
Start salad leaves under cover or on a sunny windowsill.

April

Sow salad leaves directly outdoors every two to three weeks.
Sow courgette and bean seeds indoors in pots (ready to plant out in May).
Earth up potatoes as shoots appear—mound soil around the stems to encourage more tubers.

May

Plant out courgettes and beans after the last frost (usually mid to late May in most of England; early June in Scotland and northern areas).
Buy and plant tomato and herb plants.
Keep sowing salad leaves.
Water seedlings if the weather is dry.

Watch the frost

The last frost date varies across the UK: mid-May in southern England, late May in the Midlands, early June in Scotland and at altitude. Don't plant tender crops (courgettes, beans, tomatoes) outside until frost risk has passed. Check your local forecast.

June

Harvest early potatoes, radishes, and salad leaves.
Tie in tomato plants to supports and pinch out side shoots on cordon varieties.
Water regularly if dry. Early morning is best.
Weed. Little and often is easier than a monthly battle.

July–August

Peak harvest. Courgettes, beans, tomatoes, herbs, and salad at their best.
Pick courgettes every two to three days before they become marrows.
Harvest beans regularly to keep them producing.
Feed tomatoes weekly with a tomato fertiliser.
Sow autumn salad leaves for a late crop.

September–October

Harvest the last of summer crops.
Clear spent plants and add to the compost heap.
Plant garlic cloves for next year (October is ideal in most of the UK).
Spread compost on empty beds to feed the soil over winter.
Reflect. Note what worked, what didn't, and what you'd do differently.

November–December

Rest. The soil rests, and so should you.
Plan for next year based on what you learned.
Order seed catalogues and start dreaming about year two.

Regional timing

UK growing seasons vary significantly by latitude and altitude. Southern coastal areas may be two to four weeks ahead of northern upland gardens. Observe your neighbours' gardens, join a local growing group, and adjust the calendar above to match your specific conditions.

Common first-year mistakes

Sowing too early. Seeds sown in cold, wet soil rot. Wait until the ground feels warm to the touch and crumbles rather than clumps.

Planting too close together. Every plant needs space for roots and airflow. Follow spacing guidance on seed packets—it exists for good reasons.

Forgetting to water. Seedlings and container plants need consistent moisture. A dry week in June can kill young plants. Water in the morning to reduce evaporation and fungal disease.

Ignoring slugs. Slugs are the number one pest for UK vegetable growers. Beer traps, copper tape, and evening patrols with a torch are the organic frontline. Protect young plants especially.

Growing too many varieties. Five crops grown well beat fifteen crops grown badly. There's always next year.

What you'll learn (that no guide can teach)

Your first year will teach you:

What your specific soil and microclimate favour
How much time growing actually takes (less than you think, more than zero)
The rhythm of sowing, tending, and harvesting
How weather shapes everything
The satisfaction of eating something you grew yourself

None of this comes from reading—it comes from doing. The best time to start is now.

What to ask a farmer or experienced grower

"What grows well in this area? Any local varieties I should try?"
"When do you plant out tender crops here—when's your last frost date?"
"Where do you buy your seeds?"
"What's your biggest piece of advice for a first-year grower?"

Ready for more?

Start with our soil guide to understand what you're working with, browse what's in season for inspiration on what to grow, or learn storage techniques for when your harvest is bigger than your appetite. The garden is waiting.

Planning a Kitchen Garden: A First-Year Guide for the UK