Garden Guide

Garden Guide for London, Southeast England

London sits in climate zone 9a, which means you'll enjoy mild winters and moderate summers – perfect for a long growing season! While the soil is often loamy, it can really vary from sandy to heavy clay depending on where you are. That's why getting your soil ready with plenty of compost is super important.

Here in London, in climate zone 9a, you can enjoy frost-free gardening from late March right through to late November! Get a head start in spring with leafy greens like garden lettuce (sow indoors March-August, harvest April-November) and quick-growing radishes (sow April-September, harvest June-October). Just remember to wait until after the last frost to plant out tender plants like courgettes (start indoors April-May, harvest July-October) and tomatoes (start indoors March-April, harvest July-October).

Zone 9a Last frost: Late March First frost: Late November temperate

Also applies to: Reading, Brighton, Cambridge, Oxford, Canterbury, Southampton

Plan your London garden in the Fryd app

Planting Calendar

When to start indoors, sow outdoors, and harvest in London.

Light Water Nutrients

Start indoors Sowing Harvest

Planting calendar for London, Zone 9a
Crop	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Carrots ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Lettuce (Lettuce) ●●○ ●●○ ●●○
Tomato (Bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Cucumber / Gherkin ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Courgette / Zucchini ●●● ●●● ●●●
Pepper / Paprika ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Bean (Dwarf bean) ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Pea ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Strawberry ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Garlic ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Basil ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Radishes ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Beetroot ●●● ●●○ ●●○
Onion ●●● ●●○ ●●○
Onion (Spring onion) ●●● ●●○ ●●○
Chard ●●○ ●●○ ●●○
Spinach (Summer) ●○○ ●●● ●●○
Bean (Runner bean) ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Chili ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Carrots ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Lettuce (Lettuce) ●●○ ●●○ ●●○

Tomato (Bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Cucumber / Gherkin ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Courgette / Zucchini ●●● ●●● ●●●

Pepper / Paprika ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Bean (Dwarf bean) ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Pea ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Strawberry ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Garlic ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Basil ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Radishes ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Beetroot ●●● ●●○ ●●○

Onion ●●● ●●○ ●●○

Onion (Spring onion) ●●● ●●○ ●●○

Chard ●●○ ●●○ ●●○

Spinach (Summer) ●○○ ●●● ●●○

Bean (Runner bean) ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Chili ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Planting Calendar London

Carrots: Sowing Apr - Jun, Harvest Jul - Nov (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Lettuce (Lettuce): Start indoors Mar - Aug, Sowing Apr - Sep, Harvest Apr - Nov (Light: medium, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Tomato (Bush tomato): Start indoors Mar - Apr, Sowing Jun, Harvest Jul - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato): Start indoors Mar - Apr, Sowing Jun, Harvest Jul - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Cucumber / Gherkin: Start indoors May, Sowing Jun, Harvest Jul - Sep (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Courgette / Zucchini: Start indoors Apr - May, Sowing Jun, Harvest Jul - Oct (Light: high, Water: high, Nutrients: high)
Pepper / Paprika: Start indoors Mar, Sowing Jun, Harvest Aug - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Bean (Dwarf bean): Start indoors May, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Jul - Sep (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Pea: Sowing Apr - Jun, Harvest Jun - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Strawberry: Start indoors Mar - Apr, Sowing Apr - Jun, Harvest Jun - Sep (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Garlic: Sowing Oct - Nov, Harvest Jul - Aug (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Basil: Start indoors Apr - Jul, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Jun - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Radishes: Sowing Apr - Sep, Harvest Jun - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Beetroot: Start indoors Apr, Sowing May - Jul, Harvest Aug - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Onion: Start indoors Feb, Sowing Mar - Apr, Harvest Aug - Sep (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Onion (Spring onion): Start indoors Aug - Oct, Sowing Sep - Dec, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Chard: Start indoors Feb - Apr, Sowing Apr - Jun, Harvest Jun - Nov (Light: medium, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Spinach (Summer): Sowing Apr - May, Harvest May - Jun (Light: low, Water: high, Nutrients: medium)
Bean (Runner bean): Start indoors May, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Jul - Sep (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Chili: Start indoors Feb - Mar, Sowing Jun - Jul, Harvest Aug - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)

Based on Fryd planting data for Zone 9a, 2026.

Companion Planting for London

Plants that thrive together in Southeast England.

Lettuce (Lettuce) + Carrots

Chard + Carrots

Lettuce (Lettuce) + Spinach (Summer)

Onion + Tomato (Bush tomato)

Onion + Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato)

Plan companions visually

Drag and drop crops in the Fryd bed planner to see companion matches.

Try Fryd →

Growing Tips for London

Get a Head Start by Starting Seeds Indoors

Lots of crops, like garden lettuce or Swiss chard, really benefit from an early start indoors from March. This helps extend your harvest season and keeps those young plants safe from any unpredictable weather. Make sure to use a fine seed compost and just gently press the seeds in.

Soil Preparation is Key

For the best growth, plants like radishes, onions, and garlic absolutely love loose, humus-rich, and well-drained soil. Make sure to avoid waterlogging and dig in plenty of compost before you sow to really improve that soil structure.

Ensure Consistent Moisture

Fast-growing plants like radishes, and thirsty crops such as spinach and courgettes, really need a steady supply of water. If it gets too dry, radishes can turn woody, and your other plants won't yield as much. Always keep the soil moist, but never soggy.

Protect Tender Plants from Frost

Make sure you hold off planting out tender crops like courgettes, beans, tomatoes, peppers, and basil until after the risk of late frosts has passed, usually around early April. Starting these plants indoors beforehand is a great way to give them a strong head start!

Common Pests & Diseases

•

Prevent Slug Infestations

Slugs can be a real pain, especially for tender young lettuces and when it's damp. Try collecting them regularly, setting up slug barriers, or using iron phosphate-based slug pellets – they're safe for pets and hedgehogs!

•

Naturally Combat Aphids

If you spot aphids, you can often blast them off with a strong jet of water or spray them with a simple soapy solution (make sure it's just plain soft soap!). Also, encourage helpful insects like ladybirds and lacewings by planting insect-friendly flowers in your garden.

•

Identify and Tackle Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew looks like a white, powdery coating on leaves, especially common on cucumbers and courgettes. Snip off any affected leaves right away and make sure your plants have good air circulation. A spray of milk and water mixed together can also help keep the fungus in check.

•

Control Wireworms in the Soil

Wireworms can cause damage to roots and tubers. Keep your soil regularly loosened and pull out any weeds that might be giving them a hiding spot. Planting green manures like mustard or oil radish can also help reduce their numbers, as these plants tend to deter them.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I plant tomatoes in London?

Tomatoes are quite sensitive to frost, so in London, it's best to wait until after the last frost to plant them outdoors, usually from April onwards. You can get a head start by sowing seeds indoors from March to April to grow strong young plants.

What climate zone is London in?

London is in climate zone 9a. This means you can generally expect mild winters, with temperatures rarely dipping below -6.7 °C (20 °F), and a lovely long growing season for a wide variety of plants.

Which vegetables grow particularly well in London?

Lots of veggies absolutely thrive in London! We especially recommend garden lettuce, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, and carrots – they're all well-suited to our climate and offer a long, rewarding harvest season.

When is the last frost in London?

The last frost in London is usually expected around the end of March. After that, you can gradually start planting out your hardier crops, but for those really tender plants, it's best to hold off until early April to be safe.