A good step towards living a greener life is to start to grow your own food (or buy it locally). This obviously reduces the “food miles” involved in getting such things as fruit and vegetables from the the plant to your plate. In the UK, growing your own vegetables needs a little more planning than it does in warmer climates. Make Yourself Green has put together this month-by-month guide to when to plant the main types of vegetables for the best results.

January
Generally a bit too cold for any exposed planting, but you can start in the greenhouse (if you have one) or under Cloches (small, portable greenhouses).

Peas and Broad Beans - Only in milder areas of the UK and even then under cloches.
Bulb Onions - Only if you have access to a greenhouse.

February
Still usually too cold for planting directly outside.

Peas and Broad Beans - In milder areas of the country you might get away with planting unprotected. Otherwise, continue to use a cloche.
Carrots - Under a cold frame or cloche.
Bulb Onions - Greenhouse.
Lettuce - Greenhouse.
Beetroot and Spinach - Protect with a cloche.
Parsley - In milder areas, Parsley might be ok unprotected.

March
With the worst of the frosts out of the way, you can now start planting in earnest without worrying too much about protecting the young plants.

Lettuce, Spring Onion and Radishes - Can be sown outside, without covers.
Summer Cabbages and Leeks - Can be sown in a Seed Bed (a sheltered and separate, fine-soil area for cultivating small plants).
Tomatoes - Seeds should be sown in a seed tray and kept in a warm place.
Beetroot, carrots and Turnips - Can be sown outside with no protection.
Potatoes - Only in mild areas of the country, and then only if the soil is not too waterlogged.

April
One of the busiest months for planting.

Lettuce, Spring Onion and Radishes - Can continue to be sown outside, without covers.
Cucumbers and Marrows - Can be sown in the greenhouse.
Winter Cabbages and Cauliflower - Can be sown in a Seed Bed.
Onion Sets - Can be planted ouside.
Onions - Any onions grown from seed in the greenhouse can now be planted out.
Potatoes - Colder parts of the UK can now start putting early potatoes out.
Main Crop Potatoes - Can be planted.
Tomatoes - Plants grown from seeds can be planted in a greenhouse or coldframe.

May
Coming into the summer, your main aim is replenishing and increasing your crop.

Lettuce, Spring Onion and Radishes - Can continue to be sown outside, without covers.
French Beans and Runner Beans - Can be sown if the weather is mild. You might need to wait until the end of the month.
Cauliflower - Late summer cauliflowers can be planted out from seed bed.
Marrow and Cucumber - Can be planted out if weather is mild.

June
Summer months are when your vegetables will really start to bulk up quickly.

French Beans - Can be sown outside.
Peas and Salad Crop - Can be sown outside.
Cucumbers and Marrows - Continue to plant out.
Tomatoes - Plant out.
Leeks - Plant out.
Winter Cabbages - If you have cabbage seedlings, these can now also be planted out.

July
Maintain your salad crops and

Salad Crops - Can continue to be sown.
Leeks - Can continue to be planted out.
Winter Cabbages - Can continue to be planted out.

August
August is usually a reasonably good growing month, but your choice of crops will be reduced this late in the year.

Winter Lettuces - Continue to sow.
Carrots - Can be sown.
Spring Cabbages - Can be sown.

September
As the weather starts to turn colder, you will need to start using cloches again.

Broad Beans - Sow under cloches.
Cabbages - Sow under cloches.
Carrots - Sow under cloches.
Lettuces - Sow under cloches.

October
Again, you can continue to sow, but will need to protect your crop.

Broad Beans - Sow under cloches.
Lettuces - Sow under cloches.
Cabbages - If weather is mild, Sow under cloches.
Winter Lettuces - Plant out.

November
Your crop will be drastically reduced this late in the year, and cloches muct be used.

Broad Beans - Sow under cloches.
Early Peas - Sow under cloches.

December
Too cold for planting outside. Better to wait for January.

Broad Beans - Continue to sow under cloches.