Vegetable FAQs

• When to plant your vegetables?

  Planting your vegetables at the optimum time of the year will allow them to grow to their full potential. Like a lot of plants and ornamental trees, most vegetables should be sown in early spring when the soil isn't too hard or dry and the weather is cooler. There are some vegetables that should be planted earlier, like broad beans.

  There are also some vegetable plants where the seeds should be planted inside first during propagation before they are established and can be taken inside. These vegetable seeds include:

  • Cabbages
  • Sweetcorn
  • Tomatoes

• What vegetables can be planted in August?

  There are certain vegetable plants and seeds that can be planted in late summer in August including leafy greens and root vegetables. For example, beetroot, carrots, collards, kale, lettuce, spinach, and turnips. Browse our autumn vegetables.

• What is needed to start growing vegetables?

  Growing vegetable plants is easier than you think and there is plenty of information out there to get you started with different types of vegetables and herbs.

  The most important things that you need to grow vegetables for harvest are seeds, planters, soil and compost, food, sun and warmth, and water. You should also take a look at our gardening tools and equipment.

  Most plants need around six hours of direct sunlight a day in order to grow. Some vegetables may need warmer climates so would be best placed in a greenhouse. Watering will vary between plants – just make sure you follow instructions properly when you buy your vegetable plants and seeds.

  What is the best way to prepare soil for a vegetable garden?

  The best way to prepare your soil is by making it rich in nutrients. You can do this by adding compost, for example, kitchen scraps, leaves, and hay. Your garden will then break this organic matter down and provide a great place for your vegetable plants to grow, hold moisture, and drain well.

• What Are The Most Common Root Vegetables?

  There are so many different kinds of root vegetables you can grow from the comfort of your own garden. Some of the more common varieties include turnips, carrots, parsnips and radishes, all of which are available in our collection of root vegetable plants at Primrose.

• Where Can Root Vegetables Be Grown?

  If you’re hoping to grow healthy root vegetables in your garden, you’ll need to make sure that you have plenty of deep, loose soil that’s well-drained. 

  To make sure that you have the optimal type of soil, you can perform a soil test – check that your soil isn’t clay based, and look for a sandy loam or peat soil to make sure your root vegetables flourish.

• What Are The Easiest Root Vegetables To Grow?

  Across the board, root vegetables are pretty easy to grow, but if you’re just starting out we recommend trying radishes and carrots. They can be sown directly into the ground and in the case of carrots, you can leave them in the ground over winter only for them to flower again the next year.

  Browse our full collection of vegetable plants to find everything you need for a functional vegetable plot you can take straight to the kitchen here at Primrose.