How to sow vegetable seeds outdoors

The warmth of late spring makes the ideal conditions to sow vegetable seeds outside in your garden. The soil temperature should be high enough for quick germination, meaning you can grow and enjoy a tasty supply of varied vegetables throughout the year

This guide on how to sow vegetable seeds outside is here to help you plan your own vegetable patch and get growing as soon as possible – start sowing now and soon you can enjoy tasty homegrown produce in all your favourite recipes, from crispy summer salads to comforting autumnal soups

Our gardening expert's Top tip:

March to September is the perfect time to start sowing your seeds outside depending on your weather conditions. Just make sure you sow outside after the last frost and before the first frost of the year

To sow seeds, you will need:

Step by step guide: how to sow vegetable seeds outdoors

Prepare your soil by raking it to create a fine, crumbly surface structure (known as tilth)

Make a shallow groove in the soil using the end of a trowel. Try to make the groove in a straight line for ease when harvesting. Remember the smaller the seed you’re sowing, the shallower your ditch should be – follow the planting instructions on your seed packet, as different seeds will have different planting requirements