Sowing and planting times

daznrach

Hi all.i live in South Yorkshire , can anyone tell me the time differences for sowing and planting in regards to temp between the north uk and south ? .

JennyJ

I reckon we're probably a couple of weeks or so behind most of the south, but it depends on your local microclimate (what way your garden faces, its elevation, how sheltered it is, etc).  Even within "the south" there's a big difference between coastal areas and inland, particularly higher up.  And my growing season in "sunny Donny" is probably slightly ahead of my Dad's on the Pennine side of Sheffield.

Zoomer44

I'm in Lancashire and sow seeds the second month it states on the packet, so if it says February will sow in March, bordering on the cautious side but unless the plants are hardy they usually can't be planted out till threat of last frost has gone in May.  

Fairygirl

It also depends what you're sowing, and what facilities you have for growing on. 

edhelka

You can find last expected frost date for your location here:

https://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-united-kingdom-last-frost-date-map.php

But it's based on averages and every year is different.

daznrach

Thanks for the reply everyone ,I'm from Sheffield and I'm wondering when to plant my 1st earlys.I know March is the norm but I think it is still to wet and cold here so I'm thinking next month ??.

AnniD

I would say, on average, having lived in the North East (what used to be Cleveland), the North West (Cheshire) and now down in Gloucestershire, it's around 3 weeks. But as others have said there are many other factors to take into consideration.  

Purplerain

With the options of heated propagators and grow lights, it tends to even things up between the North and the South nowadays. The aim is to get good strong plants ready to go out when frost has passed in your area. Mine tends to be the end of May, so it's important to be able to protect potted on young plants with enough space and light to do that. I would agree about the earlies and hold back if your ground is as sodden as mine.

bookmonster

Interesting Edhelka, it gives about a month earlier than I thought for York!

edhelka

@bookmonster It's an average, which means the last frost can be weeks before or after.

Obelixx

This link will take you to an almanac created by a chap who gardens near Huddersfield and has had an allotment or 2 there for decades.  It includes what to sow and plant each month given local conditions so should be a good guide for Sheffield.

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/index.htm