When to Plant Out Your Veg Seedlings: The Ultimate Guide

So, you’ve lovingly nurtured your little seedlings from tiny seeds into robust young plants. But when is the right time to unleash them into the great outdoors? Get it right, and your plants will thrive. Get it wrong, and they could sulk, bolt, or just keel over completely. Let’s break it down veggie by veggie!

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are sun-worshippers and absolutely loathe the cold. If you plant them out too early, they’ll just sit there, glaring at you in silent protest. Wait until mid to late May (or even early June in cooler regions like Scotland), when nights are consistently above 10°C. Harden them off for a week by gradually introducing them to outdoor conditions before planting in a warm, sheltered spot.

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Carrots

Unlike tomatoes, carrots prefer the direct approach. They hate root disturbance, so sow them directly where they’ll grow. As soon as the soil warms up to about 7°C (usually from March onwards, depending on your location), you can start sowing. Successive sowing every few weeks will keep you in crunchy roots all season.

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Beans (Runner & French)

Beans are a bit fussy when it comes to temperature. They hate frost, so don’t even think about planting them out before all danger of frost has passed. If you’re desperate to get ahead, start them in pots indoors and harden them off before transplanting once nights stay above 10°C.

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Peppers & Chillies

These heat lovers need all the warmth they can get. If you’re in a cooler climate, you’ll have better luck keeping them in a greenhouse, polytunnel, or against a sunny wall. If you do plant them outside, make sure it’s June and definitely not before nights are reliably warm.

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Courgettes & Squash

Courgettes are fast-growing but hate the cold. Plant them out from late May onwards when the risk of frost has passed. Give them plenty of space (at least 90cm apart) and a good dollop of compost, as they are hungry plants. If it’s still a bit chilly, you can use a cloche or fleece to keep them cosy.

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Beetroot

Beetroot is far less fussy than some of the divas on this list. You can start sowing them directly from March onwards, but if you’ve started them in modules, wait until they have at least two sets of true leaves before transplanting. They’ll tolerate cooler temperatures but will sulk if it’s still frosty.

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Peas

Peas love the cool spring air and can be planted out early. You can sow directly from March, but if you’ve started them in modules, plant them out once they’re about 10cm tall and the soil isn’t frozen solid. Give them support to scramble up, and they’ll reward you with sweet, crunchy pods.

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Onions

If you start onions from seed indoors, they can go out once they’re about the thickness of a pencil and the worst of the frost has passed (usually April). Onion sets can be planted even earlier, from late February onwards, as they’re more cold-hardy.

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General Tips for Planting Out Success

• Harden off your plants – Move them outside during the day and bring them in at night for about a week before planting out.
• Check the forecast – A surprise frost can undo weeks of careful nurturing.
• Plant on a cloudy day – Avoid transplant shock by planting in the cool of the evening or on an overcast day.
• Water well – Give seedlings a good soak before and after planting.
• Mulch – A layer of compost or straw helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Now you’re armed with all the know-how, go forth and plant with confidence! Your seedlings will thank you by bursting into (hopefully) an abundant harvest. Happy growing!