Vegetable Production Guide



Crop


Production
Season


Normal
Sowing
Time


Normal
Cropping
Time


Market


Standard
Row Width
(inches)
Direct
Drilling
Seed
Spacing
(inches)


Approx.
No. Seeds
Drilled/Acre


Standard
Row Width
(inches)
Plant
Spacing
Within
Row
(inches)


Plant
Population/
Acre
Artichoke July to Nov Feb to Mar
Mar to Apr
From July
(one year
later than
Feb/Mar
sowing)
Fresh 36 6 29,040 Transplanted
to 48
Transplanted
to 36
3,600
Asparagus   Feb
modules
/blocks
April to
June, 2
years from
planting
Fresh
Prepack
      Transplant in
May 54
Transplant in
May 12
10,000
Aubergine Spring to
Summer
Early Dec
to May
May to
Sept
Fresh       36 12 14,520
Broad Bean O/E
E
M
Nov to Dec
Mid Feb
April
May to June
June
July
Fresh 18 6 58,000      
Climbing
Flat and
Climbing
French
Bean
Early
Glasshouse
Crop
Mid Jan
(South) to
Mid Feb
(North)
June to
July
Fresh 48 15
2 Seeds
per station
17,500 48 15
2 Seeds
per station
17,500
Dwarf
French
Bean
E

M
HG March 1
CG April 1
Early May-
Early July
From May 10
From June 1
July to Oct
Fresh
Fresh
Fresh and
Process
24
24
15
2.5-3
2.5-3
2.5-3
105,000 to
87,000
140,000 to
180,000
     
Runner
Bean
VE (protected)

E
M
Mar - End May

May to June
June
Early July-Aug

Mid July-Sept
Aug-Sept
Fresh

Fresh
36
Pathways
30 Ground
supported
24
4

20-30
52,500

14,000
     
Beet E
Glasshouse
Outdoor
(poly cover)
Outdoor
(uncovered)
M
Jan

Mid March

End March

April to July
May

June

End June

July to Oct
Fresh
Bunching
Fresh
Bunching
Freash Early
Pickling
Pickling
15

15

15

15 twinline
(16 seeds
/ft run)
1.5

1.5

1.25

1.5
280,000

280,000

340,000

550,000


Please note -
seeds required
vary according to
cluster count
   
Beet, leaf Summer/
Autumn
March to
June
July to Nov Fresh 18 4 87,120      
Borecole Autumn
and Winter
Direct drill
May to June
Modules April
to July**
Oct to Feb

Oct to Feb
Fresh

Fresh
Prepack
24 4-8 32,500
to 65,000
 

20
 

18
 

17,500
Brussels
Sprout
Early
Maincrop
Feb
March
August to Sept
Oct to March
Fresh
Fresh/
Process
      24

24
15

15
17,000

17,000
Chinese
Cabbage
E
M
March - April
Early May
- End July
June to July
July to Nov
Fresh
Fresh
      15
15
15
15
28,000
28,000
Pointed
Cabbage
Early**
M
Feb to July End May to Nov Fresh       18 12 29,000
Cabbage Summer/
Autumn
Transplanted**
Early Feb to
Mid May
Early June to
Mid Oct
Fresh       16-20 16-20 24,600-
15,000
White
Cabbage
Transplanted** Early March to
Mid April
End Sept
to Nov
Fresh
Process
      14-18 20-20 22,500-
17,500
Industrial
Cabbage
Transplanted**
E
Mid Feb to
Mid April
End July
to Nov
Process       24-
28
24
28
11,500
8,000
Red Cabbage Transplanted**
M
Early March to
Mid April
Aug to Nov Fresh
Process
      20
20
16
20
20,000
15,600
Spring
Cabbage
Hearted

Greens
Aut/Win/Spr
Aug

July/Aug
March to May

Oct to April
Prepack
Fresh
Prepack
Fresh
15-18

12-18
5-10

5
80,000-
35,500
100,000-
70,000
15-18

12-18
10
10
10
10
43,000
35,000
82,000-
35,000
Savoy
Cabbage
Transplanted**
E/M
Late
Early March

Early May
July to Oct

Oct to March
Fresh

Fresh
      20

20
16

20
20,000

15,600
Broccoli Transplanted
E**
M
Jan to Feb

March to
Mid July
June

July to Nov
Fresh
Floretting
Fresh
Floretting
      24

24
16

16
16,000

16,000
Capsicum VE
E
M
HG Early Oct
HG Mid Feb
CG end Apr
to May
Late Feb to Oct
June to Oct
July to Oct
        25.5 18 15,000
Carrot Early

2nd E

M

Chantenay
End Oct to
Jan (poly)
Early Feb
under poly
April to
Mid June
Mid Feb to
end June
Early to
mid June
Mid June to
late July
August
onwards
July
onwards
Bunching/
Fresh
Fresh

Fresh

Fresh
18

18

18

9 rows in
10" bands.
3 triple rows
in tandem
1.25-
0.9
0.8

0.5-
0.4
250,000-
350,000
400,000

600,000-
800,000
3,500,000
     
Cauliflower Transplant**
Early Summer

Summer/
Autumn
Winter
Mid Oct or
Mid Jan to
Early Feb
Mid Feb
to June
May-
Early June
Late May to
Late June

July to Nov

Dec to June
 




Fresh/
Processing
      24
20

24

24-30
18
20

16

20
14,500
15,600

16,000

13,000
-10,000
Celeriac Transplant**
M
March Oct/Nov Fresh/
Processing
      15 18 24,000
Celery E
Transplant**
M
HG Dec
End March to
Early May
End May
July to Dec
Fresh
Fresh
      10
15
10
12
60,000
35,000
Chicory,
Witloof
VE

E

M

L
Early May
(lift Aug to Oct)
Early/Mid May
(lift Oct)
Mid May
(lift Oct to Nov)
Early/Mid May
(lift Nov)
Sept to Nov

Nov to Dec

Mid Dec to
End Feb
Feb to July
Fresh

Fresh

Fresh

Fresh
18 2 174,000      
Courgette Indoor E

Outdoor E
Protected
M
HG March

End April

Mid May to
End June
Mid/end May

Early to
Mid June
June to Sept
Fresh

Fresh

Fresh
 

2 seeds/
station
 

30
 

11,500*

11,500*
48

36

36
30

30

30
4,350

5,750

5,750
Cucumber
(under glass)
E and M
Second Crop
Nov to Jan
End May
Feb to June
July onwards
Fresh
Fresh
           
5,000
Endive Spring/
Summer
/Autumn
Feb to July May to Oct Processing
Fresh
      12 15 34,800
Fennel
Florence
Summer and
Autumn
April to July June to Oct Fresh 18 4* 87,000 18 12 29,000
Fenugreek Summer
and Autumn
Mid March to
Mid July
End May
to Oct
Fresh 10 55 seeds
per ft
50-60kg acre      
Gherkin Summer
and Autumn
From May 1
Transplant from
End May
Direct sow
End May
From August


Sept onwards
Fresh
Pickling

Fresh
Pickling
 


20

2/3 seeds
per station
 


18
 


35,000-
52,500
20
2/3 seed per
8cm module
18 35,000
Kohl Rabi M Early Feb

Mid July
Late May

Mid Oct
Fresh 15 4 100,000 Transplant
**15
9 44.700
Leek M March
to May
Sept to
March
Prepack
Fresh
18
18
1.5
2.5
230,000
140,000
18
18
3
6
115,000
58,000
Lettuce
Indoor
Short Day

Long Day
20 Aug to
1 Jan
1Jan to
20 Aug
End Oct/
End Apr
End Apr/
End Oct
Fresh

Fresh
      8

8
9

8
85,000

95,000
Lettuce
Outdoor
Drilled Spring
to Autumn
Transplated**
under
polythene
Outdoor
End March/
Mid July
End Dec


End March
to Mid Aug
End June/
End Oct
Early May


Mid June
to End Oct
Fresh

Fresh


Fresh
12 6 85,000 12

12


12
12

12


12
42,500

42,500


42,500
Marrow E Indoor
E Protected M
Feb to March
Details as
For Courgettes
Early June Fresh            
Melon Cold Glass +
Poly tunnel
Early April July to Aug Fresh       30 36 5,750
Okra Glass HG Feb
to March
50-60 days
from sowing
Fresh
Processing
      14 24 18,670
Bulb Onion



Bulb Onion Sets
M

Overwintered
Direct drill
Feb to March
Mid Aug

Oct
Jan-March
Late Aug/Sept

June/July

July
Aug-Sept
9-14

9-14

18
    250,000-
200,000
290,000-
250,000
165,000
    200,000-
170,000
Salad Onion Spring
Overwintered
Japanese
Feb to June
July to Sep
April to June
June to Nov
Dec to April
June to Oct
  14.4
14.4
14.4
38 seeds/ft
40 seeds/ft
40 seeds/ft
1,380,000
1,450,000
1,450,000
    1,100,000
1,180,000
1,180,000
Shallots   Direct Drill
Feb to April
End July to
End August
  14.4 25 seeds/ft 900,000      
Parsley E/M/L Feb to July June until frost Fresh
Processing
18 1 350,000 18 6 350,000-
580,000
Hamburg Autumn April Sept to Oct Fresh 15 2* 209,000 8
6-10 seeds
per cell
15 52,272
Parsnip Autumn/
Winter
Feb to April Aug to March Fresh Ware
18" twin
Prepack
18" twin
3.75/4.5

3.25/4.0
under poly
150-180,000
open ground
170-220,000
     
Pea VE
E
Nov to Feb
Feb to March
Early May
June
Fresh
Fresh
8
8
2
1.5
392,000
522,000
     
Sugar Pea Summer Mar to June May to Sept Fresh 8 1.5 522,000      
Pumpkin Late Summer
Autumn
Transplant Sow
early May
Direct drilled
End May
Sept to Oct Fresh 36

2 seeds
per station
30* 11,600 36 30 5,800
Radicchio Spring/
Summer
Autumn
Transplant**
March to July June to Nov Fresh/
Processing
      12 12 43,560
Radish Outdoor
Spring to
Autumn
Indoor all
year round
Feb to Sept April to Nov Fresh


Fresh
8


4
2


1.5
392,000


1,045,000
     
Spinach Spring/
Summer/
Autumn
Early Spring
(overwintering
crop)
Early March
to Aug

Sept to Oct
Mid May to
End Nov

April to May
 


Fresh
12


12
1


3
522,720


130,680
     
Sprouting
Broccoli(HO)
M Late May to
Late June
Feb to May Fresh       24 18 14,500
Swede E
M
April
End April
to End May
(North)
May to July
(South)
July to Sept
Sept to March
Fresh
Fresh/
Processing
18 4 87,000      
Sweetcorn Summer/
Autumn
May Aug to Oct Fresh 24 8 32,670      
Tomato E

M
HG Late Nov

CG Feb/Jun
Late March
to August
June to Oct
Fresh

Fresh
      32

32
24

20
8,160

9,800

Key
*  Chop out to correct plant spacing
**  Propagated under glass and transplanted
CG  Glasshouse grown, without heat
HG  Glasshouse grown, heat assisted
L  Late
O  Overwintered
M  Maincrop
VE  Very Early
E  Early
HO  For more detailed information, please
contact Head Office or your local
Regional Vegetable Seed Specialists.

SOME USEFUL FORMULAE
Acres x 0.4047 = Hectares
Hectares x 2.471 = Acres
Square feet x 0.0929 = Square metres
Square centimetres x 0.155 = Square inches
Square inches x 6.452 = Square centimetres
Centimetres x 0.3937 = Inches
Inches x 2.54 = Centimetres

This guide has been compiled to provide growers with a basis for formulating their own production programmes. All growing seasons are considerably affected by light, temperature, rainfall etc. and all information given here is for guidance only.

All areas and drilling/planting distances are in imperial units - for conversion see table.

For module raised crops the quantity of seed required is the number of plants per acre multiplied by 100 and divided by the laboratory germination. Then add 5% for plant raising losses.

This guide has been compiled to provide growers with a basis for formulating their own production programmes. All growing seasons are considerably affected by light, temperature, rainfall etc. and all information given here is for guidance only.

All areas and drilling/planting distances are in imperial units - for conversion see table.

For module raised crops the quantity of seed required is the number of plants per acre multiplied by 100 and divided by the laboratory germination. Then add 5% for plant raising losses.