How to grow basil outdoors in England (and when not to)
How to grow basil in England: sow indoors in spring, plant out in June once nights stay above 10°C, in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot, or keep it under cover.
Sowstory guides
Growing guides for raised beds in England
Clear, England-first advice for one outdoor raised bed: what to grow, when to sow and how to make the most of the space you have.
Browse by topic
- Grow guidesCrop-by-crop guides for raised beds in England: when to sow, spacing, care and harvest, with the numbers you need to plan.14 guides
- Sowing calendarWhat to sow and plant each month in England, with frost timing and a full-year vegetable sowing calendar.14 guides
- Raised bedsSizes, depth, soil, filling, layout and spacing: everything you need to set up and plan a vegetable raised bed.10 guides
- Companion plantingWhich plants grow well together in a raised bed, what to keep apart, and how strong the evidence behind each pairing is.4 guides
- SpacingHow far apart to plant each crop in a raised bed, with the published ranges behind the numbers.1 guide
- Tools and calculatorsWorked methods and ready-made tables for soil volume, plant spacing and how many plants fit your bed.2 guides
- Using the Sowstory appHow the Sowstory app turns your bed, sunlight and favourite crops into a layout, quantities and a calendar.6 guides
- What to growCrop-by-crop guides to vegetables that suit a raised bed in England, with spacing and timing you can plan around.Guides on the way
- When to sowSowing and planting windows for England, and how to read them as ranges rather than fixed dates.Guides on the way
Latest guides
How to grow lettuce in a raised bed in England
How to grow lettuce in England: sow a short row every two weeks from late March to late July, space loose-leaf and hearting types well, and stop summer bolting.
How to grow peas in a raised bed
How to grow peas in a raised bed in England: sow March to June in a wide drill, 7.5 cm apart, give them support and pick dwarf peas about 12 weeks after sowing.
How to grow radishes in a raised bed in England
How to grow radishes in England: sow little and often from spring to late summer, 2.5 cm apart in rows 15 cm apart, and what to do if they make only leaves.
Best garden planning apps in the UK (compared)
The best garden planning apps for UK vegetable growers compared on layout, location-based calendars, rotation, platforms and free options (checked Nov 2026).
Companion planting chart for vegetables: what the evidence says
An honest companion planting chart for vegetables in England: which pairings are trial-backed, which are sound advice and which are anecdotal, with bad pairs.