A simple, productive layout for early spring sowing
🌱 Getting started
If you’ve got a couple of raised planters filled with fresh compost (like mine here), you’re in a perfect position to get sowing straight away — even in early spring in Edinburgh.
The beds don’t need to be perfect. cardboard lines the base then a layer of organic matter (grass clippings, old compost, etc.) topped with peat-free compost is ideal.
🥕 Planter 1 — Root Crops Bed
This bed is all about reliable, direct-sown crops that thrive in loose compost.
What to sow
- Spring onions (along one edge)
- Carrots (short-root varieties work best)
- Radishes (sown between carrots)
- Turnips (spaced evenly)
📸 Root crops inspiration
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🌿 Why this works
- Radishes grow quickly and mark the carrot rows
- Turnips fill space efficiently
- Spring onions help deter pests
- No wasted space — everything earns its place
🥬 Planter 2 — Leaves & Peas Bed
This bed combines vertical growing with fast leafy crops.
What to sow
- Peas (at the back, with sticks or netting)
- Spinach (dense row for repeated picking)
- Lettuce (Marvel of Four Seasons)
- Rocket / mixed salad leaves
📸 Leafy crops inspiration
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🌿 Why this works
- Peas grow upward, saving space
- Leaves shade the soil and retain moisture
- Continuous harvesting from front to back
- Ideal for “cut and come again” picking
💧 After sowing
- Water gently after planting
- Keep the compost moist but not waterlogged
- Cover with fleece if frost is forecast
⏱ What to expect
- Radishes → ready in 2–4 weeks
- Salad leaves → ready in ~4 weeks
- Carrots & turnips → steady growth into early summer
- Peas → climbing within a few weeks
🌿 A simple, productive start
This two-planter system is:
- Easy to manage
- Highly productive for its size
- Perfect for early-season growing
- Ideal for beginners and experienced growers alike
It’s a great way to turn a small space into a steady supply of fresh food — straight from plot to pot.