It is important to know how long your crops will take to mature so that you can plan a crop growing programme. It is a waste of valuable space to leave a patch of land clear because you need to wait a couple of months before your next crop can go into the ground.

Some crops are known as sprinter crops because they only need a short time in the ground whereas others need longer, these are known as long-distance crops.

Below is a guide for various crops and how long they need to mature.

Sprinter Crops and months in ground
Beans, different types 3-4
Beetroot 3-4
Cabbage, Summer 4
Calabrese 3-4
Endive 4
Kohlrabi 3
Lettuce 2-3
Onions, salad 4
Peas 2-3
Potatoes, first early 4
Radish, summer 1
Spinach 3
Squashes 4

Long-distance Crops and months in ground
Broccoli 10
Brussels sprouts 6-10
Cabbage, autumn 6
Cabbage, winter 8-10
Cabbage, spring 8
Cauliflowers 5-8
Celery 6-9
Kale 10
Leeks 8-10
Onions, maincrop 7-8
Parsnips 8
Potatoes, maincrop 6-8