"Best" depends on what your household eats, the site, soil, drainage, available protection and the time of year. This is an editorial shortlist for planning, not a harvest guarantee. Teagasc recommends that beginners start small and highlights cabbage, onion sets and beetroot as manageable options.
The Reliable 15
1. Potatoes
Sow: February–March (under cover), March–April (outdoors)
Harvest: June–October depending on variety
Planning note: Choose seed potatoes and a variety for the intended harvest period. Follow current crop and plant-health guidance; yield and disease pressure vary by site and season.
2. Kale
Sow: April–June
Harvest: September onwards, through winter
Planning note: Kale is a brassica that can provide an autumn and winter crop. Check spacing, crop protection and rotation guidance before allocating a bed.
3. Leeks
Sow: February–March under cover, transplant May–June
Harvest: September–April (yes, really)
Why it works: Leeks occupy your growing space for a long time but they're harvesting in the gap when almost nothing else is — November through March. Musselburgh and Autumn Giant are the standard Irish varieties. Plant pencil-thick seedlings into holes 20 cm deep, water them in, and largely ignore them until autumn.
4. Courgettes
Sow indoors: Late April–May
Plant out: Late May–June (after last frost)
Harvest: July–October
Planning note: Courgettes need space and are normally raised under protection before planting out when conditions suit. Start with a small number and record what the household uses.
5. Salad leaves
Sow: March–September (successionally)
Harvest: 3–4 weeks after sowing, cut-and-come-again
Planning note: Salad leaves can suit small spaces where freshness matters. Follow the packet for spacing and succession sowing, and record how much the household actually uses.
6. Spinach and chard
Sow: March–August
Harvest: 6–8 weeks from sowing, cut-and-come-again
Why it works: Perpetual spinach (leaf beet) is essentially chard and is virtually indestructible in Irish conditions. It shrugs off frost, regrows after cutting, and can be harvested from April to November. Chard varieties (Rainbow Chard, Bright Lights) are nutritionally excellent and look spectacular. Avoid summer spinach in July/August heat — it bolts immediately. Sow perpetual spinach instead.
7. Beetroot
Sow direct: May–July
Harvest: 8–10 weeks from sowing
Why it works: Beetroot is easy, reliable, and stores well. Direct sow into moist soil, thin to 10 cm apart, harvest when golf-ball sized (best flavour) or leave to tennis-ball size. Moneta (monogerm — no thinning needed), Boltardy (bolt-resistant), and Chioggia (striped, mild) are all good Irish varieties. Roast in the oven in olive oil and eat warm or store in the fridge all week.
8. Broad beans
Sow: October–November (overwintering) or February–March
Harvest: May–July
Why it works: Broad beans are Ireland's best late-spring crop. Autumn-sown beans (Aquadulce Claudia, The Sutton) overwinter outdoors and produce from May — earlier than anything else in your plot. They fix nitrogen, are rarely bothered by pests in Ireland, and produce generously. Watch for blackfly from June — pinch out the growing tips when the plants are in full flower.
9. Garlic
Plant: October–November
Harvest: June–July
Why it works: Garlic needs a cold period to develop properly — Irish winters provide this reliably. Plant cloves in October, do essentially nothing, and harvest cured bulbs in July. Wight-grown varieties (Solent Wight, Early Purple Wight) are reliably available from Irish garden centres. Use the space for a summer crop after the garlic comes out.
10. Onions and shallots
Plant sets: March–April
Harvest: July–August
Why it works: Sets (small bulbs, not seed) are easy and reliable. Plant 10 cm apart, barely cover, and harvest when the tops fall over. Stuttgarter, Red Baron, and Sturon are all reliable Irish performers. Shallots (Longor, Golden Gourmet) are slightly more expensive but produce more from each bulb and have better storage life. Both can be stored dry until the following spring.
11. Peas
Sow: March–June (earlier indoors, later direct)
Harvest: June–August
Why it works: Fresh peas from the garden bear no resemblance to the frozen version. Sugar snap and mangetout types are more productive than shelling peas per square metre. Sow every 3 weeks for succession. Needs support — even 60 cm sticks for dwarf varieties. Can fail if late spring is very cold and wet (2026 was; 2025 was fine) — start indoors if in doubt.
12. French beans (dwarf)
Sow indoors: Late April–May
Direct sow: Late May (after last frost)
Harvest: July–October
Planning note: French beans are tender. Follow the variety instructions and local frost conditions; do not rely on one national outdoor sowing date or yield estimate.
13. Carrots
Sow direct: April–July
Harvest: 12–16 weeks from sowing
Why it works (with a caveat): Carrots grow beautifully in Ireland — in the right soil. They need deep, loose, stone-free soil. In a properly filled raised bed (see our raised beds guide), they're excellent. In heavy clay garden soil, they fork and fail. Nantes types are the most reliable Irish variety. Cover with fleece from mid-May to protect against carrot root fly.
14. Curly kale and purple sprouting broccoli
Sow: May–June
Harvest: PSB: February–April the following year; kale: October onwards
Why it works: PSB is the best winter-spring vegetable for Ireland. It sits in the ground all winter and produces in February–April when nothing else is ready — exactly the hungry gap period. You need the space for a full year, but the reward is fresh broccoli in February. Kale (above, #2) is its essential companion.
15. Courgettes (polytunnel) → Tomatoes
Sow indoors: March–April
Plant in polytunnel: May
Harvest: July–October
Planning note: Teagasc describes tomatoes as half-hardy and says they give the best results in a glasshouse or polythene tunnel, while noting that a warm, sheltered outdoor spot can be tried. Choose bush or cordon types for the intended space.
Crops that need extra site and protection checks
- Tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and cucumbers — check the Teagasc protected-crop guidance and the variety's temperature needs.
- Sweet corn and melons — check whether the site and season can provide the required warmth and shelter.
- Basil — Teagasc describes it as a tender annual needing protection from frost and cold winds.
Official sources
- Teagasc information for home gardeners and crop guides
- Teagasc introduction to vegetable growing
- Teagasc tomato growing guide
The Irish Grower's Calendar at a Glance
| Month | Sow indoors | Sow/plant outdoors |
|---|---|---|
| Feb–Mar | Leeks, tomatoes, broad beans | Broad beans (south/sheltered), garlic (if not done Oct) |
| April | Courgettes, French beans | Salad, spinach, peas, onion sets, early potatoes |
| May | Kale, PSB | Beetroot, carrots, French beans (late May), maincrop potatoes |
| June–July | Succession salad, kale transplants, overwintering onions | |
| Oct–Nov | Garlic, overwintering broad beans |
For a full month-by-month guide see our Irish Grow Calendar →
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