April Gardening Guide: Growing Vegetables and What’s in Season
Spring is in full swing, and April is a fantastic time to get stuck into your vegetable garden. With the warmer temperatures and longer days, plants are starting to thrive, making it the perfect moment to sow seeds, transplant seedlings, and prepare for a bountiful harvest in the months ahead.
What to Plant in April
April is a busy month for vegetable growers, with plenty of seeds to sow both indoors and outdoors. Here are some great options to get started:
Direct Sowing Outdoors:
- Carrots – Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil for a sweet and crunchy crop.
- Beetroot – Sow in rows for a steady harvest throughout the summer.
- Lettuce & Salad Leaves – Perfect for repeat harvesting; plant every couple of weeks for a continuous supply.
- Radishes – Fast-growing and easy to grow, perfect for adding a peppery crunch to salads.
- Spinach – A hardy crop that will thrive in cooler temperatures.
- Spring Onions – Ideal for adding fresh flavour to dishes, they grow quickly and don’t take up much space.
Starting Indoors or Under Cover:
- Tomatoes – If you haven’t already, now is the last chance to sow tomatoes indoors for summer crops.
- Peppers & Chillies – These need warmth to thrive, so keep them on a sunny windowsill or in a heated greenhouse.
- Courgettes & Squashes – Start in pots indoors for planting out when the weather is reliably warm.
- Cucumbers – If growing outdoors, start them in a greenhouse or on a warm windowsill.
Preparing Your Garden
April is also an important time to prepare your garden beds for planting. Make sure to:
- Clear weeds and add organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to enrich the soil.
- Harden off seedlings started indoors by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over a week before planting out.
- Mulch around established plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds as temperatures rise.
- Keep an eye on frosts – While April is warmer, late frosts can still strike, so have fleece or cloches handy to protect young plants.
What’s in Season in April?
If you’ve been growing through the winter and early spring, now is the time to enjoy some delicious homegrown produce. In April, the following vegetables are ready for harvesting:
- Purple Sprouting Broccoli – A great source of fresh greens after the winter months.
- Spring Cabbages – Sweet and tender, perfect for steaming or stir-fries.
- Rhubarb – While not a vegetable, it’s a favourite for pies and crumbles in early spring.
- Leeks – If planted in late summer, leeks will still be going strong.
- Overwintered Spinach and Chard – Great for fresh salads and cooking.
Looking Ahead
April is the start of the busiest gardening season, so keeping on top of sowing and planting now will pay off later in the year. As the weather continues to warm up, you’ll soon be able to plant out tender crops such as beans, courgettes, and tomatoes. Keep feeding and watering young plants to encourage strong growth, and watch out for slugs and snails, which become more active in damp conditions.
By taking the time to plan and plant now, you’ll be rewarded with a garden full of fresh, delicious vegetables throughout the summer and beyond. Happy gardening!