April is a great time for you to really find your rhythm with gardening. There are often sunny days, followed by heavy April downpours. It’s perfect weather for the vegetable garden to get a lick on and for you to think about what plants can you plant in April.
What Plants Can You Plant in April
In my experience, you’ll still need to be aware of late spring frosts, which actually might go into May in places further north, but you can easily care for tender plants with some horticultural fleece or by keeping some of the plants in your greenhouse for a bit longer. Although I suspect like mine now, your greenhouse is full to the brim so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on any plants that are outside and the last frost date.
Carrots
When you are thinking about what vegetables to plant in April UK, carrots have surely got to be at the top of the list. Carrots are an easy vegetable to grow. They only take up a small amount of space and if you are short on growing room, you can even grow them in containers or bags. Once you have sown your carrot seeds, they will be ready in around 12 – 16 weeks. You should direct sow carrot seeds about 1cm deep in the soil, aiming for the carrot plants to be around 5 – 8 cm apart.
Leeks
Leeks are a good choice when you are thinking about what to sow in April. You can sow leek seeds 1cm deep, in rows 15cm apart. You may find it is better to sow your seeds away from your main beds, as they will need a lot of space once established, but they are easily moved from a smaller space. This will free up your beds for other faster-growing crops until the leeks are ready to be planted in their final spot. Even the earliest planted leeks may not be ready until Autumn.
Peas
Peas are a rewarding vegetable to grow, as they will be ready in around 11 to 13 weeks. You can make a pea trench about 3cm deep, add the seeds and cover lightly with soil and firm up. You’ll need to water well. Once the pea plants start to pop up, you’ll need to stake them with pea sticks, unless you are growing dwarf varieties. For the taller plants, you will need to think about bamboo canes or perhaps even a trellis. You should feed your peas with a high-potash fertiliser about once a week.
Courgettes
Courgettes are a great starter plant if you are thinking about what to plant in April UK. Just a couple of these plants will keep you in an abundance of courgettes throughout the summer. You can sow courgette seeds in April and then plant them out when there is no risk of frost. If you aren’t planting out after three weeks or so, you will probably need to re-pot your courgette into a bigger pot. Courgettes need watering regularly and will also need a weekly feed of a high potash fertiliser.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes grow well in a sunny, sheltered spot in the garden. Easily grown in containers or grow bags, using fertile compost, you’ll find tomato growing very rewarding. Cordon type tomatoes are the varieties that will grow tall and will need support as they grow. If you are looking for an easy-to-grow variety you could look at a bush type tomato, which can be grown in pots or hanging baskets. Start them off by sowing your tomato seeds in small pots filled with seed compost. You can either cover the pot with a plastic bag or pop them in a propagator. You’ll need to move the plants to bigger pots (9cm ones are ideal) once you have a plant with two leaves.
Leafy Greens
Lettuce, spinach, kale, and Swiss chard thrive in the cooler temperatures of early spring and can tolerate light frosts. Sow seeds directly into the garden soil for a steady supply of fresh greens throughout late spring and into summer, perhaps even beyond.
Beetroot
Beetroot is a lovely addition to your vegetable garden and April is a good time to sow these directly into your garden beds. Ensure the soil is well-drained and free from compacted debris to encourage healthy root development and a good growing season for your beetroot plants.
Sweetcorn
Sweetcorn is a quintessential summer treat that thrives in full sun and warm weather. In warmer climates, down in the south, you can plant some sweet corn seeds in well-drained soil in late April for a bumper crop come late summer.
Herbs
Basil, chives, parsley, and dill are versatile herbs that can be sown directly into the garden soil or started indoors for a head start. Place them in a sunny spot and harvest leaves as needed for your culinary creations.
What Plants Can You Plant in April – Flowers
Cosmos
If you are thinking about what flowers to plant in April in the UK, Cosmos could be an option for you. These annuals are simple to grow from seed and will flower in around 12 weeks – they are ideal summer blooms. If you sow them in April, transplant them into bigger pots when the seedling pop up and they’ve got a couple of leaves, you can grow them under cover until it’s warm enough to pop them outside. Don’t forget they’ll need hardening off before you plant them outside in your borders.
Poppies
Most poppies will do best in moist but well-drained soil in full sun unless you are looking at Himalayan poppies. This variety will do best in moist, slightly acidic soils, in partial shade. Poppies should be quick to germinate and you can sow the poppy seeds directly into the spot where you would like them to flower. You need to be careful not to over-water most varieties of poppies as this will make them quick growing and might end up with them looking a bit leggy.
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are another good one when you are looking at what flowers to plant in April. Again these can be sown directly outdoors or indoors if you prefer. If you do choose to grow indoors they should flower slightly earlier but will need hardening off before planting out in their final spot. Nasturtiums are a good companion plant for things like tomatoes as they will attract aphids. Nasturtiums are good for the busy gardener as they are known to be the plant that thrives on neglect.
Snapdragon
If you are wondering what else to sow in April, Snapdragons are a firm favourite. Snapdragons will grow well in most well-drained, fertile soils in full sun. You can add them to borders or containers. They are a great choice as they have a long flowering period lasting from June until October as long as you feed them weekly, water them well and deadhead once the flowers go over.
Marigolds
Although seen as an old-fashioned choice. Marigolds are a wonderful plant. I personally really like marigolds and they are a brilliant addition to the garden, as they are natural insect repellents. You’ll need to germinate the seeds at a minimum of 19 degrees and when you are planting them out, they like a sunny spot.
Understanding Your Climate and Last Frost Date
Before diving into the garden soil, it’s crucial to be mindful of your local climate and last frost date. These factors play a pivotal role in determining the best time to plant various crops. While gardeners in warmer climates may have already experienced their last frost by early April, those in cooler regions might need to exercise caution until later in the month. Late February is usually too cold to plant very much in the vegetable garden, early March might be a good time to start thinking about preparing your beds, but by April and past the last spring frost is a great time to think about your new plants, particularly anything which can withstand a light frost, unpredictable spring weather or low temperatures.
For those in colder climates, utilising row covers, cloches, cold frames, or even simply monitoring the weather forecast closely can help mitigate the risk of damage from late spring frosts. These protective measures can provide a head start for tender plants and extend the growing season well into late spring and even early summer.
Ideal Soil Conditions and Preparation – What Plants Can You Plant in April in the UK
A healthy, nutrient-rich garden soil forms the foundation for successful gardening endeavours. In April, as the soil temperature gradually rises and longer days encourage plant growth, it’s essential to ensure that your garden beds are primed and ready for planting.
Incorporating organic matter such as compost, or well-rotted manure can enhance soil fertility and structure, providing an optimal environment for plant growth. Aim for a soil surface that is loose and well-draining to promote healthy root development and prevent waterlogged conditions. If you can pre-warm the soil using row covers or cloches, even better as this will make all the difference to young plants and will give the best results come summer.
Success in Your April Garden – What Plants Can You Plant in April
To ensure the success of your spring garden, consider the following tips:
Monitor soil temperature: Warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers require soil temperatures above 15 degrees Celsius for optimal growth. Use a soil thermometer to gauge when conditions are ideal for planting. If you are germinating these seeds, you’ll need to start them off indoors as their ideal germination temperatures are around 21 – 23 degrees, so it’s unlikely they’ll germinate outside in April as the soil simply won’t be warm enough.
Provide adequate support: Stake or trellis vining crops such as cucumbers, peas, and pole beans to encourage upward growth and prevent sprawling. Staking your plants also allows plants to use vertical space which means you can plant wisely and use the space better.
Water consistently: Maintain a regular watering schedule, ensuring plants receive adequate moisture, especially during periods of dry weather. Mulch around plants to conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Protect against pests: Keep an eye out for common garden pests such as aphids, slugs, and snails, and take proactive measures to deter them from damaging your crops.
Rotate crops: Practice crop rotation to prevent the buildup of soil-borne diseases and pests and maintain soil fertility over time.
Harvest regularly: Harvest vegetables and herbs promptly to encourage continued production and prevent bolting or overripeness.
I hope this has got you thinking about what to plant in April. Has it got you pondering what to sow this month? I’d love to hear what you are planning on sowing in April. Are there any vegetables that you will plant this month?
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