Express UK Delivery
From £6.99
Grow Your Own - April Jobs
April sees the growing season really kick off. Potatoes are getting planted out and seeds are able to be sown outdoors.
What to Sow & Plant
Vegetables
Potatoes: If you haven't started chitting already now is the time to get it sorted. Second Early Potatoes can be planted out in the first half of the month and maincrop potatoes in the second half.
Sowing Outdoors:
- Beetroot
- Carrots
- Swiss Chard
- Summer Cauliflower
- Kohl Rabi
- Lettuce
- Leeks
- Radish
- Turnip
- Spring Onion
- Peas
- Perpetual Spinach
Sow Indoors:
- Marrows
- Courgett
- Pumpkins
- Squash
- Sweet Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Aubergines
- Celery
- Celeriac
- Salad
Plant Out
- Broad Beans grown in pots
- Shallots
- Onion Sets
- Garlic
- Jerusalem Artichokes
- Asparagus crowns
Pot on
- Tomato Seedlings once they have developed true leaves
Fruit
It is now the perfect time to plant out pot grown fruit trees and bushes.
What is ready to harvest in April
Vegetables
- Spring onions
- Radishes
- Spring cauliflowers
- Spring cabbages
- Jerusalem artichokes
- Leeks
- Overwintered lettuce
- Asparagus
- Kale
- Sprouting broccoli
Fruits
Forced Rhubarb
Garden Problems, Pests & Diseases
Apple & Pear Scab: April is the time to apply controls.
Insects: Use your preferred treatment method to control aphids, apple sucker, pear sucker, pear midge, and caterpillars. Also check for red spider mite and aphids on strawberries under glass
Fungus: Ensure powdery mildew is kept in check and treat for American gooseberry mildew is applicable
Weeds: Ensure weeds are kept down and keep this up throughout the summer.
General care
Fruit
Liquid Feed: Those fruit trees in pots, will benefit from a balanced feed every fortnight
Frost Protection: If possible protect plum and pear flowers from the frost whilst allowing insects access for pollination.
Citrus Plants: Damp down / Mist citrus plants once flowering begins and keep them at 14°C as an absolute minimum.
Strawberries: Remove Flowers from strawberries planted after September in their first year. This helps them to establish well. Mulch with straw.
Flowering Plants: Do not use insecticides on crops in flower.
Vegetables
Peas: Support the young pea plants with sticks, twigs mesh or netting.
Seedlings: Thin out seedlings sown in rows to desired density
Protect: Any early outdoor sowings will benefit from a fleece or cloche protection
Runner Beans: Get the supports in place for sowing in May or planting out in June