What to Plant in April

Vegetables to Sow and Plant in April

April is the busiest month in the vegetable garden. The soil is finally warming up, daylight hours are extending rapidly, and you can sow an enormous range of crops both indoors and outdoors. This is the month where everything accelerates — if you stay on top of your April sowings, you will have produce from June right through to winter.

Hardy Vegetables to Sow Outdoors

By April, the soil is usually warm enough (7-10°C) for a wide range of direct sowings without any protection. The risk of hard frost is diminishing, though you should still keep fleece handy for unexpected cold snaps.

Beetroot can be sown directly outdoors from mid-April. Sow clusters of 2-3 seeds every 10cm in rows 25cm apart, about 2.5cm deep. Beetroot seeds are actually clusters of seeds, so thin to the strongest seedling in each group. Varieties like Boltardy are bred to resist bolting from early sowings.

Carrots and parsnips continue from March sowings. April is the ideal time for your main carrot crop — sow in rows 15cm apart, thinly, to avoid the need for heavy thinning. Cover with fine mesh or fleece to keep carrot root fly at bay.

Broad beans and peas — if you have not sown these in March, April is still fine. In fact, April-sown peas often catch up with March sowings because the warmer soil gives faster germination. Sow peas in a flat-bottomed trench, 5cm deep, 5-7cm apart.

Radishes, lettuce, rocket, spinach, spring onions and turnips all go outdoors this month. Continue successional sowing — a short row every 2-3 weeks keeps you in salad all summer. April-sown lettuce benefits from the lengthening days and warmer nights.

Kale can be sown outdoors from late April. It is one of the most useful winter crops — incredibly hardy and productive right through to the following spring. Sow 1cm deep in a seedbed and transplant to final positions in June.

Indoor Sowing: The Tender Crops

April is when you start the tender, frost-sensitive crops that will form the backbone of your summer and autumn harvest. None of these can go outside until after the last frost (mid to late May in most of the UK), but starting them now gives you strong, established plants ready to hit the ground running.

Courgettes and squash are the stars of April indoor sowing. Sow one seed per 9cm pot, 2cm deep, on its side (to prevent the seed from rotting). They germinate fast and grow quickly — do not start them too early or they will be climbing out of their pots before May. Two or three courgette plants will produce more than enough for a family. Winter squash like butternut needs the same treatment.

Pumpkins are sown exactly like courgettes. One seed per pot, 2cm deep, on its side. Keep at 18-21°C. If you want large pumpkins for Halloween, this is the month to start them.

Runner beans and French beans can be started in deep pots or root trainers from mid-April. Sow one seed per module, 5cm deep. They germinate quickly and will be ready to plant out in late May. Alternatively, wait until late May and sow them directly outdoors.

Sweetcorn should be sown individually in deep pots — they resent root disturbance, so modules or root trainers work best. Sow 2.5cm deep and keep warm. Plant out in blocks (not rows) for better pollination.

Cucumber seeds go one per 9cm pot, pointed end down, 2cm deep. They germinate within a week at 20°C and grow rapidly.

Tomatoes — if you have not already started these in March, early April is your last good window. Later sowings will produce a shorter cropping season. Sow 1cm deep in small pots and keep at 18-21°C.

Working out how much seed compost to buy? Our compost calculator gives you the exact volume for your pots and trays.

Planting Out

First early potatoes — if you did not plant these in late March, do it now. The window for first earlies is late March to mid-April. Plant 12-15cm deep, 30cm apart, in rows 60cm apart.

Second early potatoes go in from mid-April. Varieties like Charlotte, Kestrel and Nicola are excellent choices. Same planting depth and spacing as first earlies, but allow 75cm between rows as the plants grow larger.

Onion sets can still go in during April if you have not already planted them. Push into prepared soil so the tip is just showing. Space 10cm apart in rows 30cm apart.

Filling new raised beds for your vegetable patch? Use our soil calculator to work out how much topsoil or compost you need.

Quick Wins: Fastest Crops to Start in April

• Radishes — still the quickest crop, ready in 4 weeks. Perfect for filling gaps between slower crops.
• Rocket — leaves ready in 3-4 weeks. Sow in succession for continuous harvesting.
• Baby leaf lettuce — cut-and-come-again leaves in 4-5 weeks.
• Turnips — fast-growing baby turnips in 6-8 weeks from an April sowing.
• Spring onions — ready in 8-10 weeks. Sow in clumps for an easy harvest.

Flowers to Sow in April

April opens up a huge range of flower sowing possibilities. The warmer soil means better germination outdoors, and the longer days give indoor-sown seedlings the light they need to grow strong.

Hardy Annuals to Sow Outdoors

Sunflowers are a classic April sowing. Push seeds 2cm deep, 45cm apart, in a sunny spot against a wall or fence for shelter. Children love growing these — choose a giant variety like Russian Giant for maximum impact.

Nasturtiums are completely trouble-free. Sow directly where you want them to flower, 1.5cm deep. They thrive in poor soil — rich soil gives you leaves at the expense of flowers. Both the flowers and leaves are edible and peppery.

Cornflowers, calendula, poppies and nigella can all be sown outdoors this month. Scatter on raked soil and thin to 15-20cm apart once seedlings appear. These all self-seed freely, so one sowing can give you plants for years to come.

Wildflower meadow seed is best sown in April on well-prepared soil. Remove any existing grass, rake to a fine tilth, scatter the seed mix and gently firm it in. Do not cover with compost — wildflower seeds need light to germinate.

Half-Hardy Annuals to Start Indoors

Cosmos grows fast from seed and is the backbone of any cottage garden border. Sow 0.5cm deep in modules and keep at 15-18°C. Zinnias need warmth — sow at 20°C for the best germination. French marigolds are easy and fast, and are brilliant companion plants for tomatoes. Nicotiana (tobacco plant) fills the garden with fragrance on warm evenings.

Plant Out

Sweet peas started in autumn or early spring can be planted out from mid-April. They are hardy and will tolerate light frost. Plant at the base of your supports (canes, wigwam, trellis) and pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushier plants.

Fruit and Soft Fruit in April

April is the tail end of the bare-root planting season. If you still have bare-root trees or bushes to plant, get them in the ground this month before they start growing actively. After April, switch to container-grown plants.

Strawberry plants — container-grown strawberries can be planted now and will fruit this summer. Plant with the crown at soil level, 30-45cm apart. In raised beds, use our soil calculator to work out how much compost you need.

Blueberry bushes can be planted in large pots of ericaceous (acidic) compost. They will not grow in alkaline soil. Use rainwater for watering if possible, as tap water in hard-water areas is too alkaline.

Grape vines can be planted now against a south-facing wall or fence. Even in the UK, dessert grapes will ripen outdoors in a warm, sheltered spot.

Protect blossom on fruit trees with fleece on frosty nights. A single late frost during blossom can wipe out your entire apple or pear crop for the year. Keep old sheets or horticultural fleece handy and drape them over trees when frost is forecast.

Regional Planting Adjustments

These timings are based on central and southern England. Adjust based on your location — the further north and the higher your altitude, the later you should sow outdoors.

April weather is notoriously unpredictable in the UK. A warm spell can be followed by frost, hail or snow. The best approach is to keep fleece and cloches ready and check the forecast every few days before sowing outdoors. Indoor sowing is not affected by weather, so focus your energy there if conditions outside are poor.

Common April Planting Mistakes

1. Planting tender crops outdoors too early. Courgettes, beans, tomatoes and squash cannot survive frost. Even a light frost will kill them. They stay indoors until after the last frost in May — no exceptions, no matter how warm April feels.
2. Sowing too much at once. It is tempting to sow everything in a weekend. But if all your lettuce, radishes and spring onions mature at the same time, you cannot eat them fast enough. Sow small amounts every 2-3 weeks for a continuous supply.
3. Neglecting watering during dry spells. April can bring warm, dry weather. Newly sown seeds and young seedlings are vulnerable to drying out. Water gently with a fine rose to avoid washing seeds away.
4. Forgetting to harden off March-sown seedlings. Plants that have been growing indoors since March need a gradual transition to outdoor conditions. Move them outside during the day for at least a week before planting out permanently.
5. Ignoring soil preparation. Good soil preparation is the foundation of a productive vegetable garden. Fork over beds, remove weeds, and rake to a fine tilth before sowing. Adding well-rotted compost or manure improves soil structure and fertility. Use our fertiliser calculator to work out application rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where to Buy Seeds in the UK

Ready to start sowing? These UK suppliers stock seeds, plug plants and everything you need for April planting.

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Useful Gardening Tools

Planning your April planting? These free calculators help you work out exactly how much you need.