April is the busiest sowing month, so pace yourself
Short answer
April is the busiest month for sowing. Outside, sow carrots, beetroot, chard, lettuce, peas, spring onions and herbs, and plant second early and maincrop potatoes. Indoors, sow courgettes, squash, cucumbers, sweetcorn, runner and French beans and basil for planting out after the last frost in May.
April is the busiest sowing month of the year. Outside, most hardy crops can be sown into warming soil: carrots, beetroot, chard, lettuce, peas, spring onions and herbs. Potatoes go in. Indoors, it’s time for the fast-growing tender crops: courgettes, squash, cucumbers, beans and sweetcorn.
It’s easy to sow too much in April. Sow short rows, and leave space for a second sowing in a few weeks.
These timings are for a typical lowland garden in England or Wales, with an average last frost around 20 April. Frost is still possible into May, and later in Scotland, the north and frost pockets.
Sow and plant outside
| Crop | Notes |
|---|---|
| Carrots | Thinly, 1 cm deep, every three weeks |
| Beetroot | Every four weeks for a steady supply |
| Chard and spinach | Sow in rows, thin later |
| Lettuce and salad leaves | Little and often |
| Peas | Second sowings, with support |
| Parsnips | Early in the month |
| Spring onions and radishes | Every two to three weeks |
| Leeks | In a seedbed, to transplant in June |
| Kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts | In a seedbed or modules |
| Parsley, coriander and dill | In rows or pots |
| Second early and maincrop potatoes | All month |
| Strawberry plants | All month |
Sow indoors
From mid to late April, sow the tender crops that go out after the last frost:
- Courgettes, squash, pumpkins and cucumbers. One seed per pot, on its edge.
- Runner and French beans. In deep pots or root trainers.
- Sweetcorn. In deep modules, as it dislikes root disturbance.
- Basil. On a warm windowsill.
- Purple sprouting broccoli for next spring.
These grow fast and need planting out within about four weeks, so wait until the second half of the month.
Planting out
Hardy plants raised indoors can go out after hardening off: lettuce, cabbages, onions, peas and broad beans. Keep tomatoes, peppers and other tender plants under glass until mid to late May.
Jobs for April
- Earth up early potatoes as shoots appear, and cover them if frost is forecast.
- Harden off seedlings for a week before planting.
- Net brassicas against pigeons.
- Thin seedlings sown in March.
- Put up supports for peas and climbing beans.
- Keep fleece handy for frosty nights.
- Stop forcing rhubarb and let the crown recover.
What to harvest
Spring cabbage, purple sprouting broccoli, the last leeks and kale, overwintered salads, rhubarb and the first asparagus.
For tender crops, see hardening off seedlings, and what to sow in March if you’re catching up.
Questions people also ask
Is it safe to plant out tender plants in April?
Not in most of the UK. The average last frost is around mid to late April, and later in the north. Keep tomatoes, courgettes and beans indoors or under glass until mid to late May.
When should I sow courgettes and squash?
From mid to late April indoors, about three or four weeks before planting out. They grow fast, so earlier sowings end up pot-bound.
Can I sow carrots in April?
Yes, April is one of the best months. The soil is warm enough for them to come up quickly. Sow thinly so you barely need to thin, as thinning releases the smell that draws carrot fly.
Dates set to your own frost dates
VegLog works out sowing and planting times for your town, then reminds you when each job is due.
