What to sow and grow in in April.
There's not much we can't sow this month. We might perhaps be a bit late sowing Peppers, Aubergines and Chillies as they need a long growing season, but if you'll be growing them in a greenhouse or conservatory where it will be nice and warm you should be okay. This is not to say you can't grow them outside if you sow them now, it's just they might not produce fruit in time, but you never know.
So to recap on last months veg like Turnips, Kale, Spinach, Spring Onions, Peas, Lettuce, Cauliflower, Radish and most herbs. Not forgetting Purple Sprouting Broccoli, early Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Beetroots, Celery, Onions, Florence Fennel and Celeriac. We can now add Brussel Sprouts, Courgettes, both summer and winter Squash and Sweetcorn.
Do keep in mind that if we have a spring or an early summer like last year, it would be better to hold back on all types of beans. They are very fast growers and it would be better to wait to start them off until you know the weather will be warm enough for them to flourish. I've had on many occasions sown beans far too early and then had trouble finding somewhere to keep them in the warm because it's been too cold for them outside.π₯΄
From now to mid April it's best to get your second early Potatoes in the ground or in pots and with any main crop ones you have towards the end of April. And don't forget to watch out for any chilly nights in the forecast as you don't want any new Potato shoots getting knobbled by an overnight frost.
If your soil is warm enough, you might want to sow some early Carrots. As mentioned last month varieties like Early Nantes or Flyaway are good ones to start with. Carrots have to be sown direct into the soil where they are to grow, as they hate being transplanted. Broad Beans, like Carrots, are also good to sow directly into the ground now along with Parsnips. I have a compost thermometer in the ground to see what the temperature is doing on my plot and at the moment it's only about 6C. I think I'll wait until it's nearer 10C and then get sowing. Parsnips are notorious for not germinating.
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