Allotment & Gardening in April: Spring in Full Bloom

UKSN
Apr 1
2 min read

April is when spring truly bursts into action, with warmer weather and longer days making it the perfect time to get your garden or allotment thriving. Now that the soil has warmed up, the risk of frost is lowering, and it's time to plant with confidence. This month is all about getting your crops into the ground and setting the foundation for a bountiful harvest.

Allotment & Gardening in April: Spring in Full Bloom Feature Image

Allotment Tasks to Tackle in April

Now is the time to sow a wide variety of crops both indoors and outdoors. Start by sowing seeds indoors for crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. This will give them a head start before they’re moved outside once the weather warms up. You can also begin sowing herbs like basil, coriander, and dill indoors, as well as early flowers such as marigolds and sunflowers.

Outdoors, it’s a great time to plant root crops like carrots, beets, and radishes directly into the soil. April is also perfect for sowing peas, broad beans, and early varieties of potatoes. You can continue planting brassicas such as broccoli, cabbage, and kale, as well as onions, shallots, and garlic, which will soon begin to thrive in the increasingly warmer soil.

April is also a great time to tidy up your allotment or garden, removing any leftover weeds, dead leaves, and debris from the winter. Consider mulching your beds to help retain moisture and suppress weeds as the growing season picks up speed.

What to Grow and Harvest

In April, you’ll see your garden or allotment starting to take shape with more than just the planting of seeds. This is the time to start harvesting early spring crops like rhubarb, chives, and mint. If you planted early potatoes last month, they’ll be starting to poke through the soil—keep an eye on them and make sure they’re protected from any lingering frosts.

If you’re growing fruit, it’s time to prune your apple and pear trees, as well as other fruit bushes like blackberries and raspberries. This will encourage strong growth and a better yield when the summer months arrive.

Planning Ahead

As the soil begins to warm, it’s also time to think about companion planting. By pairing certain crops together, such as tomatoes with basil or beans with corn, you can improve growth and deter pests naturally. This is a good time to plan out your crop rotation for the coming year to maintain soil health and prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

April is a month of growth and opportunity in the garden. It’s time to get your hands dirty, plant with confidence, and look forward to the rewards that will come in the warmer months.

Let’s get ready for a thriving season!