How to Vegetable Garden in April

Home gardening and in particular vegetable gardening has never been so popular. Here are a few hints and tips about how to vegetable garden in the month of April. The mention of April conjures up the thought of spring and the fresh green appearing everywhere encourages us to get our hands into the garden soil. If you have not bought your vegetable seeds do not despair as many shops and Garden Centres will still have seeds for sale. To catch up with certain varieties of vegetables you will be able to buy vegetable plants but do make sure that they are or have been hardened off properly before planting out in the vegetable garden.

Growing Potatoes

Wilja Potatoes

If the weather was kind to you there is a possibility that you may have been able to get started growing potatoes in March and in which case your potatoes may be ready for their first earthing up. This process is essential to keep light off your tubers which would result in them turning green. Earthing up should start as soon as the shoots are showing through the soil, especially if there is a risk of frost. Eventually the ridge will be 10 to 12 inches high. An alternative method of growing is under black polythene which prevents light reaching the tubers and therefore earthing up is not necessary. If severe frost is forecast supplement the black polythene by adding a material such as horticultural fleece for insulation.

In the first half of April plant out your chitted second early potatoes. In the second half of the month plant out your chitted maincrop potatoes.

Plant your potatoes by digging out deep trenches or alternatively dig individual planting holes. Whichever of the techniques you utilise add a 2 inch (5cm) mound of soil above soil level. Another popular way is to plant the tubers through slits in black polythene that has been spread over the ground to help to warm up the soil and act as mulch. If space is at a premium or the most suitable aspect is on a hard landscaped area try growing in tubs, large pots or old compost bags. Special kits can be purchased along with compost and fertiliser.

Shallots

Plant Shallots into the vegetable patch if not already planted in March.

Growing Garlic

Plant out garlic cloves but remember that it is better to buy specially prepared bulbs.

Onions

Plant out onion sets or onions sown from seed earlier in the season as soon as the soil is fit to do so. Check regularly to make sure they have not been pulled onto the surface by birds.
Remember that to prevent diseases do not use ground that has been used to grow onions in the previous three years.

Asparagus Growing

Plant asparagus crowns in a well prepared asparagus bed. The bed will be sustain the asparagus plants for many years so it is wise to incorporate plenty of organic matter and ensure that a deep, friable bed results. Resist the temptation to cut spears in the first season, allow the crowns to get established so that they will serve you better in years to come. Hard to resist I know.

Growing Tomatoes

Whether grown in a greenhouse or out in the garden tomatoes are tasty additions to the kitchen.

If you have not sown tomatoes yet there is still time to do so in April although the crop will be ripe later in the season. Pot up tomato seedlings into 3 inch pots once they have developed true leaves above the seed leaves. Next step with tomatoes plant into the greenhouse border, pot on into larger pots or growing-bags or use a combination of both of the latter by planting into bottomless pots placed on top of a growbag. Alternatively buy plants and pot on when necessary. When buying plants only buy those labelled with the variety so that you know what to expect at fruiting time and do not buy any that look under stress or are “very leggy”.

When to plant tomatoes depends upon your climate and whether you are growing outside or have a greenhouse or warm conservatory to bring the plants on during the colder months.

For more detailed tomato growing tips read Best Tomatoes – Growing Tips

Broad Beans

Broad Beans sown in modules or pots can be transplanted into the vegetable garden border if the soil has warmed and is not wet and heavy.

Vegetable Seed to Sow in April

The following vegetable seeds can be sown in April in a well prepared seed bed.

Beetroot
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Kohl Rabi
Leeks
Lettuce
Peas
Perpetual Spinach
Pickling Onions
Radish
Spring Onions
Sprouting Broccoli
Summer Cauliflower
Swiss Chard
Turnip

The rows of germinated seedlings should be thinned out when large enough to handle.

If growing seeds of the following it is best to sow the seeds in a frost free greenhouse or on a warm windowsill in the house:

Aubergines
Celery
Cucumbers
Globe Artichokes
Salads
Sweet Peppers
Tomatoes

Vegetable Crops to Harvest in April

Some spring vegetables, especially those protected by horticultural fleece or grown under cloches, will be ready to harvest. In other cases the last of the winter vegetables will be ready to eat this month.

Chicory
Jerusalem artichokes
Kale
Leeks
Radishes
Spring Cabbages
Spring Cauliflowers
Spring Onions
Sprouting Broccoli
Winter Salads

Pests

Protect both stored vegetables and newly sown, especially those under cloches and fleece, from mice.

As ever, beware of slug as they also enjoy the fresh spring greens.

A flock of Pigeons can strip your brassicas before you know what has happened. They can destroy a crop so protect using your favoured method, netting, fleece or perhaps recycled CDs or DVDs swinging in the breeze.

Disease

Keep your greenhouse and staging as clean as possible. The damp conditions from watering combined with warmth (and maybe lack of ventilation) can result in moulds.

The same cleanliness is required if you are lucky enough to have space for a dedicated vegetable store.

Take any yellowing leaves off brassicas as soon as they are seen which will prevent the spread of grey mould and brassica downy mildew. Remember that these leaves should not be composted as the normal domestic compost bin or heap does not reach a high enough temperature to kill the spores.

Vegetable Garden Maintenance

Weeds will also be growing as the temperatures rise and growing conditions become ideal. Keep your hoe sharpened and busy between rows of vegetable plants to keep on top of the task.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 6:42 am and is filed under how to vegetable garden. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

5 Responses to “How to Vegetable Garden in April”

How to Vegetable Garden in March | How to Vegetable Garden Says:
March 10th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
[...] How to Vegetable Garden in April Share and Enjoy: [...]
Garden Sheds Says:
March 22nd, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Growing potatoes is one of my favourite items to grow, just because they are so rewarding when the time comes to dig up a plant and ‘hunt’ for all the little ‘taters in the ground.
brassica crops Says:
April 4th, 2010 at 1:50 am
[...] … On the other hand, some of the crops I've been transplanting are on the edge of making it …How to Vegetable Garden in April | How to Vegetable GardenHome gardening and in particular vegetable gardening has never been so popular. Here are a few hints [...]
How to Vegetable Garden in May | How to Vegetable Garden Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 11:15 am
[...] How to Vegetable Garden in April [...]
My Garden is My Space: The Joy of a Spring Garden and a New Nasty in the Greenhouse Says:
May 28th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
[...] How to Vegetable Garden in April – Seasonal hints and tips on how to vegetable garden in April [...]

How to Vegetable Garden in April

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