If you are wondering what to do in the kitchen garden in April, we’ve put this list together to keep you on track during a hectic time of year for gardeners. There is an abundance of seeds to sow as the soil is heating up plus plenty of hardening off and even planting out (although beware of late frosts depending on where you are in the UK), there will be deadheading and new bed building, but amongst all of the tasks to do in the garden, remember to take it all in and enjoy the delightful bird song and be amazed at the new growth all around you.
Growing fruit in the kitchen garden
With a chance of late frosts, it’s essential to keep some horticultural fleece nearby so you can wrap your fruit trees that are in blossom. Protecting the buds and blossoms will ensure they don’t get frostbite and go on to produce fruits. Mulch fruit with some well-rotted organic matter but leave space around the trunk, and if you are growing in a container, top-dress that to replenish the soil.
Homegrown vegetables in the kitchen garden
It’s definitely the month to get weeding before they take over your beds. Don’t forget to know your weeds because many are edible, others can make natural plant feed, and many can still be composted. You can also warm up your soil to sow earlier by covering it over with some horticultural fleece. This can help to extend the growing season. If you want more growing space, it’s an excellent time to make new beds on a sunny spring day and mulch your soil ready for the growing season.
Sowing seeds in the kitchen garden
Sowing seeds is a cheap and enjoyable way to grow vegetables and edible flowers. April is a big month for sowing, try:
- squash,
- sunflowers,
- marigolds,
- courgette,
- celery,
- kale,
- beans.
The weather is warm enough for plenty of seed trays full of seedlings which will soon shoot up and catch up if you are concerned that you haven’t sown earlier in the year. If you have a sunny windowsill or a greenhouse, even cold frame seeds can be grown in there, but if not, direct sowing will work for many seeds such as calendula, beetroot, carrots, radish and Swiss chard.
What you can do in the kitchen garden greenhouse
If you have a greenhouse, make sure it is cleaned thoroughly, not just the glass but the staging, in the grooves and underneath. You’ll want to get rid of any overwintering pests and prevent diseases before you grow plants inside. If you use your greenhouse for storage, make sure everything is tidied, and you can access it easily when all of your plants are taking over.
Visit us for spring in store so you can pick from our seed range, pots and mulches to help bring your garden to life.