April marks a pivotal moment in the gardening year when soil warmth and increasing daylight invite you to get hands-on and set your outdoor space up for a vibrant growing season ahead. This month is all about getting ahead of weeds while they’re small, hardening off tender seedlings started indoors, and moving on to direct sowing and planting many cool-season crops outdoors. Feeding your plants with organic fertiliser supports the rapid growth they’re gearing up for, while thoughtful protection—such as frost covers for cold nights and nets to guard brassicas and leeks from pests—helps young plants thrive. It’s also a great time to tend to beloved crops like tomatoes and strawberries, and to support beneficial insects by encouraging flowers that attract pollinators.

April marks the thrilling moment when your vegetable garden truly springs to life. As soil temperatures warm and the danger of frost diminishes, this month offers a prime opportunity to sow seeds and plant out a wide range of crops that will sustain your harvest through spring and into summer. For gardeners of all skill levels, April is ideal for both indoor seed-starting—think leeks, brassicas, lettuce, tomatoes and members of the cucurbit family—and direct sowing outdoors of cool-season favourites like broad beans, peas, carrots, radishes, rocket, spinach, beetroot and salsify. It’s also a great time to transplant hardy seedlings such as lettuce, cabbage and leeks, and to set out bulbs and roots like garlic, onions and potatoes once they’ve been hardened off. With thoughtful timing and a little soil preparation, you’ll be well on your way to a productive growing season.