April Gardening Tasks for a Bumper Harvest
Planting and Sowing
April is a prime time for planting and sowing. Get your seedlings started indoors or outdoors, depending on the type of vegetable. Climbing crops like beans need support, so build structures now. Plant potatoes in trenches or grow bags, and add onion sets to your garden.
Growing from Scratch
Start seeds for vegetables like leeks, which can be harvested over a long period. Leeks prefer clay soil, so if you have that type of soil, now is a good time to plant them.
Weed Control
Stay on top of weeding to prevent problems later on. Hoe every few days and remove any perennial weeds. This will give your vegetables more space to grow and produce bigger yields.
Watering
Check your plants daily to see if they need watering. Push your finger into the soil to feel for moisture. If it’s dry at the bottom, your plants need water. Water in the morning, so the soil can dry out before nightfall.
Hardening Off
Towards the end of April, start hardening off tender vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. Leave them outside during the day, but bring them back indoors at night if the temperature drops below 6°C.
Supporting Bees
Create a bee-friendly garden by providing nesting sites and planting nectar-rich flowers. Solitary bees are important pollinators, and they begin to emerge in April.
