April is here. It’s beginning to get a little bit warmer and so this is the first month I have wanted to get out in my garden. I am a fair weather gardener and if it is raining I ‘aint interested!
Most seasoned gardeners probably started planting seeds way back in February but that takes a lot of foresight. In February I am still curled up on the sofa, under a blanket, summer vegetables are the last thing on my mind. It is only when spring is here that I start to get interested in my garden again.
So if you’re like me and you enjoy pottering about in the garden but you haven’t so much as looked at your garden since last October, let alone done anything to it. I am here to say it’s ok and you can still catch up. It may not be the official line that horticulturalists take but it works and this summer you’ll have some wonderful organic vegetables to feed your family.
So here’s a list of all the jobs I did in my garden this April:::
– Trim back any established plants or bushes that need it
I tend to completely neglect my garden over winter so come spring everything is looking a little worst for wear. I like to tidy up any plants or trees that are looking straggly so that it all looks nice for the summer.
– Buy your plants from the garden centre
If you have decided to buy plants and not grow from seed (for most things you are a little late now) you will need to buy them from a garden centre. Now is the best time to buy your plants as the garden centres will be fully stocked and you will have a lot more choice. Even if you cant plant your vegetable plants out yet you should buy them and store them in a greenhouse at home. If you leave it till later in the season you may find the garden centres will run out. You don’t need a big or expensive green house. I have a small garden shelf and this works fine.
– Top up compost
I grow my vegetables in raised beds so every year I like to top up the beds with some fresh compost. I just think this puts some nutrients back into the soil and helps my vegetables get the best start.
– Buy Grow Bag
I plan to grow my tomato plants in a grow bag as I have done for the last 3 years. I find that this works really well and gives me lots of lovely tomatoes. If it aint broke don’t fix it!
– Plant out your vegetable plants
When you should plant out your vegetable plants depends on where you live and when the last frost is. I found this fabulous website www.gardenfocused.co.uk. You type in your postcode and a list of vegetables that you will be growing and it tells you when you should plant out each vegetable plant. By April quite a few plants will be ready to plant out. In my garden I have planted out, mangetout, kale, carrots, beetroot, leeks and spinach.
That’s it! That’s all the Garden Jobs that need to be done this April. I filmed an April in the Garden video over on my YouTube channel. You can see how my garden is looking this month. Be sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss May’s list of jobs to do in the garden.
14 Comments
Rebecca U
20th April 2016 at 1:34 PMwe were out in the garden yesterday planting courgettes, spring onions and lettuces for the season. I'm excited to see what grows!
Sarah Cantwell
21st April 2016 at 7:41 AMIt's such an exciting time isn't it? I can't wait to see Rosalie's face when the vegetables start to grow and we can pick them! Xx
Harriet from Toby & Roo
20th April 2016 at 6:37 PMWe've been in the garden all day! It's been so lovely here, which makes it ideal for planting veggies with the kiddies! H x
Sarah Cantwell
21st April 2016 at 7:40 AMI hope this lovely weather lasts! I'm so ready for summer. xx
Zoe Forde
21st April 2016 at 7:46 AMOoh this looks great! I love that you are growing your own veg – wish I had a garden as it's something I've always wanted to do 🙂
Sarah Cantwell
21st April 2016 at 8:42 AMDo you have any outside space? It's amazing what you can grow in tiny spaces. You can even grow veggies in window boxes xx
Alice & Amelia New Young Mum
21st April 2016 at 12:18 PMSome great tips, we've just started doing some bits with our garden. Replanted our herb garden I really want to get some veggies planted and some more flowers but it's just finding the time. Look forward to see what your garden ends up like this year 🙂
Sarah Cantwell
21st April 2016 at 1:35 PMThank you honey. It's the planting out that takes the time but once their out, just a few minutes of watering every few days, good luck with your garden xx
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes
21st April 2016 at 4:44 PMI really should get out in the garden and do something. You're putting me to shame!
Sarah Cantwell
22nd April 2016 at 1:48 PMYou can grow lots of yummy vegetables for your gorgeous recipes! Xx
Gigglesinloveable
22nd April 2016 at 10:16 AMI would love to have a garden but luckily Lil's Nanny has a garden which we use at the weekends x
Sarah Cantwell
22nd April 2016 at 2:00 PMAw lovely, I can't wait till the weather warms up and we can get outside! Xx
Hannah - Budding Smiles
23rd April 2016 at 5:38 AMWe're just about to move house and our new garden is too small for rhe huge greenhouse and veg patch we currently have. Last year we were out doing loads by April so it feels a bit odd this year. Best of luck with yours!xx
Sarah Cantwell
23rd April 2016 at 8:28 AMAw hopefully when you moved you'll be able to get a small gardening area set up. I only have a tiny growing space so it is possible! Xx