What to Plant in April in the UK

April is when UK gardens really get going. The soil is warming, the days are long, and there’s suddenly loads you can sow outside. If March was the warm-up, April is the main event.

Here’s every veg, flower, herb and fruit you can sow or plant this month. It follows on from our March planting guide and leads into what to plant in May. For the whole year at a glance, see our UK vegetable planting calendar.

Outdoor vegetable sowings

Carrots, beetroot, radish, turnips, salads, peas and broad beans can all be sown outside now. Seedlings come up faster than in March thanks to the warmer soil.

Root vegetables

Carrots are the classic April sowing. Sow thinly, 1cm deep, in rows 15cm apart. Cover straight away with fine insect mesh to keep off carrot fly, which sniffs out carrots and flies low to the ground. Thin seedlings to about 5cm apart.

Beetroot sown now gives you roots from late June. Each “seed” is really a little cluster, so you’ll get a few seedlings from each. Sow about 2-3cm deep in rows 20cm apart, then thin to one seedling per spot. Bolt-resistant varieties like Boltardy are ideal for early sowings.

Radish and turnips are quick and love April. Radishes are up in days and ready in about a month. Sow a short row every couple of weeks for a steady supply. Turnips take a little longer and like cooler weather.

Parsnips can still go in early in April if you missed March. Always use fresh seed, as old parsnip seed doesn’t come up well. It’s slow to appear, so sow a few radishes along the row to mark it.

Leafy greens and salads

Sow lettuce, spinach, rocket and chard straight into beds any time in April. They grow quickly in the warming soil. Lettuce sown in early April gives cutting leaves by mid-May.

Sow spring onions 1cm deep in rows 10cm apart. Sow a fresh row every three weeks until August for a steady supply.

Perpetual spinach is easier than true spinach from April sowings. It’s much less likely to bolt in warm weather and keeps giving leaves for months. Sow 2cm deep, 15cm apart.

Handy tip: Sow salads in short rows, about 1m long. That’s roughly a week’s eating. Sow another short row a fortnight later, and by June you’ll have a steady supply without a glut.

Peas and beans

If you didn’t sow peas and broad beans in March, April is your last good chance. Sow peas 5cm deep and 5cm apart in a flat-bottomed trench, and put in pea sticks or netting straight away. Broad beans go 5cm deep, 20cm apart, in double rows.

Runner beans and French beans have to stay indoors for now. Sow them one per 9cm pot on a warm windowsill from mid-April, ready to plant out after the last frost. For more on growing veg from scratch, see our guide to starting a vegetable garden.

Is it too late to plant onion sets in April?

No, early to mid-April is still a good time. The RHS onion guide says sets usually go in during early to mid-spring, ready to harvest from July to September.

Push sets into loose soil so the tip just shows. Space them 10-15cm apart in rows 20-30cm apart. Wider spacing gives bigger bulbs. Heat-treated sets are less likely to bolt if April turns chilly. Birds love pulling sets out, so cover the row with fleece or netting for the first couple of weeks. Shallot sets can go in early in April too. Garlic planted this late usually gives small bulbs, so plant it in autumn next time.

Hold back: Don’t sow runner beans, French beans or courgettes outside in April. One frosty night kills the seedlings. Wait until late May for all tender crops.

Sowing carrots in neat drills. A string line keeps rows straight, and a cover keeps carrot fly off.

Indoor sowings for April

A few important crops need starting indoors now, ready to go out after the last frost.

Courgettes and squash

Sow courgettes, butternut squash and pumpkins indoors from April. Use 9cm pots and push each seed in on its edge, about 2cm deep. Somewhere warm gets them up within a week or so. Don’t sow too early, as they grow fast and get pot-bound if they’re stuck indoors too long.

Two courgette plants are plenty for most families. Squash and pumpkins need lots of room, about 1.5m between plants, once they go outside.

Sweetcorn

Sow sweetcorn in deep modules or root trainers in mid-April, one seed per cell, about 4cm deep. It hates having its roots disturbed, so deep pots give stronger plants. Sweetcorn is pollinated by the wind, so plant it in a block rather than a single row.

Cucumbers

Start cucumbers indoors in late April somewhere really warm. Sow two seeds per pot and keep the stronger one. They need steady warmth. Greenhouse types are the most reliable in the UK, though outdoor ridge cucumbers do well in the south.

Tender flowers

Start cosmos, zinnias, dahlias from seed and nicotiana on a warm windowsill. They need a few weeks indoors before going out after the last frost. Cosmos is a joy. Pinch out the top when it’s about 30cm tall for a bushier plant with more flowers.

April seedlings in the greenhouse. This is the month to start courgettes, squash and sweetcorn indoors.

Potatoes

April is the main potato planting month for most of the UK.

Second early potatoes

Plant second earlies early in April. Set them 15cm deep, 35cm apart, in rows 65cm apart. Charlotte, Kestrel and Maris Peer are popular choices, ready from summer. For timings across the UK, see our guide on when to plant potatoes.

Maincrop potatoes

Maincrops go in from mid to late April. Space them 40cm apart in rows 75cm apart. They take longest but give the biggest harvest. Maris Piper, King Edward and Desiree are kitchen favourites, and Sarpo Mira is a good pick where blight is a problem.

Earthing up

First earlies planted in March will be poking through by now. Earth up when the shoots are 15-20cm tall by drawing soil up round them, leaving just the tops showing. This stops the potatoes turning green and gives you a bigger crop. Do it again as they grow through. Our potato growing guide covers the rest.

Planting second early potatoes in a trench, about 15cm deep with the shoots pointing up.

Flowers to sow and plant in April

Hardy annuals, summer bulbs and potted perennials can all go outside now.

Hardy annuals for direct sowing

These cope with a light frost and grow happily from April sowings:

• Calendula: scatter the seed and rake it in. It self-seeds happily and is one of the best bee-friendly plants around.
• Cornflowers: sow where they’re to flower and thin to 20cm apart. Blue, pink and white.
• Poppies: California and Shirley poppies both do well. Mix the tiny seed with sand to spread it evenly.
• Nigella (love-in-a-mist): scatter it and thin to 15cm apart. It doesn’t like being moved.
• Sweet peas: if you didn’t start them in March, sow them outside now. Pinch out the tip at about 10cm for bushier plants. They’re a must for any cottage garden.

Hardy annuals like calendula and cornflowers can be sown straight into the border now. Scatter the seed, rake it in lightly and thin later.

Summer-flowering bulbs

Plant gladioli corms from early April, 10cm deep and 15cm apart. Plant a few more every couple of weeks until May for flowers all summer.

Plant dahlia tubers from mid-April in the south and late April in the north, 10-15cm deep. They like rich soil and a sunny, sheltered spot. In cold, exposed gardens, wait until May and watch out for slugs on young shoots.

Lilies planted now flower from July. Plant them three times as deep as the bulb is tall, in groups of three or five.

Can I plant bedding plants in April?

Hardy bedding, yes. Half-hardy bedding, not yet. Pansies, violas, bellis, primulas and wallflowers can go out in April. Petunias, begonias, lobelia, busy lizzies and geraniums need to stay under cover until the frosts are over.

Garden centres sell summer bedding from early April, long before it’s safe outside. Plug plants bought now need potting on and a frost-free windowsill or greenhouse for a few weeks. In mild southern and coastal gardens, half-hardy bedding can sometimes go out in early May. Elsewhere, wait until the second half of May and harden plants off first. Keep some fleece handy for containers if a cold, clear night is forecast.

Hardy bedding like pansies, violas and wallflowers is fine outside in April. Keep petunias and other half-hardy plants under cover until late May.

Perennials and shrubs

April is a lovely time to plant potted perennials and shrubs. The soil is warm enough for roots to grow and spring showers help with watering. Water well when you plant and mulch round the base with garden compost.

Herbs to sow and plant in April

Most kitchen herbs can start outside from April.

Sow outdoors

• Parsley: sow 1cm deep. It’s slow to come up, so soak the seed overnight first.
• Coriander: sow where it’s to grow, as it bolts if moved. Keep it cool and moist.
• Dill: sow where it’s to grow. It hates being moved too.
• Chives: sow, or split up an existing clump.

Sow indoors

• Basil: sprinkle on the surface of the compost somewhere warm and bright. Don’t cover the seed.

Plant out

Potted rosemary, thyme, sage and oregano can go in the garden now. They want sun and free-draining soil. Mix grit into heavy clay soil before planting.

Rosemary, thyme, sage and oregano want sun and free-draining soil. Mix grit into heavy soil before planting so they don’t sit wet.

Fruit

Potted strawberries, fruit trees and fruit bushes can all go in this month.

Strawberries

Plant potted strawberries now if you didn’t plant bare-root ones in March. Space them 35cm apart. Elsanta and Florence are reliable croppers. Our strawberry growing guide has everything else.

Fruit trees

Potted fruit trees can go in any time in April. Bare-root trees need planting by March, but potted ones aren’t in such a hurry. Water well after planting and stake firmly.

Soft fruit

Plant potted gooseberry, blackcurrant and redcurrant bushes. Prune gooseberries to an open goblet shape, taking out crossing branches so air can flow through. That helps keep mildew away.

Prune gooseberries to an open goblet with a clear centre. Letting air flow through the bush helps keep mildew away.

April planting calendar

This week-by-week plan suits most of England and Wales. In northern England and Scotland, push outdoor sowings back by a week or two.

When is the last frost in the UK?

Usually between mid-April and late May, depending on where you live. Southern and coastal gardens tend to see their last frost earliest.

The Met Office explains that the last air frost is often before the end of April in southern and coastal areas. Further north and on high ground, frosts often carry on into May and sometimes June. Clear, still nights are the riskiest, and frost pockets at the bottom of slopes stay colder for longer. That’s why tender crops are best kept indoors until late May, however warm April days feel.

Regional differences

Outdoor sowing starts a few weeks later in Scotland than in southern England. Adjust the timings above to suit your area.

Southern England

The warmest Aprils in the UK. Everything above can start from early April, and maincrop potatoes go in from mid-April. Frost is still possible until mid-May, so keep fleece handy.

Midlands and central England

Start outdoor sowings from the second week of April, and maincrop potatoes from late April. Clay soil can still be cold and sticky after a wet winter. Raised beds warm up faster.

Northern England

April is the real start of the season here. Do most outdoor sowing from mid-April. First earlies can still go in if you missed March. Protect early sowings with fleece or cloches.

Scotland

Most outdoor sowing starts in late April. Concentrate on sowing in the greenhouse or on the windowsill. First earlies go in from mid-April in sheltered lowland gardens. In exposed and highland gardens, wait until May for most outdoor jobs.

Common mistakes with April sowing

Putting tender plants out too soon

The big April mistake is planting tender crops outside because it feels warm. April days can be lovely, but nights can still freeze. Runner beans, French beans, courgettes, tomatoes and peppers all die in frost. Keep them indoors until late May.

Letting seed trays dry out

April sun is stronger than you’d think, and trays on sunny windowsills dry out fast. Check them morning and evening. Standing trays in water for a while is a gentle way to water small seeds.

Forgetting about slugs

Slugs wake up in April and love fresh seedlings. Protect outdoor sowings with beer traps or nematodes. Our guide on slug control has more ideas.

Leaving seedlings in small pots too long

Pot seedlings on when their roots fill the pot. A courgette left too long in a small pot gets stunted. Gently tip a pot each week and check the roots.

Skipping hardening off

Anything started indoors needs hardening off before it goes out for good. Start in late April for plants going out in late May. Put them outside for a few hours a day, then a bit longer each day, over a week or two. Our guide on how to sow seeds indoors explains it all.

Next up, see what to plant in May, when tender crops finally go outside.

Frequently asked questions

What vegetables can I plant in April UK?

Lots! Sow carrots, beetroot, turnips, radish, spinach and chard outdoors. Start courgettes, squash and sweetcorn indoors. Plant second early and maincrop potatoes. Sow peas and broad beans outside if you didn’t get them in during March.

Is April too early to plant tomatoes outside?

Yes, April is too early. Nights are still cold across most of the UK, and one frost kills tomato plants. Keep them indoors or in a heated greenhouse. Plant them out from late May, after hardening them off for a week or two. Our guide on when to plant tomatoes has more.

Can I sow grass seed in April?

Yes, April is a great time. The soil is warming up and spring showers keep the seed damp. Rake the soil to a fine crumb, scatter the seed at the rate on the box, and keep off it while it gets established.

What flowers should I plant in April?

Sow hardy annuals like calendula, cornflowers and poppies straight outdoors. Start half-hardy ones like cosmos and zinnias indoors. Plant summer bulbs such as gladioli and dahlias. Sweet peas can go outside now if you didn’t start them in March.

When should I plant potatoes in April?

Second earlies go in early in April, and maincrops from mid to late April. In northern England and Scotland, first earlies can still go in early April if you missed March. Wait until the soil has warmed a little and isn’t soggy.

Can I plant runner beans in April?

Sow them indoors in April, but don’t plant them outside yet. Runner beans can’t take any frost. Sow one seed per small pot on a warm windowsill. Plant them out in late May or early June, once the frosts are over where you live.