APRIL 2024

JOBS IN THE GARDEN FOR APRIL

 1:        Now is a good time to sow colourful half hardy annuals for summer flowering. Sow either in

a glasshouse or on a warm light windowsill. Some annuals like Calendula, Cosmos and

Nigella may be sown directly into their flowering positions during April.

2:     When early flowering shrubs such as Forsythia and Ribes (flowering currant) have finished

flowering is a good time to prune them by cutting back to induce new young shoots for next

year’s display.

3 :   All houseplants which are waking up as the days lengthen will benefit from potting on or if

already in a large pot by topdressing i.e. removing the top inch or so of compost and

replacing it with fresh potting compost.

4:      As Tulips and Daffodils finish flowering remove the flower head but not the stem to allow

goodness to do down into the bulb. Do not cut any leaves but let these die down naturally.

5:      Make successional sowings of hardy vegetables such as Beetroot, Carrots, Lettuce, Radish

and Spring Onions now outside.

6:    Tender vegetables such as Marrows, Squashes and Pumpkins may be sown now but sow

these in a protected environment. Sow the seed individually in small pots and place each

seed on its edge, not flat.

7:     Sow Brassicas such as Purple Sprouting, Cauliflowers and Cabbages for planting out in June

or July for next year’s crop.

8:    Plant out second early and maincrop Potatoes during this month.

9:   Many will have been given Amaryllis bulbs over Christmas and the new year. Now they

have finished flowering, remove the dead flower heads but not the stem and feed every two

weeks with Tomato fertilizer to build up the bulb for next year. Always remember the bulb

must be kept in full sun to ripen and set the flower buds for a future display.

10 :      Penstemmons should be cut back now to induce base growth which will give you strong

flowering stems later in the year.

11 ;       Broad Beans sown now in the soil outside will produce a crop later in the summer.

12:      Tomatoes sown now will produce plants for planting outside in late May for Midsummer and

early Autumn cropping.

13:    If you wish to increase your houseplant numbers, now is a good time to take cuttings. Use a

gritty multi-purpose compost and after watering, place in a polythene bag, but keep out of

direct sunlight.

14 :     Many herbaceous perennials can be propagated now by either dividing the clump into small

sections or by taking basal cuttings. Phlox, Lupins and Delphiniums are amongst the best for

this method.