You’ve got back to the garden and wonder what to plant in April in the vegetable patch without delay? April is that pivotal month where the soil warms up, days get longer, and each well-chosen sowing can offer you bountiful harvests right from the beginning of summer. However, planting randomly wastes time and space.
Good news, April allows you to fill almost the entire vegetable patch, provided you respect the climate of your region and the sensitivity of each vegetable family. Between direct sowings, planting of seedlings, and still sheltered crops, you have a real margin to organize your season. The right timing changes everything.
Root vegetables to plant in April so you don’t miss the season
To make the most of April, start with root vegetables, a part of the vegetables to plant in April that enjoy cool temperatures. You can sow carrots, radishes, turnips, red beets, parsnips, salsifies, scorzonera, and tuberous parsley in all of France, in shallow rows in well-crumbled soil. Remember to sow radishes every 15 days to stagger the harvests throughout spring.
Regarding planting, April is also suitable for late potato varieties, to be buried in compost-rich soil, with 60 cm between rows and 40 cm between each tuber. It’s also the time to plant young asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, onions, and shallots, Gamm vert advises in well-marked rows to facilitate earthing up asparagus and watering passages.
Lettuces, cabbages, and leafy vegetables to sow in April
Leafy vegetables benefit from the soft light of April. Spring lettuces, summer lettuces, mesclun, arugula, orache, chards or Swiss chards, fennel, and kohlrabi are sown in place throughout France. Chinese cabbages, white cabbages, and Brussels sprouts also appreciate direct sowing, while celery on ribs is better sown under a cloche or tunnel to get off to a good start.
If you’re short on time, save it with ready-to-plant seedlings: spring cabbages and summer lettuces are planted directly in April, with ample spacing to limit diseases. As for edible flowers, you can sow cauliflower in a seedbed and plant artichoke suckers directly in well-nourished, deep compost soil.
Tomatoes, zucchinis, legumes, and herbs in April
For fruiting vegetables that love warmth, April remains a preparation month. Tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, melons, cucumbers, pickles, and other cucurbits are sown under a cloche or heated shelter in all regions, with tomato plants sown in March being able to be transplanted into pots and kept warm and in the light. Zucchini is sown in place only in mild climates, elsewhere in pots kept warm.
And to quickly fill the vegetable patch, think about legumes and herbs. Broad beans are sown in place throughout France, then earthed up when they reach 20 cm high, while peas are sown under a cloche or tunnel. Beans are only sown outdoors in Mediterranean climates, whereas sweet corn can be planted when the soil is well warmed up. As for herbs, dill is sown in place in mild climates, while parsley, arugula, chervil, and basil are sown in pots kept warm or in a sheltered corner, not forgetting to plant a bed of chives, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, sage, and savory to have fresh bouquets all summer long.
