All Sowings I'm Undertaking in April
Get Ready to Sow Seeds Like a Gardening Math Whiz
April's the month gardeners trade their green thumbs for calculators and organizational skills, navigating the cramped space for all their seedlings that need to be potted on schedule. It's also time to kick-off succession seeding, both indoors and out. Succession seeding is the Secret Sauce of home-grown seeds: It enables planting one or two varieties instead of the entire six-pack you'd grab at the nursery. Fill a mixed tray with veggies or herbs now, then sow another one a few weeks later. This helps alleviate space constraints in your growing area.
Even if your seeds haven't sprouted yet, it's not too late! And there's nothing wrong with buying starts or waiting for freebies. If you're growing your own seeds, though, opt for seedling mix, not potting soil.
Planting Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplant
Peppers should be planted by March, so this is your last chance to get your own started. Tomatoes and eggplant are a bit more forgiving, but peppers need a long lead-time; sow tomatoes and eggplant seeds by April 15. As they grow, be ruthless in thinning seedlings and discarding those with any signs of disease or distress; losing all your plants due to sickness is a possibility, and illnesses can quickly spread in a confined space.
Outdoor Vegetable Succession Seeding
By now, you should be sowing peas outside. Set a calendar alert to plant radishes, carrots, beets, green onions, and lettuce every two weeks. Succession planting means you don't need massive quantities to go in the ground every week. Consider how many radishes you'll actually consume over a couple weeks and plant accordingly; variety guarantees novelty. Carrots are a long-term investment, but planting them now, in succession, takes advantage of rain for easier germination. Make short rows for flexibility. You should start seeing peas pop up quickly, and a bi-weekly planting schedule through April will give you peas until the weather gets too warm.
Cucumbers, Squash, and Melons
Wait till the end of the month to begin cucurbits and squash indoors. With so many cucumbers to consider—pickling, slicing, and mini sour gherkins called cucamelons—there's something for every palate. I find that pickling cucumbers benefit from succession planting, so I plant a series of seeds at the end of April and again at the beginning of May. This allows for a consistent summer harvest. Pumpkins don't require the same succession; they're usually prolific on their own, but plant them inside in late April. Melons, cucumbers, and squash are all quick germinators and grow rapidly, so sow them close to the transplant date.
Remember, one zucchini plant feeds a small army, so restrain yourself from planting a horde of them to avoid spending July giving away giant squash.
Onions and Leeks
There are three kinds of onions to consider at this time: keeping onions, which last all winter if stored properly, and are available as sets at the nursery; scallions, or green onions, which can be seeded directly in the ground whenever you want; and leeks, which have a long growing season and make excellent winter and fall harvests. Leeks are easily grown from seed, so sow them in early April. They should be started in bunch trays instead of individual cells. Once they reach six inches in height, start cutting them back to three inches to encourage new growth. When they're ready to plant, divide them carefully and transplant outdoors.
Floral Delights
While it's too late for snapdragons, it's time to sow marigolds, nasturtium, and sweet alyssum. These are key components of your garden's pest-prevention program, as they repel insects and can be planted everywhere. Overseed them now, both outdoors and indoors, for your first succession of annual flowers, except sunflowers.
Growing herbs from seed is a smart choice, as they're pricey at the nursery and grocery store. Start seeds for cilantro, basil, and dill now. Remember, dill is a pest deterrent, so sow more than you need alongside marigolds and sweet alyssum. Dill, cilantro, and parsley all bolt, so succession seed them in mid-April to prolong their production. This is also a great time to consider less common herbs like chamomile, lemongrass, lemon verbena, and chives.
- When sowing seeds outdoors, set a calendar alert to plant radishes, carrots, beets, green onions, and lettuce every two weeks, starting with peas in April, for succession planting that benefits from space constraints in your growing area.
- For those growing their own cucumbers, squash, and melons, wait till the end of April to begin seeding indoors, as they are quick germinators and grow rapidly, allowing for a consistent harvest throughout the summer.
- Leeks, on the other hand, have a long growing season and make excellent winter and fall harvests. Sow them in early April and start cutting them back to three inches to encourage new growth, before transplanting outdoors.
