What to plant in April

In the vegetable garden, crops such as carrots and peas can be sown direct outside, while tender crops like sweetcorn and courgettes should be sown under cover and kept in either a greenhouse or sunny windowsill before planting out the following month. April is also the month for planting potatoes, as well as onions sets, shallots and garlic, and Jerusalem artichokes.

Many vegetables can be grown in pots, including carrots, salads and radish. Even if you have a dedicated veg patch, it's still worth growing some extras in pots too, near the house for easy picking.

In the ornamental garden, annual climbers like canary creeper (Tropaeolum peregrinum) and Spanish flag (Ipomoea lobata) can be sown now for summer container displays, while others like cosmos and field poppies can be sown to fill gaps in borders.

We've picked a selection of vegetable and flowers to plant in April.

Vegetables to plant in April

Aubergines, chillies and tomatoes

April is your last chance to sow aubergines, chillies and tomatoes, which need a long growing season to do well. Keep them on a heated propagator to speed up germination or, if time is tight, wait until next month and buy ready-to-plant plug plants from the garden centre.

• Buy aubergine seeds from: Suttons, Thompson & Morgan, Dobies
• Buy chilli seeds from: Suttons, Dobies
• Buy tomato seeds from: Suttons, Thompson & Morgan, Dobies, Gardening Direct, Crocus

Beetroot

Beetroot is an easy crop to grow, making it ideal for beginners. It will grow in any fertile, well drained soil and also does well in pots (in pots, choose varieties that are less prone to bolting as these will tolerate the drier conditions of a pot better than others). Follow the spacing instructions on the packet and thin the seedlings to about 10cm when they are around 3cm high. Harvest when the beetroots have reached the size of a golf ball.

• Buy beetroot seeds from: Suttons, Gardening Direct, Dobies, Thompson & Morgan

Carrots

Sow carrots on well-prepared soil that's free of stones – stony soil can result in forked carrots. Carrots also grow well in containers – choose short, round varieties, or harvest longer varieties as baby carrots.

At this time of year, it's a good idea to protect against carrot fly, by putting up a barrier, such as horticultural fleece, around the crop. Find 10 ways to deter carrot fly. Your crop should be ready to harvest three to four months after sowing.

• Buy carrot seeds from: Thompson & Morgan, Dobies, Van Meuwen, Suttons

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Celeriac

Celeriac needs a long growing season for an autumn/winter harvest, so sow now, under cover. Transfer the seedlings to individual pots when they're large enough to handle.

• Buy celeriac seeds from: Suttons, Thompson & Morgan, Dobies

Courgettes, squashes, and cucumbers

Courgettes, marrows, squashes, cucumbers and pumpkins are known as curcurbits, and can all be sown in the same way - in individual 5cm pots, under cover. Plant outside once all risk of frost has passed (cucumbers do best in a greenhouse).

• Buy courgette and marrow seeds from: Suttons, Crocus
• Buy pumpkin, squash and courgette seeds from Thompson & Morgan
• Buy cucumber seeds from: Suttons, Gardening Direct
• Buy pumpkin and squash seeds from: Suttons, Dobies

Leeks

For an autumn harvest, leeks can be sown in shallow drills direct in the ground from April, or in seed trays under cover to plant out later.

• Buy leek seeds from: Crocus, Dobies, Thompson & Morgan, Suttons

Lettuce

Lettuce is best sown under cover, in seed trays or modules, and planted out when large enough to handle. This can give them a head start on slugs and snails, which seem to find young lettuce growth irresistible. Alternatively, sow lettuces in pots, and protect the seedlings using copper tape or by hand-picking slugs and snails when you see them.

• Buy lettuce seeds from: Suttons, Thompson & Morgan, Crocus, Dobies

Peas

Peas are easy to grow and can be harvested early in summer, making them a welcome early crop. You can sow them direct outside, but they are a favourite snack for mice – if these are a problem, sow them indoors and plant the plants outside when they are 15cm tall. Alternatively, sow in guttering and transplant the whole row of seedlings into a trench when they're ready.

• Buy pea seeds from: Dobies, Crocus, Suttons

Radish

Radishes make a fast-growing 'catch crop', growing on ground that's empty for a few weeks or between slower growing crops, such as parsnips. They also grow well in pots. Sow direct, every three to four weeks, for a continuous supply throughout summer.

• Buy radish seeds from: Suttons, Crocus, Dobies

Spinach

Spinach can be sown directly outside in April, but if it's chilly, hold off until May or cover with horticultural fleece. Bear in mind that spinach needs lots of moisture and protection from slugs and snails.

• Buy spinach seeds from: Dobies, Suttons

Swiss chard

Swiss chard is a beautiful crop for a sunny or partially shaded spot and can be sown directly outside in April.

• Buy Swiss chard seeds from: Suttons, Dobies and Crocus

Turnip

Turnips are also quick-growing, being ready to harvest from just six weeks. They can also be grown in pots. Harvest them when they are around the size of a golf ball, for the best flavour, or eat the leaves as greens. Keep well watered.

• Buy turnip seeds from: Dobies, Suttons, Thompson & Morgan

Flowers to plant in April

Angelica gigas

This short-lived, majestic perennial is perfect for providing height at the back of beds and borders. Sow under cover from March to May and transplant when all risk of frost has passed. You'll have beautiful crimson umbels from May to September, which will be covered with bees and butterflies. You could also try sowing Angelica archangelica, from May onwards.

• Buy Angelica gigas from Dobies

Tobacco plant, Nicotiana

Nicotianas have a seductive fragrance, which is especially pronounced at night. Sow seed in March and April, then, after all risk of frost has passed, plant out in their final position around seating areas, to enjoy the scent on summer evenings. Nicotiana sylvestris has elegant, drooping flowers, while those of Nicotiana alata 'Tinkerbell' are an attractive terracotta colour.

• Buy Nicotiana from Crocus, Suttons, Thompson & Morgan

Cosmos

Cosmos come in a beautiful array of colours and shapes, including perfumed chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) and many cultivars of Cosmos bipinnatus. Here are 10 beautiful cosmos to grow.

• Buy Cosmos from Thompson & Morgan, Suttons, Crocus

Poppies

Several types of poppy can be grown from seed, including orange California poppies (Eschscholzia californica), field poppies (Papaver rhoeas) and larger opium poppies (Papaver somniferum). They can all be sown from March to May, for flowers in summer and autumn.

• Buy poppy seeds from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan, Suttons

Bunny tail grass

Aptly known as the bunny's tail grass, this Lagurus ovatus is a pleasing partner to other annuals and perennials like Verbena bonariensis. Sow indoors, in pots or trays sited in a warm place. Alternatively, direct the sow the seeds outdoors from April onwards, where you want them to flower.

• Buy bunny tails from Suttons, Thompson & Morgan

Monarda

This spectacular perennial, here Monarda didyma 'Cambridge Scarlet', can be sown from late winter to spring. Keep the soil moist and cover the seeds to stop them drying out. Pot up the seedlings when large enough to handle, then plant out in full sun or partial shade.

• Buy Monarda seeds from Thompson & Morgan, Dobies

Spanish flag, Ipomoea lobata

Spanish flag is a vigorous annual climber, producing cascades of fiery red and yellow flowers, which look fantastic in annual container displays. Sow it under cover from March to May, then plant out after the last frosts.

• Buy Ipomoea lobata seeds from Dobies
• Buy Mina lobata seeds from Thompson & Morgan

Fruit to plant in April

Strawberries

Strawberry runners can be planted in April, and will fruit within a few weeks. Plant them in the ground in rows or in a bespoke 'strawberry pot' or hanging basket. Protect developing fruit from slugs and snails using straw.

• Buy strawberry plants from Dobies, Thompson & Morgan

Fruit trees

While bare-root planting season is over, potted fruit trees and bushes such as currants, gooseberry, citrus and fig trees can be planted at any time of year. Many dwarf fruit trees are suitable for growing in pots – choose a large container and use a soil-based compost, water the tree more regularly than you would if planting in the ground and top-dress with fresh compost each spring.

• Buy fruit trees from Dobies, Thompson & Morgan