Spring is springing and the growing season is upon us, so it’s time to decide what to grow in our greenhouses this April. In the spirit of out with the old, in with the new, getting your greenhouse ready for the bountiful months ahead will feel fantastic, and getting seeds into earth after the long winter is always a great feeling.
Vegetables to Grow in my greenhouse in April
Up until now, all the seeds we’ve planted have had to be hardy varieties, able to cope with colder temperatures. But now that the true growing season is upon us, we can let loose and choose exactly what we want to grow in our greenhouses.
Tomatoes
Small and sweet or large and flavorsome, tomatoes are wonderful additions to our gardens and our plates.
The first choice to make is whether you want to grow bush type, sometimes known as dwarf, tomato plants, which have multiple stems and can be grown in pots, baskets and flower beds, or whether you want to grow cordon type, also known as vine, which will need supporting with stakes or canes.
Then decide what size fruit you want, from cherry to beef, and what color you prefer, such as:
- ‘Alicante’ tomatoes, a medium sized fruit. They are tasty, easy to grow and produce a generous crop.
- ‘Tumbling Tom’, delicious cherry tomatoes, that grow on a tumbling bush vine, perfect for pots and even hanging baskets.
- ‘Roma’ plum tomatoes, ideal for cooking because they don’t have many seeds.
Start tomatoes from seed in your greenhouse, and make sure that your seedlings get the light and moisture they need. From seed trays, many gardeners advise moving young tomato plants into small pots, rather than straight to large containers. You can plant them out when the risk of frost has passed.
Peppers
Peppers are such a delight to grow, whether sweet peppers for salads or chili peppers to spice up your cuisine. Peppers love warmth and light as they grow, so choose the perfect shelf in your greenhouse for them. Seeds should be covered, either in a propagator or under clingfilm, until shoots appear.
Like tomatoes, you can move your seedlings into small pots when they outgrow their seed trays, and then move them on to larger containers when they are more robust. Some varieties of pepper will prefer to stay in the greenhouse until harvested, while others will be perfect to transplant into a sunny spot in your garden.
When fruits form, you may need to stake the plants as they ripen.
Lettuce and Salad Leaves
You can keep your plate full of delicious salad leaves this summer by starting seeds under cover and then moving them to cooler outside spots when the heat of the summer arrives. Pick the varieties that you find the most delicious, and remember you can always plant more. Baby leaf spinach, arugula, varieties of lettuce – there are so many to choose from. Many will work with a “cut and come again” approach to harvesting, which means taking the largest leaves from the outside, and leaving the rest to re-grow.
Keep an eye on moisture and heat levels, because salad leaves can wilt quickly when too dry or too hot. You’ll also find that lettuce and other salad leaves will bolt in warm weather, so choose a cool spot for them when you plant them out.
Cucumbers
The flavor of homegrown cucumbers can put their supermarket-bought cousins to shame. Plant your seeds in fertile soil in April and keep them under cover until they sprout, then keep them warm and in bright conditions.
Transfer them to larger containers when the plants are big enough. If you’re planning to keep your cucumbers under glass all season, you can train the plant to climb, to maximize the space in your greenhouse. If you’re planting them out, make sure to harden them off to help them transition well.
Herbs
As you stack your plate high with treats from your greenhouse and garden, add delicious flavours by planting herbs. Basil, coriander, parsley and mint can all be grown in a greenhouse. Mediterranean herbs such as oregano and thyme can also be started inside and moved to the sunniest, driest patch in your garden. This is where you can really plant to match your tastebuds.
Flowers to grow in my greenhouse in April
What splashes of color have you been dreaming of this winter, that you’re ready to get planted in your greenhouse now that spring is truly here?
Here are some ideas for flowers to plant in your greenhouse this April:
Sweet Peas
If you get them in the soil now, you’ll be enjoying the pretty colors and lovely scent of sweet peas in the early summer. Sweet peas are easy to grow and great for beginners. Give plenty of support for climbing as they grow, and be ready to harden them off and plant them out when they get to about 10cm tall.
Begonias
You can get your begonias started in your greenhouse in April, ready to move to a shady spot in the garden as they grow. There are both tuberous and fibrous types of begonias, you can choose the type that is right for you. Tuberous begonias are perfect for hanging baskets and pots, while fibrous variants will do better in flowerbeds.
Geraniums
If you have been over-wintering geraniums in your greenhouse, you can take cuttings from them to start new plants this spring. You can also grow geraniums from seed in your greenhouse, and look forward to some splashes of color this summer.
April Greenhouse Tips
April is prime planting time in your greenhouse, and all the preparation you’ve done over the cold of winter and early spring will now pay off.
If you haven’t taken time to plan your planting for the color and flavors that you want to enjoy this summer, take some time to think through what you’ll be planting and when. Make sure to have a mix of plants that need those top-shelf, prime sunlight positions, and ones that will thrive in a bit more shade. And take some time to map out the timing as well, thinking through which seeds can be sown just as other seedlings are potted out, maximizing your space and growing potential.
Enjoy this time of year in your greenhouse: you have bright and bountiful gardening months ahead!
