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What to plant in April in the UK

Worked out for 40 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.

What to sow and plant in April in the UK, by zone: frost possible, highs of 10–16 °C (London, Manchester and 29 more): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 22 more; frost-free, highs of 10–16 °C (Cardiff, Hull and 7 more): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 22 more.

In the UK, April is spring.

Frost possible, highs of 10–16 °C: London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and 27 more

In April, on average, these cities have highs of 10 to 14 °C and lows of 3 to 5 °C, 41 to 69 mm of rain on 9 to 13 days; the day lasts 13 h 47 min to 14 h 17 min (on the 15th).

April falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait. Average last frost: London (4 April), Manchester (22 April), Edinburgh (28 April), Birmingham (26 April), Glasgow (28 April), Bristol (11 April), Leeds (18 April), Belfast (18 April), Liverpool (1 April), Sheffield (15 April), Newcastle upon Tyne (8 April), Leicester (20 April), Bradford (15 April), Coventry (12 April), Nottingham (7 April), Derby (12 April), Southampton (4 April), Aberdeen (10 April), Oxford (3 April), York (12 April), Dundee (28 April), Cambridge (3 April), Exeter (3 April), Stirling (29 April), Perth (United Kingdom) (28 April), Wrexham (7 April), Carlisle (26 April), Lincoln (United Kingdom) (1 April), Worcester (15 April) and Stoke-on-Trent (27 April).

HowWhatWhere
sow directBroad bean, peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, cabbage, Swiss chard, arugula, chamomile, daikon, kale, parsnip, turnipall
plant setsOnion, shallotall
sow directCarrot, dill, mustard greensLondon, Manchester, Edinburgh and 25 more
sow direct or start indoors, plant out in JuneBroccoliall
start indoors, plant out in MayCauliflower, kohlrabiall
sow direct or start indoors, plant out in MayBeetall
start indoors, plant out in JuneLeekManchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and 17 more
start indoors, plant out in JuneTomato, zucchini, parsley, Brussels sproutsall
start indoors, plant out in JuneBell Pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, Florence fennel, moringaLondon, Bristol, Leicester and 8 more
start indoors, plant out in MayCucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, achocha, bok choy, kiwano, Napa cabbage, peanutLondon
start indoors, plant out in JulyCeleriac, celery, chayoteLondon, Southampton, Oxford and 3 more
start indoors, plant out in MayChicoryAberdeen and Stirling

Compared with March: new — zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, achocha and 4 more.

Not starting in April: green beans (May, sown direct) — dates for Wrexham.

Ready to harvest in April in Wrexham, if sown in the right month: peas (February), spinach (February), radish (March) and cabbage (December).

Frost-free, highs of 10–16 °C: Cardiff, Hull, Swansea, Brighton and 5 more

In April, on average, these cities have highs of 11 to 13 °C and lows of 4 to 8 °C, 37 to 84 mm of rain on 8 to 15 days; the day lasts 13 h 46 min to 14 h 05 min (on the 15th).

No frost in April in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.

HowWhatWhere
sow directBroad bean, peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile, daikon, dill, kale, mustard greens, parsnip, turnipall
plant setsOnion, shallotall
start indoors, plant out in MayCauliflower, kohlrabiall
start indoors, plant out in JuneLeekCardiff, Hull, Swansea and 4 more
start indoors, plant out in JuneTomato, zucchini, parsley, Brussels sproutsall
start indoors, plant out in JuneBell Pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, Florence fennel, moringaNorwich and Ipswich
start indoors, plant out in JulyCeleriac, celery, chayoteNorwich and Ipswich
start indoors, plant out in MayChicoryPlymouth and Derry

Compared with March: new — bell pepper, zucchini, eggplant, chili pepper, Florence fennel and moringa.

Not starting in April: green beans (May, sown direct) — dates for Ipswich.

Ready to harvest in April in Ipswich, if sown in the right month: peas (February), spinach (February), radish (March), cabbage (December), arugula (March), dill (March), mustard greens (March) and turnip (February).

How we work it out

For each city we use its average weather in April and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in April if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.

Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 16–27 °C and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 4 °C, semi-hardy ones from 4–10 °C (we use 10 °C); warm-season crops need days above 13 °C, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, aubergine, melon, watermelon, squash) above 16 °C, up to 35 °C. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Broad beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in autumn and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page). French beans, courgettes and outdoor tomatoes follow the RHS instead, in months without frost: French beans and courgettes sown outdoors in late May or early June, courgettes also started indoors in April or May; tomatoes started indoors from late March to early April and planted out in June where its average highs reach 16 °C.

This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.

Other months in the UK