Vegetables that are grown at home always taste better than those found in shops covered in pesticides.
However, it’s vital to know when to plant each type of vegetable for them to grow and give you the best produce.
Although April is coming to an end, gardening expert Shane Gibbs, director of Seed Barn, has shared “the easiest vegetables to plant” this weekend.
He explained that April is a busy time for budding vegetable growers everywhere, as April is a longer and reliably warmer month.
Carrots
Sow carrots on well-prepared soil, ensuring the soil is free of stones. Carrots also grow well in containers, choose short, round varieties or harvest longer varieties as baby carrots.
However, Shane warned that at this time of year, it’s important to protect your carrots against carrot fly by putting up a barrier such as a horticultural fleece.
Your carrots should be ready to harvest around three to four months after sowing.
Beetroot
Beetroot is an “easy crop to grow”, which is also a popular choice for beginners.
It will grow in any fertile, well-drained soil and does well in pots. Harvest beetroot when they have “reached the size of a golf ball”.
Aubergines, chillies and tomatoes
Shane warned that April is “really your last chance” to sow aubergines, chillies and tomatoes, as “they need a long growing season to thrive”.
Chilli, tomato and aubergine seeds are best sown in the greenhouse at this time.
Courgettes, squashes and cucumbers
Courgettes, squashes, and cucumbers can all be sown in the same way – in individual 5cm pots, undercover.
Only plant outside once any frost has cleared, whilst planting cucumbers in a greenhouse – they do best there.
Peas
Peas are also “easy to grow” and can be harvested early in summer. You can place the seeds directly outside, but they are a snack that mice favour.
If this is a problem, sow them indoors and move the plants outside when they are around 15cm tall
