April 2022

April still has warm soil in the garden and is the perfect time to start planting citrus fruits in your garden. While digging the hole for preparation of planting, prepare a frame to protect new citrus from frost with some frost cloth for the first few years.

Pumpkins need protection from rat’s, possums and birds while they finish ripening. Place a wire cage over them. Knock on pumpkin skin with your knuckle and listen for a hollow knocking sound to check for harvest. If they are ready leave 5cm on the stem before cutting and store in an open airy position out of the weather and away from hungry beasts.

It's time start a worm farm, work compost, perfect time to collect autumn leaf matter for composting, remove thatch from lawns by using a steel rake and fertilising with organic based lawn food. Plant spring flowering bulbs. Build some frames to protect your plants from future frosts. Divide clumping grasses and perennials.

What to Plant/Sow in your veg patch:

Artichoke, asian greens, broad bean, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, cerlery/celerac, endive, english spinach, garlic, herbs…… (sage coriander, mint, parsley), kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, onion, peas, radish, rocket, silver beet, spring onion, swede, turnip.

What to Plant in the Flower Garden:

Ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, aquilegia, bellis perennis, calendula, carnation, cineraria, dianthus, forget-me not, foxglove, gypsophila, hollyhock, linaria, livingstone daisy, lobelia, marigold, nemesia, nigella, pansy, polyanthus, poppy, primula statice, stock,  sweet pea, sweet william, viola, virginian stock, wallflower.