What to grow in April
Autumn is the perfect time to get your vegies, shrubs and fruit trees into the ground before the cold of winter sets in. The soil is still warm and anything planted now will establish quickly before the cooler months of winter.
Here’s some ideas on what to plant now in the garden this month
What to plant
Check out our regional zone planting guide. Find which zone you are in on the map.
Tropical (North Qld, NT & WA)
HERBS, FRUIT & VEGETABLES: asian greens, basil, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chives, coriander, cucumber, eggplant, endive, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mint, onion, parsley, peas, radish, rocket, silverbeet, spring onion, swede, sweet potato, sweetcorn and tomato.
FLOWERS: ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, calendula, cineraria, dianthus, foxglove, gypsophilia, impatiens, livingstone daisy, lobelia, marigold, nemesia, nigella, pansy, poppy, statice, stock, sunflower, sweet william, viola, virginian stock and wallflower.
Subtropical (South-east Qld & Northern NSW)
HERBS, FRUIT & VEGETABLES: artichokes, asian greens, basil, beans (french and climbing), beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chives, coriander, endive, english spinach, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mint, onion, parsley, peas, radish, rocket, silverbeet, spring onion, swede, tomato and turnip.
FLOWERS: ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, aquilegia (columbine), bellis perennis, calendula, cineraria, dianthus, forget-me-not, foxglove, gypsophilia, hollyhock, impatiens, livingstone daisy, lobelia, marigold, nemesia, nigella, pansy, polyanthus, poppy, primula, statice, stock, sunflower, sweet william, viola, virginian stock and wallflower.
Arid / Semi-Arid (Outback & dry inland areas)
HERBS, FRUIT & VEGETABLES: artichokes, asian greens, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, coriander, endive, english spinach, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mint, onion, parsley, peas, radish, rocket, silverbeet, spring onion, swede and turnip.
FLOWERS: alyssum, aquilegia (columbine), bellis perennis, calendula, carnation, cineraria, dianthus, forget-me-not, foxglove, gypsophilia, hollyhock, linaria, livingstone daisy, lobelia, marigold, nemesia, nigella, pansy, polyanthus, poppy, statice, stock, sweet william, viola, virginian stock and wallflower.
Warm Temperate (Sydney, coastal NSW & Victoria, Adelaide and Perth)
HERBS, FRUIT & VEGETABLES: artichokes, asian greens, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chives, coriander, endive, english spinach, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mint, onion, parsley, peas, radish, rocket, silverbeet, spring onion, swede and turnip.
FLOWERS: ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, aquilegia (columbine), bellis perennis, calendula, carnation, cineraria, dianthus, forget-me-not, foxglove, gypsophilia, hollyhock, linaria, livingstone daisy, lobelia, marigold, nemesia, nigella, pansy, polyanthus, poppy, primula, statice, stock, sweet william, viola, virginian stock and wallflower.
Cold Temperate (Melbourne & cool highlands)
HERBS, FRUIT & VEGETABLES: artichokes, asian greens, broad beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chives, coriander, endive, english spinach, garlic, kale, leek, lettuce, mint, onion, parsley, radish, rocket, and spring onion.
FLOWERS: Alyssum, aquilegia (columbine), bellis perennis, calendula, carnation, dianthus, forget-me-not, foxglove, gypsophilia, hollyhock, linaria, livingstone daisy, lobelia, nigella, pansy, polyanthus, poppy, primula, stock, sweet william, viola, virginian stock, wallflower
A few points to remember:
April is a good time to cut back hedges and shrubs to shape and manage their size.
Rake up the fallen leaves and collect them using the Ryset Jute Leaf Bag. Mix the decomposing leaves with pea straw, shredded newspaper, vegetable peels and lawn clippings make a great compost heap.
Keep watch for winter weeds starting to make an appearance. Chickweed, cudweed, dandelion, cat’s ear, bindii and winter grass will start making themselves home in gardens across Australia. Pull or dig these weeds out as soon as they appear with a hoe or weeding knife.
This is a good time to remove thatch in lawns by using a scarifier or steel rake. Top up any bare lawn sections and fertilize with an organic based lawn fertilizer.
In winter, the sun is lower in the sky leaving your indoor plants to be exposed by the direct sunlight and burnt. Move plants to a position that is bright and out of the direct sunlight.
