April is when the seasons truly turn — the heat has eased, the mornings are cooler, and the soil is perfect for autumn planting. It’s also the month to tidy up, rotate crops, and set your garden up for a productive winter.
If you’re in a cool–temperate or temperate zone in Australia, here’s your April checklist:
🌱 Sow & Plant This Month
- Brassicas: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage (start in trays)
- Leafy greens: spinach, kale, silverbeet, pak choy
- Root crops: carrots, beetroot, radishes, turnips, swedes
- Broad beans & peas (start of the season)
- Onions & shallots (from seed)
- Garlic (mid to late April in most areas)
Mrs E Tip: If you’re planning asparagus or artichokes, now’s the time to prep the beds and get those crowns in.
🛠️ Garden Maintenance & Prep
- Pull out tired summer plants (compost what’s healthy)
- Top up beds with compost, worm castings, and aged manure
- Rake and repurpose autumn leaves as mulch
- Tidy berry canes and cut back spent herbs
- Prep beds for garlic with a fork-through and blood & bone
🪴 Seedling & Greenhouse Jobs
- Start brassicas and alliums in trays
- Turn trays daily for even light
- Use clear covers or mini tunnels if temps dip suddenly
- Water seedlings in the morning to avoid damp overnight roots
🌿 Harvests to Enjoy in April
- Last of the summer tomatoes and zucchinis
- Herbs: basil (harvest and freeze), thyme, oregano
- Lettuces and early spinach from earlier sowings
👩🌾 Jobs for Kids in the Garden This April
- Harvest the last tomatoes and guess how many garlic cloves will sprout
- Help scatter compost and mulch leaves
- Sow seeds into trays and label them with painted spoons
- Build stick teepees for peas and broad beans
🥕 Recipe Ideas for April
- Slow-cooked tomato and zucchini stew
- Garlic roasted root veg
- Herb & spinach frittata
- Baked carrots with cumin and honey