Which Fast-growing Edible Crops Can I Plant Right Now?
Up for starting a fruit and vegetable patch? Let our expert make it easy for you to enjoy homegrown food by early summer
There’s an abundance of vegetables and fruit plants you can sow in April that will produce crops ready to harvest fairly swiftly, some within in a matter of weeks. From carrots to microgreens, courgettes to raspberries, here are a just a few to try, with tips on planting techniques that will inspire even novice growers with confidence. Best of all, for quite a few, you don’t even need a garden.
Potatoes – harvest from June
April is the perfect month to plant early-cropping varieties of potatoes for harvesting in June.
Even if you don’t have lots of space – or even a garden –potatoes can be grown on a balcony or patio, in bags, pots or deep containers. ‘Anya’ is a good variety to try for containers.
If you’re able to get hold of seed potatoes, they will ideally need to be ‘chitted’, which means left in a cool place for a few weeks to start sprouting (if you don’t have time, don’t worry, but if you do, it’ll give you a head start and allow earlier harvesting).
Seed potatoes are a specific type, free of any virus and grown to be planted to produce a crop. The little sprouting shoots from each potato are where the crop will develop. The original seed potato will eventually turn to mush.
If planting in a bag or deep container, use peat-free compost and fill it a quarter full, making sure there are drainage holes in the bottom. Place the potatoes with the shoots pointing upwards – don’t plant too many in a container, as they’ll compete for nutrients.
Cover with a layer of compost and water. Keep adding and layering compost, or ‘earthing up’, as they start to produce leaves. Once the plants flower and the blooms die off, the potatoes will be ready to harvest.
April is the perfect month to plant early-cropping varieties of potatoes for harvesting in June.
Even if you don’t have lots of space – or even a garden –potatoes can be grown on a balcony or patio, in bags, pots or deep containers. ‘Anya’ is a good variety to try for containers.
If you’re able to get hold of seed potatoes, they will ideally need to be ‘chitted’, which means left in a cool place for a few weeks to start sprouting (if you don’t have time, don’t worry, but if you do, it’ll give you a head start and allow earlier harvesting).
Seed potatoes are a specific type, free of any virus and grown to be planted to produce a crop. The little sprouting shoots from each potato are where the crop will develop. The original seed potato will eventually turn to mush.
If planting in a bag or deep container, use peat-free compost and fill it a quarter full, making sure there are drainage holes in the bottom. Place the potatoes with the shoots pointing upwards – don’t plant too many in a container, as they’ll compete for nutrients.
Cover with a layer of compost and water. Keep adding and layering compost, or ‘earthing up’, as they start to produce leaves. Once the plants flower and the blooms die off, the potatoes will be ready to harvest.
Carrots – harvest from July
The main outdoor sowing time for carrots is April. They require an open, sunny site and fertile, well-drained soil, but carrots will also do well grown in containers. Shorter varieties, such as ‘Chantenay’, work best in heavy clay or stony soil.
Carrot shapes and sizes vary by type. There are five major categories, all available as early or late cultivars (this will be stated on the back of the seed packet, so check what you’re getting before buying).
Carrot seeds are very small, so they shouldn’t be planted deep. Sow them roughly 5cm apart into well-watered rows of around 1cm deep. They can be thinned out later if they become congested.
When you’re weeding or thinning out, avoid crushing the foliage, as the smell can attract carrot fly, which will tunnel into the carrots, causing them to rot. Create a barrier or cover with fleece tunnels to prevent the flies laying their eggs.
Carrots are ready to harvest around 12 to 16 weeks after sowing. Lift them out of the soil gently with a fork to prevent any damage.
Thinking of revamping your garden? Chat through ideas with a local garden designer reviewed on Houzz.
The main outdoor sowing time for carrots is April. They require an open, sunny site and fertile, well-drained soil, but carrots will also do well grown in containers. Shorter varieties, such as ‘Chantenay’, work best in heavy clay or stony soil.
Carrot shapes and sizes vary by type. There are five major categories, all available as early or late cultivars (this will be stated on the back of the seed packet, so check what you’re getting before buying).
Carrot seeds are very small, so they shouldn’t be planted deep. Sow them roughly 5cm apart into well-watered rows of around 1cm deep. They can be thinned out later if they become congested.
When you’re weeding or thinning out, avoid crushing the foliage, as the smell can attract carrot fly, which will tunnel into the carrots, causing them to rot. Create a barrier or cover with fleece tunnels to prevent the flies laying their eggs.
Carrots are ready to harvest around 12 to 16 weeks after sowing. Lift them out of the soil gently with a fork to prevent any damage.
Thinking of revamping your garden? Chat through ideas with a local garden designer reviewed on Houzz.
Strawberries – harvest from June
Strawberries can be planted directly into the soil in April. They should also do well in hanging baskets and containers. Plant them with manure where possible, as they’re very hungry plants, and water frequently while they become established.
During the growing season, give strawberry plants a liquid potash feed, such as tomato fertiliser, every seven to 14 days. You may need to net the strawberries to shield them from birds, and protect with fleece at night if frost is forecast, as this will ruin any developing fruit.
When fruits do start to develop, put straw underneath and around the plants to lift up the fruits, keep them clean and prevent them from rotting into the soil.
Strawberries are prone to grey mould and powdery mildew, so remove any infected leaves and fruits and make sure the plants aren’t touching each other and aren’t kept in humid conditions.
Strawberries can be planted directly into the soil in April. They should also do well in hanging baskets and containers. Plant them with manure where possible, as they’re very hungry plants, and water frequently while they become established.
During the growing season, give strawberry plants a liquid potash feed, such as tomato fertiliser, every seven to 14 days. You may need to net the strawberries to shield them from birds, and protect with fleece at night if frost is forecast, as this will ruin any developing fruit.
When fruits do start to develop, put straw underneath and around the plants to lift up the fruits, keep them clean and prevent them from rotting into the soil.
Strawberries are prone to grey mould and powdery mildew, so remove any infected leaves and fruits and make sure the plants aren’t touching each other and aren’t kept in humid conditions.
Raspberries – harvest from June
Raspberry canes can be planted early on in the month, but no later for the summer-fruiting varieties.
Raspberries prefer a moisture-retentive and fertile acidic soil; they will not like being in waterlogged ground.
Raspberry flowers are self-fertile and therefore pollinated by insects, so it’s best to position them in a sheltered spot. Plant the canes with good, well-rotted manure or garden compost.
Raspberries can be grown in a container as long as you tie the canes to bamboo or similar stag supports. Make sure the pot is at least 38cm in diameter and plant them in a mixture of 20% loam and 80% multi-purpose, peat-free compost.
Keep the compost moist and add a general-purpose liquid fertiliser on a monthly basis during the growing season.
Raspberry canes can be planted early on in the month, but no later for the summer-fruiting varieties.
Raspberries prefer a moisture-retentive and fertile acidic soil; they will not like being in waterlogged ground.
Raspberry flowers are self-fertile and therefore pollinated by insects, so it’s best to position them in a sheltered spot. Plant the canes with good, well-rotted manure or garden compost.
Raspberries can be grown in a container as long as you tie the canes to bamboo or similar stag supports. Make sure the pot is at least 38cm in diameter and plant them in a mixture of 20% loam and 80% multi-purpose, peat-free compost.
Keep the compost moist and add a general-purpose liquid fertiliser on a monthly basis during the growing season.
Peas, courgettes and lettuce – harvest from June to July
Lettuce – harvest from June The cut-and-come again lettuce types, such as ‘Lollo Rossa’, are perfect for planting now, as you’ll be able to pick the outer leaves while more grow from the top.
Lettuce is a fast-growing crop, which will do well in the ground, in pots or even in window boxes. It grows best in sun and will need to be watered frequently.
Courgettes – harvest from June For courgettes, you only need two to three plants for lots of fruit. Plant out at 60cm spacing and add lots of peat-free compost and well-rotted manure.
Courgettes can be grown in large pots, but will need plenty of water. Feed weekly during the summer with a seaweed feed and place the containers in full sun.
Peas – harvest from July With peas, it’s a good idea to stagger the sowing with a few seeds each week. Sow them in a flat-bottomed trench 5cm deep and 15cm wide. The easiest to grow are the mangetout and sugar snap varieties.
Water well once flowering starts and add a layer of mulch to preserve moisture. Don’t forget to provide some form of support for young plants by making a wigwam or similar.
Lettuce – harvest from June The cut-and-come again lettuce types, such as ‘Lollo Rossa’, are perfect for planting now, as you’ll be able to pick the outer leaves while more grow from the top.
Lettuce is a fast-growing crop, which will do well in the ground, in pots or even in window boxes. It grows best in sun and will need to be watered frequently.
Courgettes – harvest from June For courgettes, you only need two to three plants for lots of fruit. Plant out at 60cm spacing and add lots of peat-free compost and well-rotted manure.
Courgettes can be grown in large pots, but will need plenty of water. Feed weekly during the summer with a seaweed feed and place the containers in full sun.
Peas – harvest from July With peas, it’s a good idea to stagger the sowing with a few seeds each week. Sow them in a flat-bottomed trench 5cm deep and 15cm wide. The easiest to grow are the mangetout and sugar snap varieties.
Water well once flowering starts and add a layer of mulch to preserve moisture. Don’t forget to provide some form of support for young plants by making a wigwam or similar.
Beans – harvest from July
French beans are very easy to grow in the ground or even large pots, but are best sown inside in April to be planted out in May, when the weather is warmer. Plant about three seeds into a 25cm to 30cm pot filled with peat-free compost.
Beans need full sun and to be kept watered in drier weather. Make sure you provide the plants with canes or an obelisk/hazel structure to grow up.
The dwarf variety of runner bean, ‘Hestia’, is ideal in containers on the balcony or patio. It produces very decorative flowers and they can even be planted to trail over a hanging basket.
Tell us…
What are you growing right now and do you have any tips to share with the Houzz community? Let us know in the Comments section.
French beans are very easy to grow in the ground or even large pots, but are best sown inside in April to be planted out in May, when the weather is warmer. Plant about three seeds into a 25cm to 30cm pot filled with peat-free compost.
Beans need full sun and to be kept watered in drier weather. Make sure you provide the plants with canes or an obelisk/hazel structure to grow up.
The dwarf variety of runner bean, ‘Hestia’, is ideal in containers on the balcony or patio. It produces very decorative flowers and they can even be planted to trail over a hanging basket.
Tell us…
What are you growing right now and do you have any tips to share with the Houzz community? Let us know in the Comments section.
Microgreens are plants grown from seed to be harvested and eaten quickly as seedlings (ie, before they turn into larger versions of whatever plant you’re growing). They can be grown on a windowsill in the house, in small containers, or in a vegetable patch, and can take as little as a week to be ready.
Seeds to try include coriander, pea shoots, fava bean shoots, mizuna, mibuna, rose radish, radish, and sunflower.
You don’t need a big pot – a 2.5cm-deep seed tray will be fine. Soak the seeds for 24 hours before sowing, as this can speed up germination.
The compost needs to be damp before sowing, and it’s best to cover the tray with transparent plastic to retain moisture until the seeds start to germinate. Water the compost frequently and in two to four weeks you should be harvesting your microgreens. Please do try to use eco-friendly, peat-free compost if possible.