WHAT TO GROW IN APRIL
If you want a thriving garden this year, April is a key month to get growing. Whether you're just starting out or you're an experienced gardener looking for inspiration, this is a great time to sow seeds and plant new additions. From vegetables to herbs, flowers to shrubs, here are 5 must-grow plants that bring flavour, beauty, and biodiversity to your garden.
American Land Cress
American land cress is a reliable, underrated leafy green that looks similar to watercress but is grown in soil. It doesn’t require running water, which makes it far easier to grow.
Why grow it:
Fresh, peppery leaves perfect for salads, soups, and sandwiches
Cut-and-come-again growth habit
Fast germination and good tolerance of cold and poor weather
Suitable for containers, beds, and even window boxes
Sow it now outdoors or start it indoors. It also does well sown in late summer or autumn for winter crops under cover. It's rarely bothered by pests and will even self-seed lightly for bonus plants next year.
Dahlias
If it’s colour and wow factor you’re after, dahlias deliver in spades. These summer-flowering beauties offer a huge range of shapes and shades, from big dinner plate blooms to smaller, more refined flowers.
Why grow them:
Huge variety of colors and flower forms
Blooms from midsummer until the first frost
Excellent for cut flowers and garden borders
Great value with repeat blooming
Plant tubers now into pots and keep them protected until after the last frost. You can also grow them from seed or buy young plants. They're easy to care for but appreciate good soil, sun, and regular deadheading. Leave some blooms to go to seed for pollinators or cut them for your home.
Garlic Chives
Garlic chives are a dual-purpose plant: ornamental and edible. Unlike regular chives, they have flat leaves with a mild garlic flavor that adds a lovely touch to your cooking.
Why grow them:
Easy to grow from seed
Mild garlic flavor for use in salads, stir-fries, and more
Hardy, low maintenance, and drought tolerant
Suitable for containers, beds, or herb gardens
They form attractive clumps, come back year after year, and produce white, star-shaped flowers from late summer that pollinators love. You can let them self-seed or collect the seeds for future use.
Contorted Hazel (Corylus avellana 'Contorta')
Each month, I like to recommend one standout plant worth investing in. For April, it’s contorted hazel. This is a structural shrub known for its twisted branches that look spectacular in winter.
Why grow it:
Unique twisted form adds winter interest
Yellow catkins in late winter feed early pollinators
Grows in full sun or partial shade
Low maintenance and tolerates most soil types
It can grow quite large if left unpruned, but it responds well to shaping and is happy in containers too. Use the twisted branches in floral arrangements or as a winter focal point in the garden.
Digitalis ferruginea (Rusty Foxglove)
A foxglove with a twist. Digitalis ferruginea, or rusty foxglove, is a tall, statuesque perennial that produces elegant spires of coppery-golden flowers.
Why grow it:
Natural, earthy tones perfect for wildlife gardens
Loved by pollinators, especially bumblebees
Perennial (unlike most biennial foxgloves)
Blends beautifully with grasses and prairie plants
It’s a brilliant option if you’re after something more subtle and long-lasting than traditional pink foxgloves. Adds height and a gentle wildness to beds and borders.
Until next time, see you later!