What to plant in April

As the days are longer and reliably warmer, April is the month to tentatively start sowing some seeds such as carrots and peas outdoors. Potatoes, onion sets, shallots, garlic, and Jerusalem artichokes can also be planted now.

For this month, I’m going to concentrate on peas.

Peas are very easy to grow and can be harvested from June to October. You can sow them directly outside, but they may be eaten by mice, so an alternative is to sow them indoors and plant the plants outside when they are 15cm tall. If you sow them in guttering you can transplant the whole row of seedlings into a trench when they're ready.

If you want to plant your peas directly outside:

• Choose a sunny, well-drained spot.

• Dig in plenty of garden compost, well-rotted manure or mushroom compost before sowing to improve the soil

• Use a hoe or spade to make a shallow trench, roughly 22cm wide and 3cm deep. 

• Sow peas in two parallel lines, spacing the seeds about 10cm apart.

• Cover the seeds with soil, water well and label the row.

• The seedlings should appear in one or two weeks.

• Stake young plants with pea sticks to support their growth

• Feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser, once flowers appear

• Harvest peas after around three months. Your average yield should be 3kg per 3m row

• Harvest mangetout varieties when they're just beginning to show signs of peas forming inside the pods. Other types are ready once the pods are swollen with peas.

• Pick the pods from the bottom of the plant upwards, as the lowest are the most mature. Use two hands to avoid damaging the plant.

Peas have the best flavour if they’re picked and used straight away, but they'll keep for a week in the salad compartment of a fridge. If you have a glut, you can freeze them.

There are lots of pea varieties available, from dwarf-height plants to those that grow over 2m tall. Different varieties can be sown at different times of year, so make sure you buy the right pea for your plot and season

Here are some great pea varieties to grow:

Pisum sativum 'Canoe'

This hardy pea plant has long, slightly curved and pointed pods of up to up 12 peas. Almost leafless stems allow easy picking in July/August. The peas have a delicious sweet flavour, and are particularly suited to freezing. It’s nectar and pollen rich white flowers are known for attracting bees, so it’s good for wildlife too. Height: 75cm Spread: 25cm. Prefers dappled shade or full sun, South or west facing, rich soil.

Pisum sativum 'Greensage'

An early maincrop variety, bearing medium-sized pointed pods of up to 11 deliciously sweet peas in July/August. If you enjoy showing your vegetables, it's a good choice for exhibiting. 'Greensage' shows excellent resistance to downy mildew and fusarium wilt. It’s white flowers are known for attracting bees. Height: 75cm Spread: 25cm. Prefers dappled shade or full sun, South or west facing, rich soil.

Pisum sativum 'Kelvedon Wonder'

A heavy yielding, early maturing pea, ideal for successional sowings throughout spring and summer. It produces 2 pods per node, with each pod containing up to eight peas, harvested in July/August. It shows good resistance to pea wilt, and tolerance to downy mildew. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit. It’s nectar and pollen rich white flowers are known for attracting bees. Height: 45cm Spread: 20cm Prefers moist, well drained, rich soil in full sun, South or west facing.

Pisum sativum 'Purple Podded'

An attractive heirloom pea with fragrant purple-pink flowers followed by purple pods filled with bright green, plump peas. The whole pod can be eaten as mangetout or harvest the peas inside while small, before they become starchy like marrowfats.  Pick pods regularly to ensure a continuous crop. It is a vigorous climber which needs good support. Height: 1-1.5m Spread: 50cm Prefers moist, well drained, rich soil in full sun

Pisum sativum 'Show Perfection'

A tall climber which produces peas suitable for showing in competition. The white flowers develop into long pods containing a heavy crop of peas. Pick pods regularly to ensure a continuous crop of sweet peas, Height: 1.5-2.5m Spread: 50cm-1m Prefers moist, well drained, rich soil in full sun