A gardening expert has shared five seeds that can be sown in April to ensure abundant harvests this summer. The advice comes from Nettles and Petals, an organic 'no dig' grower, who highlights the affordability and accessibility of growing your own produce.
Cucumbers are among the recommended crops. The expert advises sowing seeds on their side in a pot or deep tray with well-draining seed compost, as they are heat-loving plants. They germinate best at around 21°C and should be planted out after the last frost, given something to climb, with side shoots pruned away for continued harvesting.
Mixed lettuce is described as "expensive to buy" but easy to grow from seed. The grower sows them in a seed tray before transplanting, then harvests three to five leaves per week from each plant over about ten weeks. Courgettes, similarly, are sown like cucumbers but considered easier, with more variety available than in shops. The expert jests that once planted, you'll have more than you know what to do with.
Chard is praised as a "garden staple"—versatile, easy to grow, and productive almost all season. The grower notes that home-growing reveals how overpriced shop-bought chard can be. Sweetcorn germinates quickly and can be planted out after frost, with beans grown beneath the corn to climb the stalks, maximising space.
One reader commented that they currently have tomatoes, chillies, and lettuce in a cold frame, and plan to plant beans, sweetcorn, and pumpkins soon. The expert's tips offer a simple way for gardeners to boost self-sufficiency and enjoy fresh, homegrown vegetables throughout the summer.
