Urban Gardening Tips for April

🌱 Big news! We’ve officially started building our No Dig Education Garden at MOES Tuinen. This indoor allotment is set to become a vibrant space for growers, experimentalists, and educators! Would you like to take a look at the build & meet us? MOES Tuinen is throwing an Open Day on 6th April (next Sunday!). See the details here. We would love to see you there, otherwise more updates on our Education Garden next month.

What a promising start for the new growing season, with sunshine and temperatures reaching almost 20°C. We hope you enjoyed this first glimpse of the new season as much as we did.

With longer days and rising temperatures, the actual work starts. Time to catch up on sowing seeds, and capture rising day light. For summer crops such as tomatoes, it is important to continue growing indoors. For fast growing ones such as cucumbers, zucchini, beans, still wait until mid-April to sow as they can become very large before transplant.

🌿 Mark your calendars: 11 May 🌿
The most exciting event of the season is almost here! The No Dig Urban Gardening Course with Charles Dowding—LIVE in Amstelveen! Yes, Charles himself will be here in person to share his revolutionary No Dig methods. Spaces are filling up quickly—check out the details below and secure your spot!

1. What to Sow / Transplant this month?

New vegetables to start this month:

• Chard – Start from mid-April. I prefer sowing at the end of the month for a year-round harvest.

• Fast-growing summer crops (from mid-month): Zucchini, cucumber, sweetcorn, summer beans, pumpkin.

• Half-hardy annual herbs & flowers – Basil, marigold, cosmos, zinnias, nasturtium, sunflower, rudbeckia.

If you missed sowing in March, there's still time for:

• Tomatoes and artichokes – Indoors, preferably as soon as possible.

• Broad beans and celeriac – Sow in the first two weeks of April for best results.

• Crops that can be sown all month – Peas, lettuce, carrots, parsnip, beets, celery, spring onions, leeks (autumn/overwinter varieties), and cold-hardy herbs.

🌿 We had amazing results of our seed range, with 19 out of 19 tomatoes germinated truly beautifully! Find everything you need at Backyard Goodness.

Pinching out our superb growing peppers - to be transplanted mid April indoor garden and early May to outdoor garden

2. What seeds to get ready for May?

As most of our half-hardy plants will be sown, May’s focus is getting ready for overwintering brassicas as well as succession crops for our half-year crops:

• Autumn / overwintering brassicas; cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale,

• Succession sowings for half-year crops starting from end-of-month; e.g., lettuce, spring onion, beets to be ready as they will be harvested / going to flower around end June / early July

3. Jobs to be Done

• Check for aphids: Indoor-grown vegetables, especially peppers, aubergines, and tomatoes, are prone to aphid infestations during this season. Inspect plants regularly and, if needed, spray with water to dislodge them before they become a bigger issue. Best is to ensure strong seedlings that the aphid damage is maintained until the natural predators kick-in.

• Pinch out your peppers: I like to remove the growing tip from young pepper plants after 3 sets of true leaves. I find that this encourages stronger root development and bushier growth, leading to healthier plants and a more productive harvest later in the season.

• Top up peppers, aubergines, and tomatoes: Check the root ball in your seedlings to top up where needed. As these plants start growing faster, they will benefit from being moved into larger pots until eventually transplanted in the soil. This allows their roots more space to develop before transplanting them into their final positions.

• Support taller plants: Peas and broad beans will need extra support as they continue to grow. Use string and stakes to help them stay upright and develop stronger stems, preventing damage from wind or their own weight.

• Clear beds and weed removal: As the soil warms up, so do the weeds. Stay ahead by removing them when they are still small, just as seedlings, before they root deeply. A quick surface-level hoeing, especially on a dry day, or gently hand-pulling now will save you from a much bigger job later.

• Slug Checks: Though sunny weather helps reduce slug activity, be prepared in case of rain. Regularly check for slugs around tender seedlings and lay down traps if needed. Natural solutions like slug collars and nematodes can help manage populations before they become a problem.

4. Harvests & Seasonal Chef tips

• Braised Fennel: A deeply flavorful, caramelized take on fennel that brings out its natural sweetness. Perfect as a side or a standalone dish. Get inspired here.

• Roasted Fennel with Full Use: No waste, all flavor! This roasted fennel dish makes use of the entire vegetable for a delicious and sustainable meal. Check out the recipe here.

• Winter Purslane Salad: A fresh, nutrient-packed salad that makes the most of winter purslane’s delicate, lemony flavor. Light, refreshing, and perfect for any meal. See the full inspiration here.

• Pak Choy & Leek Ramen Soup: A warming, umami-rich soup that combines silky pak choy and sweet leeks in a comforting broth. A perfect way to enjoy homegrown greens. Recipe inspiration here.

5. BYG Updates

On Sunday, 11 May, Charles Dowding will be hosting a special No Dig Urban Gardening Course at MOES Tuinen in Amstelveen. This event is perfect for gardeners, educators, and urban growers of all levels.

The course will cover the principles of No Dig gardening, showing how to save time while achieving abundant harvests. You’ll learn how to set up productive beds, sow seeds, and grow popular summer vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, this course will empower you with simple, effective techniques to transform your gardening approach.

We’re also excited to host this event in our brand-new 100m²+ Education Garden, where you’ll get hands-on experience applying the No Dig methods in practice.

Spaces are limited, so make sure to reserve your spot soon!

As a special thank you to the Backyard Goodness community, we’re offering an exclusive 10% discount on tickets with the code BACKYARDGOODNESS10.

This is just the start of an exciting year ahead, filled with new events, garden developments, and more gardening inspiration. Stay tuned for updates—you won’t want to miss what we have planned!

See you in our next newsletter in May 2025!

In case of any questions in the meanwhile, feel free to reach out.