People are taking advantage of the longer days since the clocks went forward, spending more time outdoors, especially in the warm sunshine. However, take care if you're planting seedlings or young plants, as there's still a chance of overnight frost - don't risk losing them by planting too soon!
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Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by the mild and sunny Easter weather, as the Met Office is forecasting a cold snap across the UK. In northern England and Scotland, the temperature may even drop below freezing in mid-April, with up to 2cm snow possible on high ground!
The cold snap is predicted across Europe but is expected to subside after around a week, bringing generally drier and calmer weather. However, the temperature will still be a little lower than the UK April average of 54°F.
The best thing allotment holders and gardeners can do is keep an eye on the weather forecast and be prepared to cover at-risk plants or take them indoors if they're in pots, should a cold snap come.
Planting and sowing
This is the time to be planting your seed potatoes - a job that needs to be completed by the end of April. In the event of a frost, cover any emerging shoots with soil. Also, plant onions, carrots, beetroot, parsnips, spring onions, lettuce, spinach, turnips, radish and peas in April.
Towards the end of the month, sow the climbing French beans and runner beans. You should sow the latter under glass, in pots and in trays filled with fresh compost. As with all other vegetables, protect them from frost.
Prepare a seedbed to sow summer cabbage and leeks. Keep all your plants well-watered throughout the spring and summer. April is also time to sow the seeds of sweetcorn, pumpkins, courgettes and cucumber. Weather permitting, it should be safe to take the greenhouse tomatoes to their final positions, although you need to keep frost protection on hand.
Don't let artichokes overrun your allotment - if left to their own devices, they can develop into an impenetrable forest! If you plant up an asparagus bed for the first time, it will take a couple of years before it produces succulent plants. Your Brussels sprouts should also be thinned out this month.
Pests and diseases
Check for the first sightings of aphids in April and take the appropriate action. You can spray affected plants with soapy water containing diluted washing up liquid as an alternative to insecticides if you prefer. You can also spray a fatty acid soap solution on affected plants.
If you're growing strawberries, you'll need to protect them with netting to stop birds and squirrels from eating them.
As one of the most prevalent pests, the common slug will eat just about anything that is growing in your garden. If you don't want to kill them, you can buy humane slug traps to catch them and relocate them to an open area away from the allotment and people's gardens.
Alternatively, encourage natural predators such as hedgehogs, by putting out food for them. Also have areas where they can make their nests, such as dense undergrowth and long grass. Hedgehogs love to munch on snails, slugs and bugs, so they will naturally keep pest numbers down.
Tending community gardens
This is a great time for creating a community garden for local people, which will provide physical and mental benefits. Not only does it connect people, but it also enables participants to grow fresh food for everyone to enjoy.
First, you need to identify a suitable plot of land for your project and then contact the local authority, or check on the UK Government website, to find out who owns the land, so you can seek permission to create a community garden.
You will also need to take out public liability insurance to protect people from injuries and other unforeseen issues. Involve as many people as you can such as local groups, businesses and schools - get their support.
While it's necessary to remember the guidelines of the COVID-19 lockdown, the restrictions are gradually being eased. As people can begin to meet outdoors again, working in a community garden can be an ideal place to socialise.
The potential benefits of a community garden project are multiple. As well as growing fresh fruit and veg, physical exercise is helpful after months in lockdown. In addition, gardening is good for mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Gardening is a natural stress reliever, according to research carried out in November 2020. Participants were asked to carry out either 30 minutes of reading or 30 minutes of gardening. While both activities resulted in a reduction in stress, those who were gardening reported significantly greater feelings of wellbeing.
Simply being outdoors in the sunlight can improve our mood, as it provides a good dose of vitamin D, which is good for our health, as is the fresh air that comes with gardening, so it's a win-win pastime.
What do you need for gardening?
Make gardening easier by having a comprehensive and well-organised selection of clothing, tools and equipment at your fingertips. First, have some comfy gardening clothes and footwear that you can slip into, plus some thick and durable gardening gloves. These will protect your hands from thorns, callouses and insect bites.
Have a good selection of gardening tools at the ready on the allotment. Make sure you store hand tools in protective containers - you will know exactly where to find them and it will prevent rain and damp from causing rust. You will also need a larger, sturdy, water-resistant storage container for everything from larger tools to electric gardening equipment.
You can keep the storage containers in your shed, or even in a larger outside storage cabinet to maximise your storage space, as long as you get one that can be padlocked.
Rather than having to transport tools to and from your allotment each trip, it's more convenient to keep them there. Clean your tools before putting them away, as this will keep them in better condition.
Finally, go and enjoy the many rewards of gardening!