April is the most exciting month in the Irish garden. The days are lengthening, the soil is slowly warming, and the window to get seeds started is wide open. But Ireland’s spring is unpredictable. A cold snap in mid-April can undo weeks of work. This guide tells you exactly what to sow now, what to start indoors, and what to hold off on until the risk of frost has passed.

Every variety listed below is in stock at BloomySeeds, the Official Irish Partner of Franchi Sementi (Est. 1783), and available to order today, shipped from Ireland.

Vegetables to Sow in April in Ireland

Tomatoes (Start Indoors)

Tomatoes need a long growing season and should be started indoors in April. Sow in small pots or trays on a warm windowsill. A south-facing window is ideal. They need consistent warmth (at least 18°C) to germinate well.

Keep seedlings indoors until after the May Bank Holiday weekend, when frost risk in most of Ireland has passed. Harden off gradually over a week before moving outside or into a polytunnel.

We carry eleven tomato varieties:

• San Marzano, the classic Italian plum tomato for sauces and passata
• Redorta, giant San Marzano type, one of Italy’s most prized sauce tomatoes
• Cuor di Bue, heirloom beefsteak of Liguria, extraordinary flavour
• Principe Borghese, the traditional hanging tomato, excellent for drying
• Rio Grande Toboga, determinate outdoor variety, excellent for preserving
• Zloty Ozarowski, Polish heirloom yellow tomato with superb sweet flavour
• Red Pear Tomato, Italian heirloom cherry, distinctive pear shape, great for containers
• Yellow Pear-Shaped Tomato, early, vigorous, sweet yellow cherry
• Black Cherry Tomato, early sweet dark cherry with rich flavour
• Red Cherry Tomato, early indeterminate cherry, reliable in Irish summers
• Tomato Marasca F1, early sweet mini bush tomato, compact and productive

Courgettes, Squash and Marrow (Start Indoors)

Sow on their side in individual 9cm pots indoors in April. They germinate fast and grow quickly, so do not sow too early or they will outgrow their pots before it is safe to plant out. Plan to transplant in late May or early June.

• Courgette Striato d’Italia, the classic Italian striped zucchini, excellent flavour
• Courgette Gold Rush F1, bright yellow zucchini, very productive
• Zucchetta Tromba d’Albenga, climbing Italian heirloom squash, stunning in the garden
• Delica F1 Squash, dark green kabocha-type pumpkin, excellent for storage
• Uchiki Kuri Squash, Japanese Red Kuri heirloom, beautiful and delicious
• Marrow Dwarf of Italy, compact Italian bush marrow, ideal for smaller gardens

Beans and Peas (Direct Outdoors or Indoors)

French beans and runner beans can be started indoors in April and planted out in late May. Peas can be direct sown outdoors from mid-April.

Peas to sow now:

• Desiree Purple-Podded Pea, striking purple pods, early and half-tall
• Dwarf Pea Piccolo Provenzale, compact heritage variety, great for small plots
• Pea Dark Skin Perfection, a classic heritage variety with excellent yield
• Climbing Pea Telefono, tall climber, heavy cropper, traditional Italian variety

Broad beans to sow or support now:

• Broad Bean Aguadulce Supersimonia, extra-long pods, up to 9 beans each. Give existing plants support with canes and string as they reach 30 to 40cm tall.

French beans to start indoors for late May planting:

• S. Anna Climbing French Bean, early stringless green pods
• Neckargold Climbing French Bean, long stringless yellow pods
• Purple-Podded Climbing French Bean, beautiful purple pods that turn green when cooked
• Dwarf French Bean Boby Bianco, heritage dwarf variety, excellent yield

Cucumbers and Gherkins (Start Indoors)

Frost-tender. Start indoors in April, transplant outside after mid-May into a sheltered spot.

• Cucumber Sakamari F1, Japanese English-type, reliable and productive
• Cucumber Vintage Marketmore, outdoor ridge cucumber in heritage Vintage format
• Cetriolino Piccolo Verde di Parigi, the classic Italian gherkin for pickling

Peppers and Chillies (Start Indoors)

Peppers and chillies need a long warm season. Start indoors in April on a sunny windowsill or in a heated propagator. Grow on in a polytunnel for best results in Ireland.

• Peperone Dulce Italiano, sweet Italian bull’s horn pepper, superb roasted
• Padron Chilli, the Spanish tapas pepper, mainly mild with the occasional hot one
• Jalapeño, classic Mexican hot pepper, reliable in a polytunnel
• Chilli Red Cherry Small, hot Calabrian heritage chilli
• Ciliegia Piccante, Satan’s Kiss cherry chilli, intensely hot and visually stunning

Lettuce and Salad Leaves (Direct Outdoors)

Lettuce is one of the easiest crops to direct sow in April. Rake a fine seedbed and sow thinly in shallow drills. Sow little and often, a short row every two to three weeks, for a continuous harvest rather than a glut.

• Bis di Lattughe, early cutting lettuce mix, cut-and-come-again
• Mixed Lettuces, heritage blend of Italian varieties
• Lettuce Romana Bionda, blond-green Romaine, slow to bolt
• Organic Lettuce Bionda Ricciolina, frilly blond cut-and-come-again
• Iceberg Lettuce Regina dei Ghiacci, crisp heirloom iceberg, slow to bolt
• Lettuce Vintage Blond, slow-bolting crisphead, well suited to Irish springs
• Escarole Scarola Verde, Italian classic for braising or salads
• Cultivated Rocket, classic peppery Italian arugula
• Rocket Vintage Cultivated, Italian wild rocket in heritage Vintage format

Beetroot (Direct Outdoors)

Beetroot is one of the most forgiving vegetables and does very well in Irish conditions. Sow direct from mid-April, 2cm deep in rows 30cm apart. Soak the seeds overnight before sowing to speed up germination.

• Beetroot Detroit, a classic heritage variety, reliable, sweet and perfect for roasting

Carrots (Direct Outdoors)

Carrots need a light, stone-free soil and do not transplant well, so always sow direct. From late April the soil should be warm enough for reliable germination. Sow thinly, 1cm deep, in rows 30cm apart. Do not over-water. Carrots in waterlogged soil fork and split.

• Carrot Nantese di Chioggia, sweet cylindrical Italian variety, reliable in Irish conditions
• Carrot Mix, colourful blend of medium-early varieties
• Cosmic Purple Carrot, deep purple skin with a sweet orange core
• Carrot Flakkee Gigante, large late variety for long-term storage
• Carrot Touchon, fast-growing French heirloom, excellent flavour
• Carrot Berlicum, sweet maincrop heirloom, long cylindrical roots
• Carrot Vintage Half Length, ideal for heavier Irish soils or container growing

Radish and Quick Crops (Direct Outdoors)

• Mixed Colour Radish, red, yellow, white and purple; ready in as little as 25 days
• Radish Vintage Gaudry, early round French radish in Vintage 1928 format
• Spring Onion Cipollotti a Mazzo, bunching allium, harvest when pencil-thin
• Purple Top Milan Turnip, early Italian heirloom, harvest young for tenderness
• Cima di Rapa 40 Days, Italian broccoli raab, ready in just 40 days

Spinach and Swiss Chard (Direct Outdoors)

Both tolerate light frost and grow quickly in cool Irish spring weather.

• Spinach Baby Leaf Emilia F1, fast baby leaf spinach, loves cool weather
• Spinach Vintage Matador, cold-resistant heirloom with giant leaves
• Swiss Chard Colour Mix, vibrant stems, extremely productive
• Swiss Chard Vintage Costa Verde, Italian heritage perpetual spinach
• Cavolo Nero Tuscan Kale, direct sow now for summer and autumn harvest
• Pak Choi, fast-growing Asian greens, ready in 6 to 8 weeks

Leeks (Indoors or Outdoor Seedbed)

April is ideal for leeks. Sow in module trays indoors or in an outdoor seedbed. They will be ready to transplant into their final positions in June or July.

• Porro di Delft, winter-hardy late variety, excellent for Irish conditions

Celery, Artichoke and Other Slower Crops (Indoors)

• Celery Gigante Dorato, sow on the surface of compost without covering, as it needs light to germinate
• Artichoke Green Imperial Star, start indoors now; this Italian heirloom can produce in year one
• Broccolo Ramoso Calabrese, early tender Italian broccoli, transplant outside in May
• Cape Gooseberry, start indoors early for a long productive season
• Wild Strawberry, sow on the surface indoors; a perennial addition to any garden

Herbs to Sow in April in Ireland

Most herbs can be started in April, either on a windowsill or directly outside once night temperatures stay reliably above 5°C.

Basil (Indoors Only in April)

Basil is frost-sensitive and dislikes cold draughts. Sow in April on a warm sunny windowsill. Do not put it outside until June.

• Basil Classico Italiano, classic Genovese basil, the real thing for pesto
• Basil Vintage from Genova, heritage Genovese basil in Vintage 1928 format

Parsley (Direct Outdoors from Mid-April)

• Parsley Vintage Common Flat Leaf, Italian flat-leaf parsley. Slow to germinate, up to 3 to 4 weeks. Soak seeds in warm water overnight to help.

Thyme (Indoors, Slow Germination)

• Timo di Provenza, aromatic perennial herb from Provence. Press seeds lightly onto the surface without covering, as they need light to germinate. Once established, very drought-tolerant in a sunny spot.

Sage and Peppermint (Indoors in April)

• Sage, sow indoors in April; perennial once established
• Peppermint, sow indoors in April; grow in a container to prevent it spreading through the garden

Fennel (Direct Outdoors, Late April)

• Fennel Mantovano, heritage bulbing fennel, sow directly where it is to grow as it dislikes transplanting

Flowers to Sow in April in Ireland

April is perfect for starting annual flowers. Many of our Vintage 1928 collection, the original Franchi Sementi varieties from their 1928 seed catalogue, do beautifully in Ireland.

Calendula (Direct Outdoors, Easiest Flower)

Calendula is almost foolproof. Scatter seeds directly in the border from mid-April. They germinate in 7 to 14 days, flower from June onwards, and self-seed prolifically.

• Calendula a Fiore Semplice Arancio, single open petals beloved by pollinators, edible petals add colour to salads

Marigolds (Indoors in April)

Tagetes are frost-tender. Start indoors in April and plant out after mid-May. Excellent companion plants that deter whitefly near tomatoes.

• Tagete Gigante Multicolor, vivid multicolour marigolds in Vintage 1928 format

Zinnia (Indoors in April)

Zinnias need warmth to thrive. Start indoors in April in 9cm pots. They resent root disturbance, so transplant carefully in late May or June.

• Zinnia Pompon Nana Multicolor, pompom flowers in a mix of colours, one of the best cut flowers you can grow

Sunflowers (Indoors or Direct Outdoors in April)

• Sunflower Red Sun, deep red cut flower variety, dramatic and unusual
• Sunflower Orange Sun, double orange puffball flower, very showy
• Ornamental Sunflower Multicolor, mixed colours for maximum impact

More Vintage 1928 Flowers to Start Indoors

• Scabiosa Multicolor, pincushion flowers, pollinator magnet, excellent for cutting
• Aster Princesse Multicolor, late summer colour, excellent for cutting
• Celosia Cristata Multicolor, architectural blooms from August, dries beautifully
• Gomphrena Globosa Multicolor, globe amaranth, excellent for drying and winter arrangements
• Elicrisio Strawflower Multicolor, everlasting flowers, brilliant dried
• Balsamina a Fior di Camelia, old-fashioned balsam with camellia-like flowers
• Bella di Notte Multicolor, four o’clock flower, opens in the evening
• Ageratum Nano Blu Star, compact blue floss flower for edging and borders
• Margheritina dei Prati, meadow daisy, charming and bee-friendly

Flower Mixes (Indoors or Direct Outdoors)

• Butterfly Flower Mix, colourful annual blend designed to attract butterflies
• Bee-Friendly Flower Mix, annual and perennial blend for pollinators
• Ladybird Flower Mix, annual and biennial blend that attracts beneficial insects
• Pink Summer Flower Mix, soft and deep pink annuals for all-summer colour
• White Summer Flower Mix, elegant white annuals, perfect for a formal look
• Blue Summer Flower Mix, annual blue shades, rare and beautiful in Irish gardens
• Margherita Carinatum Mix, giant multicolour daisies, cheerful and productive
• Perennial Flower Mix, hardy long-blooming blend that comes back every year
• Foxglove Digitale Multicolor, tall biennial spikes, a classic in Irish cottage gardens

Our Vintage Flowers Bundle brings together 12 heritage Italian flower varieties in one order with free delivery.

What NOT to Sow Outdoors Yet in April

Ireland’s last frost date varies enormously by location. In coastal areas, frost risk often ends in mid-April. In the midlands, high ground and north-facing gardens, frost can arrive well into May.

Hold off on direct outdoor sowing of these until late May or early June:

• Runner beans and French beans, wait until soil is reliably warm
• Cucumbers and gherkins, very frost-sensitive
• Basil, even a cold night will damage young plants
• Outdoor tomatoes and courgettes, transplant only, after last frost

April Gardening Tips for Irish Weather

Keep fleece handy. A roll of horticultural fleece is the most useful thing in an Irish garden in April. Drape it over seedlings on cold nights. It can add 2 to 3 degrees C of warmth and protects against late frosts.

Harden off before planting out. Any seedling started indoors needs a week of gradual acclimatisation before being left outside permanently. Put it out during the day, bring it in at night, then leave it out overnight once temperatures are reliably mild.

Watch the soil temperature, not just the calendar. Seeds germinate when the soil reaches the right temperature, not on a particular date. A cheap soil thermometer is a worthwhile investment.

Consider a cold frame. Even a simple cold frame extends your sowing season by 4 to 6 weeks in either direction. It is one of the best investments an Irish gardener can make.

April Sowing Checklist

Print this out and tick as you go:

• ☐ Check soil temperature before direct sowing outdoors (aim for 10°C)
• ☐ Set up seed trays or modules indoors for frost-tender crops
• ☐ Label every tray and pot, seedlings all look the same at this stage
• ☐ Water gently with a fine rose watering can
• ☐ Cover outdoor sowings with fleece if frost is forecast overnight
• ☐ Keep a note of sowing dates to help plan next year
• ☐ Order any missing seeds now, stock sells out by late April

Shop April Seeds at BloomySeeds

All the varieties in this guide are in stock and available to order today. Italian heritage seeds from Franchi Sementi (Est. 1783), delivered across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Our most popular starting point is the Vintage Vegetable Bundle, 12 heritage Italian vegetable varieties for €40 with free delivery.

Shop Vegetable Seeds
Shop Herb Seeds
Shop Flower Seeds
Shop Vintage 1928 Collection

Happy sowing.
Dario, BloomySeeds