In The Greenhouse and Home This April

Ventilate Regularly: 

• As temperatures start to rise, it’s important to ventilate your greenhouse to prevent it from overheating. Open windows and vents to allow fresh air to circulate, especially on warmer days. Proper ventilation helps reduce humidity, which can prevent mold and fungal diseases. 

Manage Humidity: 

• While it’s important to ventilate the greenhouse, also keep an eye on the humidity levels. If it’s too humid, mold, mildew, and fungal diseases can spread. Use a humidity tray or dehumidifier to keep levels in check. You can also use fungicide if needed to prevent disease from taking hold. 

Sow Seeds for Summer Crops: 

April is an excellent time to start sowing seeds for summer crops. Some vegetables and flowers can be sown indoors or in the greenhouse: 

• Tomatoes: Start your tomato seeds indoors in the greenhouse for an early summer harvest. 
• Peppers: Sow pepper seeds in a heated propagator or on a warm windowsill in the greenhouse. 
• Cucumbers: Start sowing cucumber seeds in pots for a late spring or early summer harvest. 
• Beans: You can start sowing broad beans and early varieties of peas in the greenhouse. 
• Flowers: Annual flowers like marigolds, cosmos, and zinnias can be started in the greenhouse for a colorful summer display. 

Watering: 

• Check Moisture Levels: Greenhouses can get quite warm during sunny days, so it’s important to check the moisture level of your plants regularly. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Water early in the day to prevent excess moisture buildup at night, which can encourage fungal growth. 
• Watering Systems: Consider setting up an automatic watering system or a drip irrigation system if you have many plants to water. This will help maintain consistent moisture levels without over-watering. 

Hardening Off Plants: 

• If you have started plants indoors or in the greenhouse, and they’re ready to be moved outside, you need to harden them off gradually. Place them outside for a few hours each day, starting with a couple of hours in the shade, and gradually increase the exposure to sunlight and outdoor conditions over a period of 7-10 days. This will help them acclimatise to outdoor life without shocking them. 

Start Planting Hardy Crops: 

• In early April, you can begin planting hardy crops like lettuce, spinach, kale, and radishes in the greenhouse. These crops can tolerate the cooler temperatures inside the greenhouse and will benefit from the early start to the growing season. 

Protect Sensitive Plants: 

• While April is generally warmer, there can still be cold nights, so be prepared to protect sensitive plants from sudden frosts. Use cloches, fleece, or hessian to cover tender plants if temperatures dip unexpectedly. 

Check for Pests: 

April is a time when pests like aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites can start to appear in the greenhouse. Check plants regularly for any signs of pests, such as curled leaves or sticky residue. 

• Natural Solutions: Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to tackle pests organically. Alternatively, encourage natural predators like ladybirds and lacewings to help control pest numbers. 
• Sticky Traps: Consider placing yellow sticky traps around the greenhouse to capture flying insects like whiteflies. 

Give your houseplants for TLC: 

• The warmer weather and longer light hours will encourage them to grow and they may require more water.

By following these tips, you’ll help your greenhouse thrive throughout April and set your plants up for a successful growing season. Enjoy the gardening process!