London in April: what to plant
Over the last 5 years, April in London has run 6.3–15.2°C with about 38 mm of rain across the month. Here is what weather like that will carry to harvest.
Everything above is a five-year average. In the game it is this — the weather London is actually having, today.
Grow one in London's weather right now →❄️ In 2 of the last 5 years, London saw at least one night at or below 0°C in April (record low -3.1°C). Cold-sensitive crops need cover.
🗓️ This month sits inside the frost-free window. Average last spring frost around Mar 9, first autumn frost around Nov 21 — roughly 257 frost-free days. Sow tender crops after the last frost date and make sure they finish before the first.
☀️ About 9.8 h of sunshine a day this month. Temperatures hold steady through the month.
Sow this month — when would you harvest?
Assuming you sow in mid-April, then adding up the warmth London usually gets, one day at a time — which is why some of these run past the end of the month.
| Crop | Days | Harvest around |
|---|---|---|
| 🌿 Dill | 63 | Jun 16 |
| 🥬 Bok Choy | 54 | Jun 7 |
| 🫛 Peas | 69 | Jun 22 |
| 🌿 Rocket | 42 | May 26 |
| ⚪ Daikon radish | 70 | Jun 23 |
| 🌿 Chrysanthemum greens | 51 | Jun 4 |
| ⚪ Turnip | 57 | Jun 10 |
| 🟣 Beetroot | 69 | Jun 22 |
| 🍒 Cherry Radish | 40 | May 24 |
| 🍓 Strawberry | 72 | Jun 25 |
| 🫘 Broad bean | 79 | Jul 2 |
| 🏵️ Marigold | 76 | Jun 29 |
🌡️ Chili Pepper, Yardlong bean, Bitter melon, Luffa, Winter melon, Aubergine, Okra never accumulate enough heat outdoors in London — not in any month. Locally these need a greenhouse or a warm windowsill.
Best crops to sow now
- 🌿 Dill Ideal about 97 days to harvest Recent mean 10.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🥬 Bok Choy Ideal about 79 days to harvest Recent mean 10.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🫛 Peas Ideal about 105 days to harvest Recent mean 10.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌿 Rocket Ideal about 56 days to harvest Recent mean 10.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- ⚪ Daikon radish Ideal about 108 days to harvest Recent mean 10.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌿 Chrysanthemum greens Ideal about 74 days to harvest Recent mean 10.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- ⚪ Turnip Ideal about 84 days to harvest Recent mean 10.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🟣 Beetroot Ideal about 105 days to harvest Recent mean 10.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍒 Cherry Radish Ideal about 53 days to harvest Recent mean 10.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍓 Strawberry Ideal about 112 days to harvest Recent mean 10.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🫘 Broad bean Ideal about 123 days to harvest Recent mean 10.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🏵️ Marigold Marginal about 162 days to harvest Recent mean 10.7°C is too cold (ideal 12–30°C)
Leave these for another month
- 🌶️ Okra — Recent mean 10.7°C is too cold (ideal 20–33°C)
- 🍆 Aubergine — Recent mean 10.7°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
- 🍈 Winter melon — Recent mean 10.7°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
Other months in London
📍 Somewhere else? Look up your own city →
Temperature and rainfall come from Open-Meteo's historical observations for London, averaged day by day over the last 5 years. Whether a crop finishes in time is worked out from its own starting temperature and heat requirement — those numbers are listed on each crop page if you want to check them.