Newick Horticultural Society Blog

APRIL

April is a strange month in the garden, don't you think? The weeds have really started flourishing, the spring bulbs (depending on the weather) may  be on the wain, and it's probably showery, with some warm sunny days... BUT we all remember snow at Easter! And your windowsills are possibly bursting with seedlings waiting for a more predictable May.

Probably because it's so unreliable, there are many examples of garden lore tied to April. Chaucer is the earliest I can find, in his Canterbury Tales of c1360.

"Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote, the droghte of March hath perced to the root".

Weather forecasts in Medieval times were probably just a collection of sayings like this! But even 700 years ago, farmers were trying to predict spring weather. Not much has changed, has it!?!

Here are a couple more:

"If it thunders on All Fool's Day, it brings good crops of corn & hay".

"A cold & wet April fills the cellar & fattens the cow".

 And, of course: "April showers bring May flowers".

By the end of April the sun is higher in the sky, so days are longer.  Apparently the sunshine is now just as strong as in August. I'm not sure if that says more about August than April! 

Not without it's challenges then, April, especially for the gardener. But, if we're lucky, and mother nature is kind, April will set us up for a great May, and a strong start for the rest of the growing season. 

After all, the word April comes from the Latin word 'aperire' meaning 'to open' - this second month of spring is bursting with buds and new growth. 

Just hopefully, not too many!

Kate F