What to Sow in April in : A Flower Farmer’s Guide from Naas

April is when many flowers start in the garden. The soil begins to warm up and the light stretches into the evening, providing ideal conditions for the first seedlings to grow.

Here on my flower farm in Naas, April is a month of both patience and possibility. The weather can still surprise us with cold nights, but the days can be mild. This is when the season truly begins to take shape.

Below is what I’m sowing, planting, and tending this month — shared in the hope that it helps you shape your own cut flower patch in your garden.

Close‑up of Irish-grown sweet pea cultivated without artificial fertilisers

Hardy Annuals to Sow Outdoors

These flowers don’t mind cool nights and will reward you with early summer colour.

  • Nigella (Love‑in‑a‑Mist)

  • Calendula

  • Ammi majus

Close‑up of Irish-grown calendula cultivated without artificial fertilisers

Sow them directly in the beds where they will grow. They prefer not to be fussed with and will germinate when the temperature is ideal.


Half‑Hardy Annuals to Start Under Cover

These flowers need a little protection for now, but they’ll burst into life once the risk of frost has passed. 

  • Cosmos

  • Zinnias

  • Marigolds

  • Statice

  • Celosia


Close‑up of Irish-grown celosia cultivated without artificial fertilisers


I start these in trays in the polytunnel, where the warmth encourages strong, sturdy seedlings. They’ll be ready to plant out in late May, once the nights settle. If you do not have a polytunnel or a greenhouse, you can start these in a sheltered area like a cold frame or indoors along a windowsill.  


Perennials to Plant or Divide

April is a wonderful time to refresh your perennial beds.

  • Achillea (Yarrow)

  • Echinacea

  • Rudbeckia

  • Shasta daisies

  • Phlox

Close‑up of Irish-grown rudbeckia cultivated without artificial fertilisers

Dividing established clumps now gives them time to root in before summer, and it’s one of the simplest ways to expand your garden without buying new plants.


Wildflowers for Pollinators

Supporting local ecology is at the heart of Gardens of Arduinna, and April is perfect for sowing wildflowers that will feed bees, butterflies, and hoverflies all season long. Here are some wildflower varieties you can grow:

  • Red clover

  • Oxeye daisy

  • Field scabious

  • Meadow buttercup

Close‑up of Irish-grown daisy cultivated without artificial fertilisers



Scatter them in a sunny patch, rake lightly, and let nature do the rest.


A Note on the Irish Climate in April

Here in Kildare, April can be a month with sudden weather changes — warm afternoons followed by unexpectedly cold nights. I keep a close eye on the forecast and use:

  • Ventilation in the tunnel to prevent damping off

  • Mulch to keep soil temperatures steady


A Glimpse Behind the Scenes

April sowings of hardy annuals and perennials at Gardens of Arduinna, Naas, County Kildare.


On the farm this month, the benches are full of seedlings. Sweet peas, the first tulips, and the beds are waking from their winter rest. There’s a sense of anticipation for many blooms to come. All these April sowings will become the  flower bouquets that will be available in out shop in the months to come.

 


If you’d like to follow the garden month by month — or be the first to know when flowers are available — you’re welcome to join my newsletter or keep an eye on the shop.