April in the Serra de Monchique means one thing above all else: it is time to head to the market. Every month at the São Teotónio market you will find local growers selling young vegetable plants — tomatoes, aubergines, cucumbers, leeks, onions — exactly what you need to get the warm season started. We are going this Monday. If you have been there too, you probably recognise us in the queue.
This year the nights stayed cool unusually late — right into the end of March. But temperatures are rising fast now and the soil is warming. The second week of April is when we plan to plant. With El Niño building this year, a hotter and drier summer than usual is likely for the Algarve — another good reason to get plants in the ground while conditions are still comfortable and not wait any longer.
Understanding Climate Zones
As with all our seasonal posts, the timing of sowing and planting depends on where you garden. April looks very different depending on your climate.
Mild winter climate — USDA Zone 9–10, Köppen Csa
This is the climate of the Serra de Monchique, the western Algarve, southern Spain, coastal Italy, Southern California, central Chile, parts of South Africa and southwestern Australia. Winters are cool and damp, spring comes early and by April the soil is reliably warm. The warm season is beginning.
Cooler temperate climate — USDA Zone 7–8, Köppen Cfb
This includes the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, northern France and northern Spain highlands. April here is still early spring — cool nights, unreliable warmth and a real risk of late frost. The advice below is written for the mild winter climate. If you garden in a cooler climate, use April to start tomatoes and courgettes indoors in trays and wait until May or June before transplanting outside.
What April means in the Serra de Monchique
April sits at a turning point. The cool season crops — broad beans, peas, winter lettuce, spinach — are finishing or already done. The soil has warmed and cold nights are becoming rare, though not impossible in the higher parts of the serra. By the second week of April conditions are usually good enough to transplant the warm season crops.
This month also marks the beginning of irrigation. From April onwards, and certainly from May, the garden depends on regular watering. If you have not yet set up your irrigation system, do it now — before the heat arrives in earnest.
What to sow directly in April
| Crop | Notes |
|---|---|
| Onions | Sow directly or plant sets — conditions still suit them well in early April |
| Peas | Last chance — peas do not like the heat. Sow now or wait until autumn |
| Carrots | Soil is warm enough for good germination — prepare a well-loosened stone-free bed |
| Radishes | Fast and reliable — ready in 3 to 4 weeks, good for filling gaps |
| Lettuce and leafy greens | Last sowings before the heat makes them bolt |
What to start in trays in April
| Crop | Notes |
|---|---|
| Courgettes | Start in trays from mid-April — they grow fast and will be ready to transplant in May |
| Squash and pumpkins | Same timing as courgettes — start indoors and transplant when nights are reliably warm |
What to transplant from trays or buy as seedlings
This is the main event of April — moving the warm season crops out into the garden. In the Serra de Monchique the second week of April is usually the right moment, though this year with the late cool nights we are waiting until conditions feel right.
| Crop | Notes |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Transplant from the second week of April — do not rush if nights are still cool |
| Aubergines | Same timing as tomatoes — they love heat and establish quickly once the soil is warm |
| Cucumbers | Transplant into a warm sheltered spot — they are sensitive to cold |
| Courgettes | If you started them in March they will be ready to go out in April |
| Leeks | Transplant seedlings now — they have a long slow growing season ahead |
| Onions | Buy seedlings and plant out this month |
| Lettuce seedlings | Still a good option in early April — harvest before the heat arrives |
| Chard and fast leafy greens | Quick to establish — harvest regularly before summer heat arrives |
Where to find seedlings: The São Teotónio monthly market is one of the best sources in April. Local growers sell young plants of tomatoes, aubergines, cucumbers and more — well adapted to the local climate and at very reasonable prices. Agricultural coops and garden centres in the western Algarve also stock young plants through April and May.
Your April shopping list — free download
Heading to the market? Download and print this free checklist so you know exactly what to look for. It includes what to buy as seedlings, what to sow directly and what to start in trays this month — plus a reminder of what not to do in April.
👉 Download the April Market Shopping List (PDF)
Upload this PDF to your WordPress media library first, then update the link above with the correct media URL.
A note on cold nights in the higher serra
In the higher parts of the Serra de Monchique, cold nights can occur into early April. This year that has been particularly true — nights stayed cool later than usual. If you are at altitude, wait until nights are consistently above 10°C before transplanting tomatoes and aubergines.
A fleece cover on cold nights can protect young plants if you want to start a little earlier. By late April the risk is minimal even at higher elevations.
A note on El Niño
With El Niño building this year, a hotter and drier summer than usual is likely for the Algarve and southern Portugal. This makes April planting even more important — getting warm season crops established early, while the weather is still comfortable, gives them the best chance of producing well before the intense summer heat arrives.
Make sure your irrigation is ready and consider adding mulch around transplanted seedlings to conserve moisture from the start.
What not to do in April
Do not sow courgettes directly outdoors yet — start them in trays first. A cold night can set back outdoor-sown courgettes significantly.
Do not transplant tomatoes into cold soil — a tomato planted in soil that is still too cool will stall. Feel the soil with your hand before planting. It should feel warm, not cool.
Do not transplant in full midday sun — choose early morning or late afternoon. Even with immediate watering, a seedling transplanted in full midday heat in April will struggle.
Do not let finished cool season crops go to seed unnecessarily — pull them out, add them to the compost and prepare the beds for the warm season crops coming in.
For cooler temperate climates — Zone 7–8
If you garden in a cooler climate, April is still an indoor month for warm season crops. Use it to start tomatoes, peppers and aubergines in trays indoors if you have not already. Start courgettes and cucumbers indoors from mid-April.
You can sow salad leaves, radishes and spinach outdoors under cover, and plant onion sets outdoors — they tolerate cool conditions well. Your transplanting moment comes in May or June when the risk of frost has passed.
Come and learn it in the garden
April is when the garden is at its most active — and the best time to learn. Our next 101 Starters Course is planned for 23–24 May at Monchique Homestead, right when the warm season is in full swing and there is real planting and tending to do in the garden.
If you would like to learn all of this hands on, come and join us.
