What Do You Plant in April?

You may or may not experience the proverbial April showers, but I hope you can get outside and enjoy spring in the garden this month.

Up in the Chicago area, I'm in the middle of my first cool season of the year, which means I'll be harvesting loads of salad greens this month and waiting on the shoulders of my French breakfast radishes and carrots to pop up and say, "Pick me!" Even though my final frost date isn't until mid-May, there's still so much I look forward to planting in April in my kitchen garden.

Before you can know what you're able to plant in your area, you need to figure out which growing season you'll be in for the majority of the month. Follow these simple steps to name your growing season.

Step One: Chart Your Highs and Lows

It’s time to use the internet to become further acquainted with your climate.

Google the average high and low temperatures for your town, county, city, or zip code for the months of April and May. If you’re in the United States, U.S. Climate Data is a helpful website that’s easy to use. Otherwise, you can search RSS Weather.

Step Two: Define Your Season

Rather than your garden zone, the goal is to understand your particular growing seasons. Once you know your seasons, you’ll have a better idea of what’s possible when in your unique garden, and to understand your seasons, all you need to know is the general weather for each month of the year in your area.  

As I said, we're in the middle of our cool season in the Chicago area. My friends down in Houston are enjoying the first of their two warm seasons (before their hot season arrives with a bang in June).

Here's a breakdown of the different growing seasons:

• Cold Season - Average high temperature below 30°F (-1°C); guaranteed chance of frost/snow
• Cool Season - Average high temperature between 31°F and 64°F; likely chance of frost/snow
• Warm Season - Average high temperature between 65°F and 84°F (18.3°C and 29.4°C); no chance of frost/snow
• Hot Season - Average high temperature of 85°F (29.4°C) or above; no chance of anything close to cold

Now that you know your current growing season, all you have to do is figure out which plants like to grow in your season. Don't worry—I'm about to tell you!

Choose plants that will grow and produce within the time you have left in your current growing season. March was most likely the best time to plant for your current season in the garden, but it's not too late to plant some of your favorites, especially if they're small and short plants like radishes, which are typically ready to harvest after just 45 days in your cool season garden.

For small plants, we can begin to direct seed them in the garden. For large plants, we can start them indoors or buy starter plants from a local nursery or garden center. Here's our guide to knowing when to start seeds indoors and which seeds to prioritize.

Know Your Last Frost Date

You'll count back from your predicted last frost date to help you know what you can plant and when. Click here to find your last frost date in the US.

By subtracting 45 days from your last frost date, you can determine when you can begin starting warm season season plants like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil seeds. In Chicago, that's March 31st.

If you live in a warmer climate, it's already time to start anticipating your hot season. Instead of counting back from your frost date, you'll subtract 45 days from the first month where your average high temperature exceeds 85 degrees. That's when you'll start your hot season plants indoors.

I don't have to plan an indoor planting day for large hot season plants because Chicago doesn't have a hot season. My Houston friends, who most certainly experience a hot season, will start their hot season plants indoors around the middle of April.

Keep reading for some recommendations based on your growing season in April.

What plants can you plant in cooler areas in April?

Here's what you can buy, direct sow, and start from seed indoors this month for your cool season:

BUY

Larger plants from the Brassica family, such as kale, broccoli, and cauliflower, will have more time to grow and thrive in your cool season garden if you buy them as transplants from your local nursery or garden center now. Buying herbs is also a good idea so that you can maximize their time in the garden and begin cutting herbs immediately.

PLANT

You can plant swiss chard, beets, spinach, celery, carrots, radishes, mustard, cabbage, and lettuce varieties. If you have at least 60 days left in your cool season, you can plant cilantro, parsley, and dill.

I typically start plants like Napa cabbage and kale indoors around mid February and move them outdoors in late March. I don't have to worry about these Brassicas if we get a late-season frost or two. Once I've got these bigger plants transplanted outdoors in my raised beds, I come in with my favorite lettuce seeds, Rocky Top lettuce mix from Baker Creek Seeds, and fill in the holes.

START SEEDS

At the beginning of April (or about 45 days before your final frost date), it's time to start your seeds for medium and large warm season plants indoors if you haven't already done so. That includes tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil.

What plants can you plant in warmer areas in April?

Here's what you can buy, direct sow, and start from seed indoors this month for your warm season:

BUY

If you didn't already start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants indoors, it's best to buy these plants as starts from your local nursery and plant them outdoors. That way, you'll maximize their time in the garden before it gets too hot outside for them to thrive.

PLANT

You can plant seeds for arugula, cucumbers, beans, squash, and zucchini outdoors, directly in your garden. You can also plant potatoes, but I recommend planting them outside of your raised beds.

START SEEDS

Believe it or not, it's time to start seeds for your hot season garden indoors, if you haven't already. Okra is a great plant that thrives in heat. If you're a tomatillo fan, make sure to have at least two healthy plants ready to transplant to your garden to ensure proper pollination.

What to Plant Outdoors in April

COOL SEASON

• mustard
• kale
• cabbage
• broccoli
• cauliflower
• lettuce
• beets
• swiss chard
• spinach
• carrots
• celery
• radishes
• herbs (except basil)

WARM SEASON

• arugula
• cucumbers
• beans
• squash
• zucchini
• basil
• tomatoes
• peppers
• eggplant
• potatoes

What Seeds to Start Indoors in April

COOL CLIMATES

• tomatoes
• eggplants
• peppers
• basil

WARM CLIMATES

• okra
• tomatillos
• large gourds
• large melons

What are the best flowers to plant in April?

Zinnia seeds, calendula seeds, strawflower seeds, and marigold seeds can be planted outdoors once your final threat of frost has passed, or you can start them inside now. Wait a few weeks after your last predicted frost to plant your nasturtium seeds. You can also plant chamomile and calendula.

If you're in a warmer climate, cosmos, petunias, and begonias planted now will continue to thrive through your hot season.

No matter what you plant, give your seeds a really good watering in and keep them moist in the first seven to ten days after sowing to prevent them from drying out. If you're new to starting seeds, check out our comprehensive video tutorials on seed starting in our membership program, Gardenary 365. You can start a free trial today and learn what supplies you need, how to prevent your seedlings from getting leggy, the best method to water your seedlings, and more.

If you're still getting your kitchen garden set up, learn more through Gardenary's many resources:

• Order a custom garden design through our virtual garden design service.
• Get started with my book, Kitchen Garden Revival.

Another great resource to help you know what to plant when in your area is the nearest garden consultant to you. Find a Garden Consultant near you in our Directory. Follow them on social media or sign up for their newsletter for an easy way to know what's possible to grow in your area each month.

Whatever you grow in your garden, don't grow alone! We're here to help you have confidence and find success in the garden every step of the way, rain or shine or frost.

Here's to maximizing your growing time this April for a wonderful spring harvest!