Officially, spring in the northern hemisphere is from 20 March to 21 June, which means that there is an enormous choice of seeds that you can plant in April. Of course, your local climate will also play a role, especially if you live in a very cold or very hot growing zone.
So what can you plant in April? A general rule of thumb is to plant cool-season annuals like spinach, cabbage, carrots, and peas in early spring or early fall. In spring they will thrive when temperatures are less than 70 degrees F. Warm-season annuals like eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes, are best planted after the last spring frost when the soil has warmed.
What Seeds to Plant in April
We have chosen a selection of plants that can be planted from seeds indoors in containers and/or directly in your vegetable garden.
Spinach
The best time to plant spinach is in late winter (March) or early spring (April). Because it is a cool-weather vegetable, you can plant again in later summer or early fall, when it’s not too hot.
Onions
Onions are a hardy plant that you can grow throughout the year. But the best time to sow your seeds for onions is early to mid-April for a summer harvest.
You can also plant green onions from early April.
Peppers
Peppers have a relatively long growing season and it’s best to plant them in spring, ideally in early April. It takes 4-5 months for them to grow from seeds to harvest.
Basil
Plant basil in about two weeks after the last spring frost, when the soil has warmed to between 50 and 70 degrees F. It is very easy to grow from seed but is sensitive to frost and very cool weather.
Asparagus
We usually plant asparagus crowns in early April, rather than seeds. These are typically the root base of year-old plants.
Asparagus seeds can take more than 21 days to germinate and two years to mature. Plant seeds about an inch deep in spring when the soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees F.
Radishes
Radishes usually take 3-4 days to sprout from seed and are easy to grow. You can start planting in early spring, about 4-6 weeks before your last expected spring frost.
If you plant throughout spring, you will have radishes to eat until early summer.
Lettuce
Lettuce grows fast and it’s best to sow lettuce seeds in early spring or early in the fall. Avoid growing lettuce in hot weather as it is likely to flower and become bitter.
Celery
The time to plant celery depends largely on your climate. It’s a cool-weather crop, best planted in early April in cool spring and summer regions.
If you live in a warm region, rather hang on until mid-to late-summer.
Peas
In Ireland, the traditional day to plant peas is St. Patrick’s Day, which is on March 17. This is only because there’s a very short growing season for peas. It’s also ideal to plant both garden and sweet peas in early spring (April), the same time as bush beans.
Oregano
Since it’s best to plant oregano in spring once all possibility of frost has passed, April is the month.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a cool-season crop that you can plant in spring or late summer, taking frost dates into account.
If started indoors, it’s best to sow your seeds 6-8 weeks before your last expected spring frost. Sow seeds outdoors 2-3 weeks before you expect the last frost.
Cabbage
Sow cabbage seeds in April for a welcome summer harvest. You can also start seeds indoors in early spring (up to the first week of April) and plant seedlings in late April and May.
Rosemary
Recommended for warm, humid areas, you can grow rosemary successfully from seed, even though it is slow to grow.
Plant seeds when the soil is about 70 degrees F, usually early April. They grow slowly, so be patient.
Stevia
Stevia isn’t as easy to grow from seed like most other culinary herbs. Most local nurseries stock cuttings, which simplifies the growing process.
Stevia can be started from seed indoors in late winter through spring.
Lobelia
Great for edging a vegetable garden, lobelias are grown successfully in most U.S. hardiness zones. Plant in spring when there’s unlikely to be more frost.
Carrots
You can sow your seeds from early April until the end of July, planting every 3-4 weeks to ensure a continuous harvest until mid-summer.
Marjoram
Like Oregano, marjoram is best planted in spring after the last expected spring frost. In most areas, this will be in early April.
Cauliflower
Like broccoli, cauliflower is sensitive to hot weather, so it’s best to start seeds indoors and plant as early in April as possible.
Melons
Even though different types of melons have different demands, a good rule of thumb is to sow your seeds a week to 10 days before the last expected spring frost. In most states, this will be during April.
Pansies
One of those deliciously beautiful, edible flowers, pansies can add visual delight to any vegetable garden. Plant in early spring (April) or in the fall.
Chrysanthemum
Deliciously colorful, chrysanthemum is a type of daisy that is also grown as a herb. There are many types, but the key is to plant the seeds in spring (or in the fall).
Thyme
If you live in a frost-free area you can plant your thyme in your vegetable garden in early spring. If you get frost, rather start the seeds indoors.
Eggplant
Aubergine or eggplant is a frost-tender crop that grows in USDA Zones 3-10. Sow your seeds from January to April to be ready to transplant between April and June.
In warmer climates, you can sow your seeds outdoors in late March or April. Otherwise, wait until the middle of May.
Shallots
Like onions, you can start planting shallots in early spring or in the fall.
Tomatoes
In some climates, you can grow tomatoes all year round. But, most of the time it’s best to plant in late spring or late April, and early summer (late June).
Agastache
A friend of butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, Agastache (anise hyssop) seeds need to be started indoors and transplanted outdoors when the seedlings are at least 4 inches tall. This should be in spring, usually during April, after all the dangers of possible frost have passed.
Beets
You can sow beet seeds from early April until mid-summer in every USDA hardiness zone. It’s a good idea to plant seeds every 3-4 weeks so that you have an ongoing harvest.
Sage
You can plant most herbs in early spring once the threat of frost has passed. This includes sage.
Conclusion
Our 2024 garden tips focus on planting seeds for your vegetable garden.
While some are best grown from seed, some are easier to grow from seedlings. You will find seedlings of many veggies, herbs, and flowers in local nurseries that you can plant in April.
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