What to Plant in April by Zone
April is the month when most of America goes from "thinking about gardening" to "actually gardening." Frost risk is dropping, soil is warming, and garden centers are fully stocked. But April is also the month where zone matters most — zone 4 is still frozen while zone 8 is harvesting spring crops.
Zones 3-4: Cool-season crops go outside
Your last frost is still a month or more away, but the ground is finally workable in April.
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Direct sow outdoors | Peas (early April), spinach, lettuce, radishes, kale, onion sets, potatoes |
| Continue indoors | Tomatoes and peppers should be growing under lights. Pot up if needed. |
| Start indoors (late April) | Cucumbers, squash, melons — 3-4 weeks before late May transplant |
The soil might still be cold in early April for zones 3-4. Peas don't care — they germinate in soil as cold as 40°F. But hold off on carrots and beets until the soil hits 50°F. For more details, see our guide on Spring vegetable garden planting schedule.
Zone 5: The transition month
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Direct sow (early April) | Peas, lettuce, spinach, kale, radishes, carrots, beets, Swiss chard |
| Transplant outdoors (mid-April) | Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage — with row cover for frost protection |
| Continue indoors | Tomatoes under lights. Begin hardening off in late April. |
| Plant | Potatoes (early-mid April), onion sets, asparagus crowns |
Zone 5 gardeners can be aggressive with cool-season crops in April. These plants handle frost, and a hard freeze only sets them back temporarily. The bigger risk is waiting too long — lettuce and peas need to mature before summer heat arrives. For more details, see our guide on Best vegetables to plant in spring.
Zone 6: Everything at once
April in zone 6 is the most action-packed month of the year.
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Transplant outdoors (after last frost ~April 15) | Tomatoes, peppers (late April for 6b; early May for 6a) |
| Direct sow | Beans (after last frost), corn (soil 60°F+), carrots, beets, lettuce, squash (late April) |
| Already growing | Peas, spinach, radishes planted in March should be up and growing |
| Harden off | Move all indoor seedlings through hardening off process mid-to-late April |
Zone 7: Warm-season crops take over
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Transplant outdoors | Tomatoes (if not already in), peppers, eggplant |
| Direct sow | Beans (all types), corn, squash, cucumbers, melons, okra |
| Succession plant | Lettuce (in afternoon shade), radishes, carrots |
| Wind down | Cool-season crops (broccoli, peas) finishing up as temps rise |
Zone 7 in April is a relay race — cool-season crops are finishing while warm-season crops are starting. Plan beds so you can pull spent peas and plant beans in the same space.
Zone 8: Already harvesting
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Harvesting | Spring lettuce, peas, broccoli, cauliflower — eat them now before they bolt |
| Growing strong | Tomatoes, peppers, beans, corn — all should be in the ground already |
| Direct sow | Okra, southern peas (cowpeas), watermelon, cantaloupe, sweet potato slips |
| Prepare for heat | Install shade cloth on tomato frames. Mulch everything heavily. |
Zone 9: Heat prep
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Harvesting | Tomatoes producing. Lettuce and cool-season crops are done or bolting. |
| Plant | Okra, sweet potatoes, southern peas, hot peppers (if not already in) |
| Protect | Add shade cloth. Deep water. Mulch 4-6 inches. |
April mistakes to avoid
- Planting warm-season crops too early in cold zones: Tomatoes in 40°F soil don't grow — they just sit and sulk. Wait for soil warmth, not just warm air.
- Ignoring succession planting: One big planting of lettuce gives you one big harvest. Plant a row every two weeks for continuous salads.
- Forgetting about pests: April brings flea beetles, cutworms, and aphids. Row cover prevents most problems if applied at planting.
- Not hardening off transplants: Every year, someone goes straight from grow lights to garden and loses their seedlings. Take the 7-10 days. It matters.
The planting calendar tool generates a complete April task list based on your zip code. For broader planning, the March planting guide covers what should already be in motion.
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