Cold Winter Areas — Zones 1–7a
April is the bridge between the indoor seed-starting season and the first real outdoor planting in cold-winter zones. As soon as soil is workable, focus on bed prep, clearing winter cover, and making space for early direct sowing of hardy spring crops — often with row cover or low tunnels to buffer cold nights. Indoors, keep starting and potting up seedlings, and begin hardening off the earliest transplants on mild days so they are ready to go out as soon as your local frost window allows.
Indoors (fresh harvests):
-
Microgreens: peas, broccoli, sunflowers, arugula
-
Sprouts: alfalfa, broccoli, radish, mung
-
Herbs & greens under lights: chives, parsley, mint
Crops to start indoors in good light: Lettuce, cauliflower, dill, marigold, eggplant, tomato, pepper, zinnia
Transplants to move outdoors (weather permitting — harden first): Onion, parsley, broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, arugula, pansy, bachelor's buttons
Crops that can be directly sown outdoors in April (assume intermittent frosts; a low tunnel or row cover makes most of these reliable): pak choi, cabbage, kale, mustard, fava bean, pea, turnip, parsnip, sweet pea
Cover crops: winter rye, fava bean, hairy vetch, red or white clover, and cover crop mixes.
Tip: This zone group covers a lot of territory. Nothing replaces talking with experienced gardeners in your area and, of course, watching the weather closely.
Use your USDA zone as a guide. Microclimates matter—coastal/urban spots run warmer; high elevation runs colder.
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![Legend: H for Heirloom, O for Organic, A for AAS Winner, F for staff favorites]()
Pea Seeds - Snow - Oregon Giant
In 67 days you could be eating Oregon Giant Snow Peas straight from the garden. These snow peas are considered one of the largest, crispiest, and sweetest. Vines stay below...
Lettuce Seeds - Romaine - Cimmaron
65 days. This charming heirloom romaine produces a 10 to 12 inch, deep-red head with good flavor and a crisp tender texture. Virtually impervious to bolting. These non-GMO Cimarron seeds...
Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - Bronze Mignonette
Non-GMO Bronze Mignonette Butterhead Lettuce is tolerant of warm temperatures making it perfect for southern gardens. Mignonette is known for bronze streaks on medium green leaves and is very beautiful....
Lettuce Seeds - Little Gem - Organic
Lactuca sativa . (50 days) Little Gem lettuce is a tiny single serving size lettuce with rich dark green Organic leaves and a sweet, buttery flavor. Non-astringent flavor makes them...
Kale Seeds - Red Russian (Organic)
50 days. Brassica napus var. pabularia. Organic Red Russian Kale Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, heirloom, open-pollinated. This is suitable for containers, garden plots, raised beds, and fields. Classic “Ragged Jack/Buda”...
French Marigold Seeds - Disco Series (Coated)
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Disco Series French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Disco Series French marigold seeds are an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to grow in any...
Dill Seeds - Mammoth (Organic)
55-75 Days to maturity. Anethum graveolens. Organic Mammoth Dill Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. Mammoth Dill offers garden-fresh,...
Broccoli Seeds - Di Cicco
Brassica oleracea (50-70 days) Di Cicco is an Italian heirloom broccoli dating from 1890. Di Cicco broccoli is very vigorous, emerald green, producing nice central heads 3-5" wide. Approx. 9,000...
French Marigold Seeds - Bonanza Series (Coated)
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Bonanza Series French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Bonanza Series French marigold seeds are brilliant, easy to grow, and renowned for their hardiness and...
Mustard Seeds - Red Giant (Organic)
48 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic Red Giant Mustard Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Brassica juncea. In general, mustard is an ideal garden plant to grow near herbs. As...
Mustard Seeds - Tatsoi
50 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom Tatsoi Mustard Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Brassica rapa subsp. narinosa. Tatsoi Mustard or "Spoon Mustard" comes from China and gained tradition as a...
Lettuce Seeds - Jericho
(26 days for baby greens, 56 days for full size) Jericho Lettuce Seeds. Silky smooth neon green romaine leaves reach for the sky in this amazing lettuce with origins in...
Cauliflower Seeds - Self-Blanche
52 days. Large, close-jacket leaves make blanching easy. Deep, smooth, fine-grained heads. This is great for freezing and pickling; a low-calorie, nutritious snack that can be refrigerated and eaten raw...
Zinnia Seeds - State Fair Mix
60 - 80 days. Zinnia elegans. Annual. State Fair Mix Zinnia seeds grow some of the tallest and brightest Zinnias growing this summer. State Fair Mix Zinnia seeds deliver brilliant...
Zinnia Seeds - Thumbelina Mixture
60-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Thumbelina Mix Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, AAS Winner, annual. Thumbelina Mix Zinnia flower seeds are a small, adorable, and vibrant addition to grow in any...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Lollo Rosso
50-70 days. These non-GMO Lollo Rosso lettuce seeds grow into green leaves with red edges that are ready to harvest in 60 days. The Lollo Rosso thrives in full sun...
Pak Choi Seeds - Extra Dwarf
Cabbage Seeds - Pak Choi - Extra Dwarf. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Annual. Brassica rapa (Chinensis group). 30 days. Cool-warm season. This specialty pak choi variety is smaller than baby pak choi....
Crimson Clover - Organic - Sprouting Seeds
4-6 Days. Trifolium incarnatum. Organic. Sprouting. High Germination. One of the most versatile sprouting seeds ever, non-GMO Organic crimson clover seeds have a diverse range of benefits both in the...
Lettuce Seeds, Crisphead - Webbs Wonderful
Non-GMO Webbs Wonderful Crisphead is an English lettuce that does well in the heat. Very large and robust heads with crumpled leaves, Webbs Wonderful has a fine distinct flavor and...
Mustard Seeds - Osaka Purple
21 to 45 days. An outstanding mustard of dark green-purple leaves with bright white veins. Harvest at 4 to 6 inches for salad or allow it to grow to full...
Lettuce Seeds - Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb Butterhead Lettuce Seeds. 55-60 Days. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Lactuca sativa. Highly productive, dwarfed bibb lettuce that is quick to mature no bigger than a baseball or tennis ball, the...
French Marigold Seeds - Janie Series
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Janie Series Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Growing Janie Series Marigold seeds this season is an effortless and award-winning way to dash some summer...
Pea Seeds - Snow - Taiwan Sugar (Organic)
60-70 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Organic Taiwan Sugar Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery...
Turnip Seeds - Seven Top
45-65 days. Brassica rapa. Seven Top Turnip seeds grow into cool season root vegetables that are biennials, fast growing and referred to as "turnip greens." These heirloom seeds come from...
Broccoli Seeds - Chinese Broccoli - Kailaan
Broccoli Seeds - Chinese Broccoli - Kailaan. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica oleracea var alboglabra. Also known as cai ro, chair lan, Chinese broccoli, Chinese kale, gailaan, gai lan, gailon, gelancai, guy...
Mustard Seeds - Spinach (Komatsuna) - Tendergreen
45 days. Mustard-Spinach or Komatsuna. Milder than regular mustard greens, this variety has thick, smooth leaves on upright, heat and cold tolerant plants. Tendergreen is widely used both in stir...
Pea Seeds - Snow - Dwarf Sugar Grey
Dwarf Sugar Grey is one of the most versatile snow pea varieties for the garden. Ready in 65 days, Dwarf Sugar Grey Snow Peas can be harvested as a snow...
Cabbage Seeds - Danish Ballhead
100 days. The Danish Ballhead cabbage heirloom was produced in 1887. The seeds are ideally sown for a Fall garden, growing into blue-green cabbage heads. A cold-hardy plant that can...
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Jung Green
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Jung Green. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica rapa var parachinesis. 40-45 days. Warm season annual. Flowering Brassica is a fast growing green that can be harvested as...
Lettuce Seeds - Heatwave Mix
45-60 days. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Heatwave Lettuce Seed Mix. Lactuca. The Heatwave Lettuce Mix lettuces that thrive in the heat and remain productive. Our choice "slow-bolt" varieties feature Grand Rapids, Prizehead,...
Cauliflower Seeds - Snowball Y Improved - Organic
Brassica oleracea (70-80 days) Snowball Y improved was Introduced by Ferry-Morse Seed Company in 1947. It was developed from "Snowball" cauliflower which was around in 1884. Tasty snow white 6",...
Turnip Seeds - White Egg
Brassica rapa (45-55 days) AKA "Early White Egg" or "Snowball". White egg turnip is a long time favorite in the South where it is know for its reliability and fine...
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