Over much of the USA, April is when the gardening season really gets going. Between preparing the soil and planting the early crops, it's easy to overlook important steps. We really recommend a garden journal as a way to map out what you want to do. Then fill in the whens and wheres. Don't forget to look around and notice what's happening in your area. When are the forsythia blooming? Are you hearing robins in the morning? These are links to the natural world, reasons why we are gardening. Don't forget to smell the roses.
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.
Zones 7b-9a: April is a peak planting month in mild-winter zones as soils warm and frost risk fades, opening the door to a much broader range of crops outdoors. Continue sowing cool-season favorites in early April, where nights are still chilly, but begin transitioning beds to warm-season planting through the month as temperatures stabilize. Succession sowing, trellising, and a little frost protection for surprise cold snaps help keep growth steady - and April is also an excellent time to harden off seedlings and get transplants established.
Zones 9b-12: April is full spring momentum in the warm-winter zones, with many gardens shifting decisively into warm-season planting while remaining cool-season crops finish strong. This is a great month to direct sow and transplant heat lovers outdoors, and to keep succession planting going so harvests don’t gap as days get longer and brighter. In the hottest areas, start planning for rising temperatures by watching irrigation closely, adding mulch, and timing your final rounds of tender cool-season crops before consistent heat arrives.
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![Legend: H for Heirloom, O for Organic, A for AAS Winner, F for staff favorites]()
Arugula Seeds - Slow Bolt (Organic)
40-45 days. Organic Slow Bolt Arugula herb Seeds. Eruca vesicaria sativa. Non-GMO. Organic Slow Bolt arugula seeds are one of the fastest growing crops for home gardeners and, since they...
Arugula Seeds - Slow Bolt
40-45 days. Eruca vesicaria sativa. Non-GMO. Herb. Annual. Non-GMO Slow Bolt arugula seeds are one of the fastest-growing crops available to home gardeners and, since they are slower to bolt,...
No-Till Forage Friendly Cover Crop Mix
30-60 Days to termination. No-Till Forage Friendly Cover Crop Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, winter-killing, no-till, and forage-friendly. This mix has been created as a forage-safe option for home gardens, small farms,...
Pak Choi Seeds - Shanghai
Cabbage Seeds - Pak Choi - Shanghai. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Annual. Brassica rapa Chinensis group. 10-15 days microgreens; 20-30 days baby leaf; 45 days full maturity. Cool-season. This green stem variety...
Arugula Seeds - Astro
40-60 days to maturity. Eruca sativa. Astro Arugula Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Slightly lobed, medium green leaves...
Cosmos Seeds - Sensation Mixture
49-63 Days to maturity. Cosmos bipinnatus. Sensation Mixture Cosmos Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, Heirloom, Open Pollinated. Sensation Mix cosmos seeds grow some of the season's most timeless and familiar blooms. Sensation...
Hairy Vetch - Cover Crop Seeds
80-90 Days. Vicia villosa. Annual. Heirloom. Non-GMO. Such a vigorous annual cover crop that it is considered invasive in much of the United States, non-GMO hairy vetch is a European...
Arugula Seeds - Rocket (Roquette)
40-50 Days to maturity. Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa ’Rocket’. Rocket (Roquette) Arugula Seeds. Non-GMO, warm weather heirloom annual. Arugula is a nutrient-dense Mediterranean leafy green that has been cultivated in...
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...
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...
Mustard Seeds - Mizuna Red Streaks
45 days. 20 days for baby leaf. With a mild peppery mustard flavor, this green is great for salads as a baby green or a full-size green. The stalk has...
Pak Choi Seeds - Rosette Tatsoi
40 to 50 Days to maturity. Brassica rapa narinosa. Rosette Tatsoi Chinese Cabbage (Pak Choi) Seeds. Non-GMO, Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Annual. This specialty pak choi is quite cold-tolerant, even being...
Hairy Vetch - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
80-90 Days. Vicia villosa. Organic. Annual. Non-GMO. Such a vigorous annual cover crop that it is considered invasive in much of the United States, non-GMO hairy vetch is a European...
Cosmos Seeds - Sonata Mix
49-63 Days to maturity. Cosmos bipinnatus. Sonata Mix Cosmos Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, Heirloom, Open Pollinated. Sonata Mix cosmos seeds grow an effortless and full sun performer perfect for just about...
Okra Seeds - Jing Orange
Jing Orange Okra Seeds. 30 to 60 days to maturity. Abelmoschus esculentus. Heirloom, Annual. Jing Orange is an Asian okra, known for it is stunning red-orange color. Approximately 500 seeds/ounce....
Radish Seeds - Crimson Giant
Raphanus sativus (29 to 40 days) Sometimes called Crimson "Giant Globe Radish" or "Giant Butter Radish". Crimson Giant Radish seeds grow large 1 1/2 - 2" globe shaped crimson red...
Cosmos Seeds - Cosmic Mix
56-63 Days to maturity. Cosmos sulphureus. Cosmic Mix Cosmos Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, Heirloom, Open Pollinated. Cosmic Mix seeds grow an elegant and award-winning cosmos that promises to invigorate any stale...
Mustard Seeds - Red Garnet
40 Days to maturity. Brassica juncea. Red Garnet Mustard Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Red Garnet Mustard is much like its related Japanese Red Giant and Japanese Giant Garnet cousins displaying a...
Broccoli Seeds - Chinese Broccoli - Early Jade - Hybrid
40-50 days to maturity. Brassica oleracea var alboglabra ‘Early Jade’. Early Jade Chinese Broccoli Seeds. Non-GMO, Hybrid, Cool-season Annual. Closely related to European cabbage, Chinese Broccoli was introduced to China...
Broccoli Raab Seeds - Sorrento
40 to 50 Days until mautre. Brassica papa afar ruvo. Sorrento Broccoli Raab Seeds. Annual. Heirloom. Non-GMO. Open-pollinated. “Rapini,” is a separate moniker for the flowering Brassica. This is a...
Mustard Seeds - Tat Soi - Organic
Organic Tat Soi Mustard Seeds. 45 days to full maturity. 21 days to maturity for baby leaves. Can be grown in containers. Can be grown as sprouts. Brassica rapa. Heirloom,...
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Early Green
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Early Green. Heirloom, Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis. Non-GMO. Warm season annual. 30-40 days. Flowering Brassica is a fast growing green that can be harvested as...
Arugula Seeds - Wild (Organic)
40-60 days to maturity. Diplotaxis tenuifolia. Wild Arugula Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom, Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Radish Seeds - Red Daikon (Ostergruss Rosa)
30-45 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom. Red Daikon Radish Seeds (Ostergruss Rosa). Raphanus sativus. A tapered red radish measuring from 5 to 8 inches long. Bright white to pale rose, crisp flesh....
Mustard Seeds - Mibuna
Mibuna Mustard Seeds. 41 Days. Brassica rapa var. japonica. Open Pollinated, Non-GMO. Similar mizuna greens, the mibuna mustard is a flavorful Japanese green strap leaf mustard with mild mustard flavor....
Brassica Classic Trio Cover Crop Seed Mix
40-60 Days to Termination. Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, and Raphanus sativus. 3 Brassica Classic Trio Cover Crop Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, winter-killing. This cover crop mix of radish, canola rapeseed,...
Radish Seeds - Fire Candle
Fire Candle Radish Seeds. 30-40 Days to maturity. Annual, open-pollinated, and non-GMO seeds. Raphanus sativus. Looking more similar to a red carrot than spring radish, the Fire Radish candle is...
Chinese Broccoli Seeds - Ryokuho - Hybrid
45-50 Days to maturity. Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra 'Ryokuho'. Ryokuho Chinese Broccoli Hybrid Seeds. Annual Hybrid. Ryokuho is a cultivar of Chinese Broccoli desirable for its early maturity, vigorous growth,...
Lettuce Seeds - Heatwave Mix - Organic
The Heatwave Lettuce Mix lettuces that thrive in the heat and remain productive. Our choice" slow-bolt" varieties such as Great Lakes, Iya Sol, and Oakleaf Royal. These lettuce types texture...
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Late Green
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Late Green. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica rapa var parachinesis. 45-55 days. Warm season annual. Flowering Brassica is a fast growing green that can be harvested as...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Black Zucchini (Organic)
44-62 Days to maturity. Cucurbita pepo. Organic Black Zucchini Summer Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, warm weather annual, open-pollinated, summer squash. While this variety is named ‘black’, this zucchini actually has a...
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