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]()
Dill Seeds - Bouquet (Organic)
Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic Bouquet Dill Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Anethum graveolens. Organic Bouquet Dill grows fast-maturing cool-season annuals and is native to West Asia and regions in...
Nasturtium Seeds - Jewel Mix
54-63 Days to maturity. Tropaeolum majus. Organic Nasturtium Jewel Mix Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom. Jewel Mix nasturtium is brilliant, easy to grow from seed, and perfectly suited for many dry...
Kale Seeds - Vates Blue Scotch Curled
60-70 days. Vates Blue Scotch Curled Kale Seeds. Brassica oleracea var. acephalla. Non-GMO. Heirloom. The premier variety of curled kale, Vates Blue Scotch is a tenacious cold-weather favorite known to...
Zinnia Seeds - California Giant Mix
75-90 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. California Giant Mixture Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. The “king of summer annuals" California Giant Mix seeds are the largest variety of Zinnias ever,...
Kale Seeds - Red Russian
50-60 days. Red Russian Kale Seeds. Brassica napus var. pabularia. Non-GMO. Heirloom. A popular and tenacious red variation to the ever-popular Russian kale, Red Russian grows a lighter, but still...
Dill Seeds - Bouquet
65 Days to maturity. Anethum graveolens. Bouquet Dill Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. 3-foot plant with strongly aromatic foliage,...
Kale Seeds - Dwarf Siberian
50-60 days. Dwarf Siberian Kale is a high yielding variety high in nutrients. This crop is leafy and bright green in color. Dwarf Siberian Kale is versatile and can be...
Kale Seeds - Lacinato (Black Tuscan)
65-80 days. Brassica oleracea var. sabellica. Lacinato Kale Seeds. Also known as Black Tuscan Kale or Dinosaur Kale. This is a popular variety for making soups and kale chips. This...
Wild Arugula - Herb Seeds
40-45 days. Diplotaxis tenuifolia. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Annual. Non-GMO Wild arugula seeds grow far more tolerant and perennial relative to the common arugula or "garden rocket". Although still bright and peppery,...
French Marigold Seeds - Durango Series (Coated)
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Durango Series French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Durango Series French marigold seeds are an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to grow in any...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Lucullus
50 days. The Lucullus Swiss Chard seed variety produces large green leaves and white stems. This variety is one of the best for gardeners looking for a swiss chard that...
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,...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Bright Lights
55 days. AAS Winner for 1998. A vibrant new Swiss Chard. Distinguished by stems of many different colors - gold, pink, orange, purple, red, and white. This variety is a...
French Marigold Seeds - Petite Mixture
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Petite Mixture French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Petite Mixture French marigold seeds are an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to grow in any...
Nasturtium Seeds - Alaska
54-63 Days to maturity. Tropaeolum majus. Nasturtium Alaska Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom. Alaska nasturtium is brilliant, easy to grow from seed, and perfectly suited for many dry and temperate climates....
Swiss Chard Seeds - Ruby Red
55 days. This plant produces good yields of dark green shiny leaves with ruby red stalks and veins. Both the stems and the leaves xcellent for salads and steamed with...
Zinnia Seeds - Lilliput Mixture
54-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Lilliput Mixture Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. Lilliput Mixture Zinnia Flowers are easy to grow from seeds and ideal for hot and drought-prone gardens....
Zinnia Seeds - Zahara Series (Coated)
50-60 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Zahara Series Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. Zahara Series Zinnia flower seeds are brilliant, easy to grow, and renowned for their hardiness and ability to...
Flower Mix - Zinnia Special Collection
Attract pollinators all season long with beautiful multi-colored zinnia blooms. Zinnias are not only one of the loveliest flowers in the garden, but they are also easy to grow and...
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...
Zinnia Seeds - Profusion Series (Coated)
54-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans x angustifolia. Profusion Series Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. Profusion Series Zinnia flower seeds promise to turn your tired summer bedding into an award-winning...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Fordhook Giant
60 days. The Swiss Chard Fordhook Giant is a variety that can grow to be over two feet tall. This plant produced broad, dark green leaves with bright white stems...
Zinnia Seeds - Magellan Series (Coated)
55-60 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Magellan Series Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, F1 hybrid, annual. Magellan Zinnia Series seeds produce tough, resilient zinnias, best suited for gardens prone to heat...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Ruby Red - Organic
55 days. Ruby Red Swiss Chard is a beautiful addition to the garden, and a delicious addition to the kitchen. These plants grow stems up to two feet tall with...
Okra Seeds - Clemson Spineless
50-70 days. Clemson Spineless Okra Seeds. Abelmoschus esculentus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Also known as Clemson Spineless 80. Clemson Spineless okra debutedas the 1939 All-America Selections Vegetable Winner is a highly popular...
French Marigold Seeds - Sparky Mixture
63-77 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Sparky Mixture Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Sparky Mixture French marigold seeds offer one of the most vibrant and inexpensive blooms available to the...
Zinnia Seeds - Dahlia Flowered Mixture
90-100 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Dahlia Flowered Mixture Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. Growing Dahlia Flowered Mix zinnia seeds this season is an effortless and vibrant way to dash...
Okra Seeds - Clemson Spineless (Organic)
(58 days) I'm sure you heard Grandpa or Grandma talk about Clemson Spineless if you live down South. Well, this is an improvement on that same tasty okra. Clemson Spineless,...
Kale Seeds - White Russian
White Russian Kale Seeds. 50 Days. Brassica napus. Non-GMO, Open Pollinated. White Veined, cold tolerant, flavorful kale. Great for full grown kale at 50 days, Baby Greens at 20 days,...
Dill Seeds - Dwarf Fernleaf
Non-GMO, Heirloom Dwarf Fernleaf Dill Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Anethum graveolens. Dwarf Fernleaf Dill grows as slow-bolting warm-season annuals and is native to South Russia and regions...
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