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]()
Broccoli Seeds - Early Purple Sprouting
Brassica oleracea var. italica (59 days) Purple sprouting broccoli is an old English type broccoli. Early Purple Sprouting Broccoli is not only a colorful addition to salads, but it is...
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....
Melon Seeds - Japanese - Ichiba Kouji Hybrid
55-60 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Ichiba Kouji Japanese Hybrid Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, Asian Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Alyssum Seeds - Easter Bonnet Series (Raw or MSP)
63-77 Days to maturity. Lobularia maritima. Easter Bonnet Series Alyssum Multi-seed Pelleted Seeds. Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, Annual. Open-pollinated, multi-pelleted seeds. Easter Bonnet Series Alyssum seeds promise delicate and early spring blooms...
Kale Seeds - Ethiopian
50 to 60 Days to maturity. Brassica carinata. Ethiopian Kale Seeds. Annual, Heirloom. This leafy green originated in Ethiopia, in East Africa. It is known by various names, including Ethiopian...
French Marigold Seeds - Dainty Marietta
50-65 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula' Dainty Marietta'. Dainty Marietta French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. This drought-tolerant French Dwarf Marigold is truly one of a kind. The striking yellow...
Okra Seeds - Cows Horn
Abelmoschus esculentus (55 days) This heirloom okra dates back to around the Civil War. It has a twisted shape that resembles a cow's horn. These large pods can reach 14"...
Kale Seeds - Red
Red Kale Seeds. Brassica napus. Annual. Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Non-GMO. Excellent option for growing as a microgreen. 8 to 12 days for microgreen harvest, 20 to 25 days for baby...
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...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Rhubarb
55 days. Rhubarb Swiss Chard leaves are a beautiful variety and excellent in the kitchen as well. Recommended by USU. This plant produces dark reddish-green, heavily crumpled leaves, beautiful crimson...
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...
Cauliflower Seeds - Song TJS-65 - Hybrid
55-60 Days in Spring, 65-70 Days in Fall to maturity Brassica oleracea var. botrytis. Cauliflower Seeds - Song TJS-65. Annual, Hybrid. This is a non-GMO seed that has a yellowish...
Okra Seeds - Cows Horn - Organic
Abelmoschus esculentus. (55 days) This heirloom okra dates back to around the Civil War. It has a twisted shape that resembles a cow's horn. These large pods can reach 14"...
Oats and Peas Cover Crop Seed Mix (Organic)
50-70 Days to termination. Organic Oat and Peas Cover Crop Mix Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual, winter-killing, no-till, forage-friendly. Plant as a spring, summer, or fall cover crop to enjoy the...
Kale Seeds - Scarlet
Scarlet Kale Seeds. Can be grown in containers. Brassica oleracea. 50 days to maturity. Open Pollinated. Annual. Kale Scarlet is heavily curled with sturdy leaves that are red-purple and become...
Chard Seeds - Fordhook Giant - Organic
Beta vulgaris. (50-60 days) Introduced in the 1750s, a very popular heirloom chard has been around longer than granny. Fordhook giant chard is a vigorous variety that is noted for...
Chard Seeds - Japanese Umaina
50-60 Days to maturity. Beta vulgaris var. cicla. Chard Seeds - Japanese Umaina. Non-GMO Annual Heirloom. This tender Japanese variety has beautiful broad, slightly wrinkled leaves with short midribs. It...
Beet Seeds - Ruby Queen (Organic)
50-55 Days to maturity. Beta vulgaris. Organic Ruby Queen Beet Seeds. Non-GMO, cool weather annual, organic, heirloom, open-pollinated, AAS winner 1957. This delicious multi-use beet can be used for the...
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Kosaitai - Hon Tsai Tai
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Kosaitai - Hon Tsai Tai. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica rapa var purpurea. 50 days. Cool season annual. This flowering purple stem choy sum, also known as...
Zinnia Seeds - California Giants - Organic
Organic California Giants Zinnia Seeds. 50 days to maturity. Can be grown in containers. Ornamental. Zinnia elegans. Heirloom, Non-GMO, Annual. Dating back to 1926, Zinnia California Giant is a mix...
Zinnia Seeds - Zowie Yellow Flame (Coated)
54-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Zowie Yellow Flame Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, Annual. Yellow Flame zinnia seeds are an effortless and vibrant way to grow season-long brilliance in your...
Zinnia Seeds - Magellan Series - Orange
55-60 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Magellan Orange Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, F1 hybrid, annual. Magellan Zinnia Orange seeds grow tough and resilient zinnias, best suited for gardens prone to...
Okra Seeds - Blondy
50 days. Blondy Okra Seeds - Non-GMO, Abelmoschus esculentus. Blondy is an AAS winning dwarf Okra great for short seasons. Named after its plentiful creamy light green spineless pods, this...
Broccoli Raab - Early Fall Rapini
Early Fall Rapini thrives when planted in the early fall, but can be grown in the spring and summer as well. It does best in 60-65 degree weather. Seeds can...
French Marigold Seeds - Sparky - Organic
63-77 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Organic Sparky Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, Open Pollinated. Sparky Mixture marigold seeds offer one of the most vibrant and inexpensive blooms available to the...
Radish Seeds - China Rose - Organic
55 days. This popular radish for sprouting produces crisp rose colored winter radishes. Radishes are 8" long by 2" wide with rose colored skin and white flesh. Not suitable for...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Yellow
55 days. The Yellow Swiss Chard is a variety that produces dark green leaves on bright Yellow stems. These stems are excellent as an ornamental piece in the garden, but...
Zinnia Seeds - Peppermint Stick
55-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Peppermint Stick Mixture Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, annual. Peppermint Stick Mix Zinnia Flower seeds are the most unique, candy-striped zinnia ever! They offer prolific...
Alyssum Seeds - Rosie O Day
63-77 Days to maturity. Lobularia maritima. Rosie O Day Alyssum Seeds. Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, Annual. Rosie O'Day Alyssum flower seeds grow frost-tolerant and award-winning blooms where other flowers would wither. Rosie...
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...
Zinnia Seeds - Pop Art Golden & Red (Coated)
54-63 Days to maturity. Zinnia hybrida. Pop Art Golden & Red Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. Pop Art Golden & Red Zinnia flower seeds are a sophisticated and award-winning plant in...
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