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]()
Squash Seeds - Winter - Marina Di Chioggia
95 Days to maturity. Cucurbita maxima. Marina Di Chioggia Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, heirloom, open-pollinated. Suitable for growing in fields, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Tolerant of powdery mildew. Known...
Corn Seeds - Dent - Lancaster Sure Crop
115 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Lancaster Sure Crop Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, Dent Corn. Lancaster Sure Crop was developed by Issac Hershey (and family). Hershey was a...
Chinese Cabbage Seeds - Beka Santoh
Chinese Cabbage Seeds - Beka Santoh. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica rapa Pekinensis group. 25-40 days. Cool season annual. This vigorous loose head variety is grown throughout Japan. The leaves are light...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Pink Banana Jumbo (Organic)
Organic Pink Banana Winter Squash is excellent for storing and is ready in 115 days. Recommended by OSU, Mexican Banana Squash produces pink-orange skin with sweet yellow-orange, fine-grained flesh. Plymouth...
Mustard Seeds - Mizuna - Organic
Organic Mizuna Mustard Seeds. 40 days to full maturity. 20 days to maturity for baby leaves. Can be grown in containers. Brassica japonica. Heirloom, Non-GMO, Annual. Can be grown as...
Squash Seeds - Tatume
Tatume is a summer squash popular in Mexico and Texas, round/oval med-dark green to yellow fruits with faint stripes. Squash are best at 5-7" in diameter. Firm, fine flavor with...
Dundale (Dun) Pea Seeds - Organic - Sprouting
Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth. Dundale (Dun) Pea Seeds. Pisum sativum. Open Pollinated, Non-GMO. High Germination Rate. Microbial Tested. Resealable Package. Cover Crop, Sprouting, Microgreens, Survival Food Storage, Gardening, Soups...
Sunflower Seeds - Earthwalker
75-85 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus ’Earthwalker’. Earthwalker Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO, open-pollinated, ornamental, annual, drought-tolerant, heat-tolerant, multi-branching sunflower. Earthwalker sunflower seeds grow deeply colored and complement any outdoor space. These...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Planters Jumbo
80-90 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Planters Jumbo Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Mustard Seeds - Tokyo Bekana
21 to 45 days. Asian brassica somewhat like Pak Choi, but with narrower petioles and larger ruffled, light green leaves. Wonderful addition to salads or baby green mixes, or grow...
Sweet Pea Seeds - Royal Family Mixture
98-112 Days to maturity. Lathyrus odoratus. Sweet Pea Royal Family Mixture Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open pollinated. Royal Family Mix sweet pea seeds promise to grow a touch of the Mediterranean...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Scallop Jaune et Verte
50-55 days to maturity. Cucurbita pepo. Scallop Jaune et Verte Summer Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, heirloom, open-pollinated, warm-season annual. Suitable for fields, containers, raised beds, and garden plots. Produces unique, scalloped,...
Aquadulce Fava Bean - Cover Crop Seeds
80 Days. Vicia faba. Cover Crop. Heirloom. Open-Pollinated. Non-GMO Aquadulce fava bean cover crop seeds grow a versatile, restorative, and delicious garden vegetable able to be grown in both spring...
Watermelon Seeds - Giant - Black Diamond Yellow Belly
90 - 95 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Black Diamond Yellow Belly Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, giant watermelon. This watermelon has red flesh with a...
Cabbage Seeds - Red Express
Brassica oleracea (63 days) Red Express Cabbage is the earliest developing red cabbage we carry. We have been very impressed with it in our 2010 cabbage trials. It is very...
Mustard Seeds - Mizuna, Early
45 Days to maturity. Brassica rapa Japonica group. Early Mizuna Mustard Seeds. Heirloom, Non-GMO, Open Pollinated. Annual. This early maturing Japanese mustard is also known as Kyona Mizuna. The mustard...
Pak Choi Seeds - Hotau Improved Hybrid
30-40 days to maturity.Brassica rapa var chinensis. Hotau Improved Hybrid Pak Choi Chinese Cabbage Seeds. Non-GMO, warm or cool-season annual, hybrid. This is a mini-type pak choi that is commonly...
Beet Seeds - White Albino
White Albino Beet Seeds. Beta vulgaris. 50 days to maturity. Heirloom, Annual. A completely white beet, Albino has sweet roots and a good beet flavor. Approximately 1,250 seeds/ounce Download Free...
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...
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...
Okra Seeds - Jade Okra
Abelmoschus esculentus (55 days) Jade Okra Seeds. Jade okra was developed by the University of Arkansas and released around 1991. That wouldn't make it an heirloom, but it is an...
Melon Seeds - Honeydew - Earli-Dew Hybrid
80 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Earli Dew Hybrid Honeydew Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, heat tolerant, Honeydew Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Flame (Organic)
45-60 Days to maturity. Lactuca sativa. Organic Flame Lettuce Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, heirloom, open-pollinated. This is a rare and striking looseleaf variety, known for its vibrant, frilled red leaves...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Contender (Treated)
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Contender Bush Treated Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high yielding, heat tolerant, bush, snap, stringless bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots,...
Sweet Pea Seeds - Knee High Mixture
98-112 Days to maturity. Lathyrus odoratus. Sweet Pea Knee High Mixture Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Knee High Mix sweet pea seeds grow into one of the most recognizable, popular, and...
Pea Seeds - Mammoth Melting Sugar - Organic
60-70 days. Pisum sativum Non-GMO. Heirloom. Sweet, sugary and tender this edible pod snow pea has made its place in home gardens for many years. Wilt resistant vines can grow...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Honey Rock (Organic)
80 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Organic Honey Rock Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, AAS winner, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots,...
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