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]()
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...
Corn Seeds - Flint - Hopi Blue
100 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Blue Hopi Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, Flint and Flour Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat...
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,...
Onion Seeds - Intermediate - Candy Hybrid
85 Days to maturity. Allium cepa ‘Candy’. Candy Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, bulbing, intermediate-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, and raised beds. Resistant to Pink Root...
Pea Seeds - Shelling - Green Arrow (Organic)
65-75 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Organic Green Arrow Pea Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, treated pea seeds. Long, slim, 4.5-inch pods grow in pairs on strong 28-inch vines. Suitable...
Lettuce Seeds - Summer Bibb
Lactuca sativa (43 days) Summer bibb is a fabulous tasting lettuce that is crisp, clean and easy to grow. This lettuce has ornamental light green leaves that are dotted with...
Sunflower Seeds - Dwarf Sunspot
65-80 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Dwarf Sunspot Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Heirloom. Dwarf Sunspot sunflower seeds grow the ideal compact alternative to summer's tallest and most...
Beet Seeds - Ruby Queen
52 days. The Ruby Queen beet is a variety that does very well in poor soils. It produces uniform, round globes and short tops. The leaves grow to be green...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Winged Bean
80-100 Days to maturity. Psophocarpus tetragonolobus. Winged Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated, heat-tolerant, pole, snap, Asian, specialty bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Jubilee
90-97 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Jubilee Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. These large picnic varieties can grow...
Beet Seeds - Early Wonder Tall Top
35-60 days. The Early Wonder Tall Top is an easy to grow beet that can be harvested as early as thirty five days after planting, and thrives in colder weather....
Corn Seeds - Sweet - (su) Early Sunglow Hybrid
62 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Early Sunglow Hybrid Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone...
Zinnia Seeds - Pumila Pompon
50-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Pumila Pompon Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. This is a great old-fashioned variety that has fully to semi-double flowers. These warm and cheerful flowers...
Soybean - Yellow (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
2-5 Days to Harvest. Glycine max L. Merr.. Organic Yellow Soybean Sprouting Seeds. Organic. Non-GMO. Sprouting. High Germination. Non-GMO Organic yellow soybean seeds sprout one of the healthiest, tastiest, and...
Cabbage Seeds - Mammoth Red Rock
90 days. The Mammoth Red Rock cabbage has a beautiful reddish-purple tone to its heads, which have a subtle, delicate, and sweet flavor. It is a hardy crop, and grows...
Onion Seeds - Short - Red Burgundy
100 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Red Burgundy Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, short-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Red Sails
Red Sails Leaf Lettuce is ready in 45 days. An AAS winner, these non-GMO Red Sails seeds grow into green leaves of lettuce with red tips that are ready to...
Pak Choi Seeds - Tall White Stem - Hybrid
25-35 days for Miao (early stage), 45-50 Days to maturity. Brassica rapa var. Chinensis. Tall White Stem Pak Choi Hybrid Seeds.Non-GMO, Annual, Hybrid. Cool-Warm Season. Excellent pak choi variety for...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Zucchini Golden
55-65 days. Golden Zucchini Summer Squash Seeds. Cucurbita pepo. Annual. Open Pollinated. Non-GMO Heirloom Golden Zucchini is the summer squash to grow in the garden. it's ready in 55 days...
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...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Golden Glory Hybrid
53 days. The 7 to 8 inch, 2-3" in diameter, smooth, waxy-skinned, gold fruits have creamy white, excellent tasting flesh. The vigorous open plant bears fruit of superior quality and...
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...
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...
Cabbage Seeds - Red Acre (Organic)
90-110 days. Organic Red Acre Cabbage Seeds. Brassica oleracea var. capitata. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Nearly a century old and still one of the most reliable performers in the garden, Red Acre...
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,...
Pak Choi Seeds - White Stem - Organic
40 Days to maturity. Brassica rapa var. chinensis (33 days) Organic White Stem Pak Choi Seeds. Who can resist Baby Pak Choy! This is White Stem or 'Baby Bok Choy',...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Zucchini, Endurance BC, F1
Summer Squash, Endurance BC-2 F1. Cucurbita pepo. AKA: Zucchini. Squashes started showing up in Italian kitchens as early as 1600, the "Zucchini" variety probably originated around 1850. Extremely productive, and...
African Marigold Seeds - Cracker Jack
77-84 Days to maturity. Tagetes erecta. Cracker Jack African Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Crackerjack seeds grow a vibrant golden orange and yellow mix of the famous African Marigold that...
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