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]()
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Ruby Red
Non-GMO Ruby Red Leaf Lettuce is ready in 35-45 days. Lettuce forms compact plants with loose, crumpled reddish-green leaves. Ruby Red is the darkest red of all red lettuces, won't...
Beet Seeds - Chioggia
55 Days. Beta vulgaris. Annual. Open-pollinated. Pronounced "key-oh-jah" after the small Venetian villa town, non-GMO Chioggia beet seeds are a classic Italian garden heirloom grown and sold throughout the Mediterranean...
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....
Radish Seeds - Watermelon
60-65 days. Watermelon Radish Seeds. Raphanus sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. AKA: "Roseheart Radish" or "Red Meat Radish". Watermelon Radish seeds are native to China and a cousin to Daikon radish. Watermelon...
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 - 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...
Lettuce Seeds - Super Red Romaine
Lactuca sativa (40 days) Super Red Romaine Lettuce has long crunchy spoon shaped leaves that start green and turn to an intense red. Very intense colored romaine that is highly...
Mixed Greens Seeds - Mesclun Mix - Organic
A succulent blend of gourmet greens that will satisfy your pallet and is extremely healthy. This mesclun blend is the type normally served in fine restaurants, but you can grow...
Okra Seeds - Hill Country Red
60-70 days. Hill Country Red Okra Seeds. Abelmoschus esculentus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Hill Country Red okra seeds mature to 6 feet tall and is a good producer of thick green pods...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Dark Red Kidney (Organic)
90-100 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Dark Red Kidney Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, bush, shelling bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds,...
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...
Carrot Seeds - Chantenay Red Core
65-70 days. Red Core Chantenay carrot Seeds. Daucus carota subsp. sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. The Chantenay Red Core carrot seeds produce blunt roots that can grow up to six inches long....
Beet Seeds - Chioggia (Organic)
55 Days. Beta vulgaris. Organic. Open-pollinated. Pronounced "key-oh-jah" after the small Venetian villa town, non-GMO Chioggia beet seeds are a classic Italian garden heirloom grown and sold throughout the Mediterranean...
Clover Seeds - Medium Red
Medium Red Clover Seeds. 60-69 days to maturity. trifolium pratense. Open Pollinated, Non-GMO, Annual. Medium red clover is a short-lived perennial used to supply nitrogen. Unlike other legumes, it fixes...
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...
Lettuce Seeds - Romaine - Cimmaron
65 days. This charming heirloom romaine produces a 10 to 12 inch, deep-red head with good flavor and a crisp tender texture. Virtually impervious to bolting. These non-GMO Cimarron seeds...
Beet Seed - Bulls Blood
40-52 days. The Bull's Blood beet is a variety of beet that has a higher nutritional value than others. In addition to this, Bull's Blood is often grown as an...
Lentil - Red (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
2-3 Days to Harvest. Lens culinaris. Organic Red Lentil Sprouting Seeds. Organic. Non-GMO. Sprouting. High Germination. A delicious and classic substitute for any green or French lentil, non-GMO organic red...
Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - Bronze Mignonette
Non-GMO Bronze Mignonette Butterhead Lettuce is tolerant of warm temperatures making it perfect for southern gardens. Mignonette is known for bronze streaks on medium green leaves and is very beautiful....
Beet Seeds - Cylindra
55 days. The Cylindra beet is a variety of beet that originated in Denmark. Their long, cylindrical shape makes them ideal for anyone who wants a larger yield of beets...
Okra Seeds - Red Burgundy
Abelmoschus esculentus (80 days) Developed at Clemson University by Leon Robbins. Wow, magenta stems hold emerald green leaves that are the backdrop for intense purple pods, born from canary yellow...
French Marigold Seeds - Disco Series (Coated)
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Disco Series French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Disco Series French marigold seeds are an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to grow in any...
French Marigold Seeds - Bonanza Series (Coated)
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Bonanza Series French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Bonanza Series French marigold seeds are brilliant, easy to grow, and renowned for their hardiness and...
Mustard Seeds - Red Giant (Organic)
48 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic Red Giant Mustard Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Brassica juncea. In general, mustard is an ideal garden plant to grow near herbs. As...
Crimson Clover - Organic - Sprouting Seeds
4-6 Days. Trifolium incarnatum. Organic. Sprouting. High Germination. One of the most versatile sprouting seeds ever, non-GMO Organic crimson clover seeds have a diverse range of benefits both in the...
Radish Seeds - Lady Slipper
Non-GMO Heirloom Lady Slipper Radish is ready in 28 days. Beautiful soft-pink radish has an elongated body and roots. This radish has a smooth appearance and a crisp, mild, sweet...
Radish - Red Volcano (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
5-6 Days to Harvest. Raphanus sativus. Organic Red Volcano Radish Sprouting Seeds. Organic. Non-GMO. Sprouting. High Germination. Fresh, zesty, and spicy non-GMO Organic Red Volcano radish sprouts are a colorful...
French Marigold Seeds - Janie Series
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Janie Series Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Growing Janie Series Marigold seeds this season is an effortless and award-winning way to dash some summer...
Sunflower Seeds - Velvet Queen
90-110 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Velvet Queen Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Heirloom. Velvet Queen seeds grow one of the summer's most exclusive and rare blooms, exceptional...
Lettuce Seeds - Heatwave Mix
45-60 days. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Heatwave Lettuce Seed Mix. Lactuca. The Heatwave Lettuce Mix lettuces that thrive in the heat and remain productive. Our choice "slow-bolt" varieties feature Grand Rapids, Prizehead,...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Red Noodle Yard Long
50-75 Days to maturity. Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis. Red Noodle Yard Long Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, pole, snap, Asian, specialty bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden...
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