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]()
Beet Seeds - Detroit Dark Red
55 days. Detroit Dark Red beet seeds. Beta vulgaris. Annual. Non-GMO. Since the turn of the century, Detroit Dark Red has been the preferred choice for homegrown classic American beets....
Broccoli Seeds - Waltham 29
85-90 days. Waltham 29 Broccoli Seeds. Brassica oleracea var. italica. Annual. Non-GMO. Developed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's historic research farm, Waltham Field Station, heirloom Waltham 29 broccoli garden...
Pea Seeds - Snap - Sugar Snap
60-70 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Sugar Snap Pea seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, 1979 AAS winner. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery...
Cabbage Seeds - Golden Acre
65 days. The Golden Acre cabbage is a crop that can be grown in climate zones three through twelve, and is resistant to yellowing diseases. This hardy plant produces heads...
Broccoli Seeds - Waltham 29 (Organic)
85-90 days. Organic Waltham 29 Broccoli Seeds. Brassica oleracea var. italica. Annual. Non-GMO. Developed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's historic research farm, Waltham Field Station, Organic Waltham 29 broccoli...
Peppermint Seeds
90 Days. Peppermint Culinary Herb Seeds. Mentha sp. Non-GMO. A deliciously versatile and bright herb, peppermint seeds are a naturally occurring hybrid between culinary spearmint and watermint. Grown very similar...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Tokyo Long White
60-90 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Tokyo Long White Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, drought tolerant, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds,...
Lettuce Seeds - Romaine - Parris Island Cos
65-70 days. The Parris Island Cos lettuce is a Romaine lettuce, which means it is among the most nutritious of lettuce varieties. These non-GMO seeds grow upright into tall heads...
Arugula Seeds - Slow Bolt (Organic)
40-45 days. Organic Slow Bolt Arugula herb Seeds. Eruca vesicaria sativa. Non-GMO. Organic Slow Bolt arugula seeds are one of the fastest growing crops for home gardeners and, since they...
Cauliflower Seeds - Snowball Y Improved
70-80 days to maturity. Brassica oleracea var. botrytis. Snowball Y Improved Cauliflower Seeds. Non-GMO, heirloom, open-pollinated, annual. This is suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, containers, and fields....
Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - Buttercrunch (Organic)
AAS Winner. 65 days. Recommended by Utah State University, Organic Buttercrunch is the most popular of the butterhead varieties. Approx. 16,000 seeds/oz. These non-GMO Buttercrunch seeds grow into vibrant, green...
Beet Seeds - Detroit Dark Red (Organic)
55 days. Organic Detroit Dark Red beet seeds. Beta vulgaris. Non-GMO. Organic. Since the turn of the century, Organic Detroit Dark Red has been the preferred choice for homegrown classic...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Evergreen White Nebuka (Organic)
65-120 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Organic Evergreen White Nebuka Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds,...
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...
Radish Seeds - Cherry Belle
21-28 days. Cherry Belle Radish Seeds. Raphanus sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Visually stunning, uniform, and quick to maturity in about 25 days, Cherry Belle radish is one of the most reliable...
Crimson Clover - Cover Crop Seeds
70-90 Days. Trifolium incarnatum. Cover Crop. Non-GMO. Annual. Heirloom crimson clover seeds are an ideal annual garden companion and cover crop for plants and soils deficient in nitrogen. Use to...
Radish Seeds - Daikon Minowase
Raphanus sativus (45 days) AKA Japanese Minowase Daikon Radish. Daikon is a root vegetable reported to have originated in the Mediterranean and brought to China for cultivation around 500 B.C....
Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - Buttercrunch
60-70 days. Buttercrunch Lettuce Seeds. Lactuca sativa. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. An award-winning and absolutely hardy cultivar of butter head, Buttercrunch is tender, delicious, and looks as good in the garden...
Lemon Balm Seeds
Melissa officinalis Perennial. Non-GMO, Heirloom Lemon Balm Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Melissa officinalis. Lemon Balm resides in the mint family and is native to regions in West...
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...
Radish Seeds - Champion
Non-GMO, Heirloom, champion radish seeds. 25 days. AAS Winner. Recommended by USU. Deep scarlet, globe-shaped root is very firm and stands well without becoming pithy. Fresh, spicy-sweet flavor, Champion radishes...
Beet Seeds - Golden Detroit
55-60 days. Golden Detroit beet seeds. Beta vulgaris. Annual. Non-GMO. The Golden Detroit is an easy to grow beet that can be harvested as early as fifty days after planting,...
Cabbage Seeds - Red Acre
100 days. The Red Acre cabbage is a hardy garden crop that can be grown in climate zones three through nine. The plant produces medium sized, maroon heads that can...
Onion Seeds - Long - Utah Yellow Sweet Spanish
110-115 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Utah Yellow Sweet Spanish Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds,...
Parsley Seeds - Dark Green Italian Flat-leaf
Petroselinum crispum Annual. 72 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom Dark Green Italian Flat Leaf Parsley Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Petroselinum crispum. Italian Parsley plants are hardy biennials often grown...
Chives Seeds - Garlic
85-90 Days to maturity. Allium tuberosum. Non-GMO, heirloom Garlic Chives Herb Garden Seed. Chives are native to regions in Asia and Europe. Garlic chive cultivars are also called "Chinese Chives"...
Onion Seeds - Long - Walla Walla
90-110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Walla Walla Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, and raised beds. Walla...
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