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]()
Hairy Vetch - Cover Crop Seeds
80-90 Days. Vicia villosa. Annual. Heirloom. Non-GMO. Such a vigorous annual cover crop that it is considered invasive in much of the United States, non-GMO hairy vetch is a European...
Radish Seeds - Crimson Giant
Raphanus sativus (29 to 40 days) Sometimes called Crimson "Giant Globe Radish" or "Giant Butter Radish". Crimson Giant Radish seeds grow large 1 1/2 - 2" globe shaped crimson red...
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...
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...
Radish Seeds - Red Daikon (Ostergruss Rosa)
30-45 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom. Red Daikon Radish Seeds (Ostergruss Rosa). Raphanus sativus. A tapered red radish measuring from 5 to 8 inches long. Bright white to pale rose, crisp flesh....
Radish Seeds - Fire Candle
Fire Candle Radish Seeds. 30-40 Days to maturity. Annual, open-pollinated, and non-GMO seeds. Raphanus sativus. Looking more similar to a red carrot than spring radish, the Fire Radish candle is...
Chinese Broccoli Seeds - Ryokuho - Hybrid
45-50 Days to maturity. Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra 'Ryokuho'. Ryokuho Chinese Broccoli Hybrid Seeds. Annual Hybrid. Ryokuho is a cultivar of Chinese Broccoli desirable for its early maturity, vigorous growth,...
Radish Seeds - Chinese - Shunkyo
30 to 40 Days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Shunkyo Chinese Radish Heirloom Seeds. Cool Season Annual. Shunkyo radishes are a hidden gem that originates from Northern China. These radishes grow...
Radish Seeds - Mino Early
Radish Seeds - Mino Early. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Raphanus sativus. 40-50 days. Cool season annual. Mino Early is a leading open pollinated radish (daikon) for summer to fall harvest in Japan....
Radish Seeds - Korean - Sushiro - Hybrid
55 to 60 days to maturity in spring and 35 to 40 days to maturity in fall. Raphanus sativus. Hybrid Sushiro Korean Radish Seeds. Cool season hybrid annual. Not a...
Leaf Radish Seeds - Saisai - Hybrid
30 to 40 Days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Saisai Leaf Radish Hybrid Seeds. Annual. Leaf radishes are perfect for the gardener who wants tender, peppery radish greens that can be...
Brassica Classic Trio Cover Crop Seed Mix (Organic)
40-60 Days to Maturity. Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, and Raphanus sativus. Organic 3 Brassica Classic Trio Cover Crop Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual, winter-killing. This cover crop mix is ideal for...
Radish Seeds - Red Arrow
40 Days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Red Arrow Radish Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, winter radish. While this variety was developed for its bright red stems at the microgreen stage,...
Leaf Radish Seeds - Saisai Purple - Hybrid
30 to 40 Days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Saisai Purple Leaf Radish Seeds. Annual, Hybrid. This red-stemmed leaf radish will stand out in any dish you make with it! Saisai...
Lettuce Seeds - Heatwave Mix - Organic
The Heatwave Lettuce Mix lettuces that thrive in the heat and remain productive. Our choice" slow-bolt" varieties such as Great Lakes, Iya Sol, and Oakleaf Royal. These lettuce types texture...
Bean Seeds - Bush - French Garden Yellow Fillet
45-55 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. French Garden Yellow Fillet Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, bush, snap, wax bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and...
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