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]()
Melon Seeds - Honeydew - Orange Flesh
105 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Orange Flesh Honeydew Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Honeydew Melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Zucchini Seeds - Round
Cucurbita pepo Round Zucchini is a stunning plant with speckled green leaves born on a robust bush-type plant. Super fast growing and are generally eaten when they are 3-4" in...
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...
Sunflower Seeds - Maximilian
90-110 Days to maturity. Helianthus maximiliani. Maximilian Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Perennial. Heirloom. Maximilian sunflower seeds grow a playful and unique perennial variation on a classic summertime favorite....
Buckwheat Groats (Organic) - Bulk Grains
*Not to be used for sprouting* These hulled buckwheat groats are an ideal kitchen staple. Hulled Buckwheat seeds, also referred to as groats, are abundant in protein and fiber content....
Carrot Seeds - Nantes Mini Core
Nantes Mini Core carrots are an excellent carrot to grow in a home garden. This variation produces roots that have little to no core, giving them a great crunch. Plant...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - White Ishikura (Organic)
60-66 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Organic Bunching White Ishikura Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, perennial, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold hardy, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised...
Radish Seeds - Golden Helios
Golden Helios Radish Seeds. 26 days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Heirloom, Annual. Radish Helios was named after the Greek god of the sun. This olive-shaped radish is bright yellow with...
Onion Seeds - Intermediate - Red Torpedo
110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Red Torpedo Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, bulbing, intermediate-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, and raised beds. A fantastic onion...
Watermelon Seeds - Giant - Congo
95 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Congo Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, giant watermelon. Resistant to Anthracnose (1). Congo Watermelon produces sweet, red-fleshed melons up...
Radish Seeds - Easter Egg - Organic
Raphanus sativus (30 days) Oh what fun! Hunt Easter "egg" radishes in your own garden. Amazing array of colors will pop from your garden and straight into your salad bowl....
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Incredible R/M Hybrid
85 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Incredible Hybrid R/M Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone...
Kale Seeds - Portuguese
Portuguese Kale Seeds. Brassica oleracea. 85 days to maturity. Heirloom. Annual. This Kale variety may be the hardiest of the cabbage kin. Approximately 8,000 seeds/ounce Kale Seeds - Portuguese It...
Clover Seeds - Mammoth Red - Organic
Mammoth Red is the best clover for deficient soils. The plant is large with big leaves, making it an ideal grazing crop. Red clover may be the best choice for...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Delicata Bush AAS
Delicata Bush AAS Winter Squash Seeds. 80 - 100 days to maturity. 2002 National AAS Winner. Can be grown in containers. Cucurbita pepo. Annual. Heirloom. Healthy semi-bush 3-4 ft. vines,...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Honeybaby Hybrid
90 to 100 days to maturity. Cucurbita moschata. Honeybaby Hybrid Butternut Winter Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, AAS winner 2017. Suitable for growing in fields, garden plots, raised beds,...
Sweet Pea Seeds - Early Multiflora Mix
90-100 Days to maturity. Lathyrus odoratus. Sweet Pea Early Multiflora Mix Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Sweet Pea Early Multiflora Mix is the number one choice of sweet pea for winter...
Beans - Black Turtle (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
3-5 Days to Harvest. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Black Turtle Bean Sprouting Seeds. These organic black beans produce fresh, crunchy sprouts that can easily be substituted for black beans in any...
Melon Seeds - Japanese - Ichiba Kouji Hybrid
55-60 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Ichiba Kouji Japanese Hybrid Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, Asian Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Radish Seeds - Champion - Organic
Raphanus sativus. (28 days) Smooth, perfectly round cherry red radishes in only 28 days. Champion radishes don't get hot or woody when they reach maturity like other radishes can. Organic...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Jade (Treated)
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Jade Bush Treated Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, rust resistant, high-yielding, bush, snap green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots,...
Radish Seeds - Chinese - Starburst - Hybrid
60 Days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Starburst Chinese Radish Hybrid Seeds. Cool Season Annual. Starburst radishes are part of the watermelon radish group, which means that you’ll find bright red...
Clover Seeds - Strawberry
Perennial that forms clumps or mats. Leaves are about an inch long, with flowers that develop to be about as long. Flowers somewhat resemble strawberries or raspberries, thanks to their...
Mustard Seeds - Japanese Komatsuna
Japanese Komatsuna Mustard Seeds. 30 to 50 Days to full maturity. 8 to 12 days to microgreens harvest. Brassica rapa var. perviridis. Annual. Heirloom, Non-GMO, Open Pollinated. Komatsuna is popular...
Beet Seeds - Crosby Egyptian - Organic
Beta vulgaris. (60 days) Egyptian type beets were created in the 1860s by the Germans. The Crosby strain was selected by Josiah Crosby of Arlington, Massachusetts and introduced by The...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Zucchini Greyzinni Hybrid
50 days. High-yielding, 5 to 6 inch, attractive heavily striped, light green-grey zucchini with fine eating quality and creamy, sweet flavor. These somewhat blocky fruits have a slight taper. Open-spaced...
French Marigold Seeds - Sparky - Organic
63-77 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Organic Sparky Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, Open Pollinated. Sparky Mixture marigold seeds offer one of the most vibrant and inexpensive blooms available to the...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - White Lisbon
40-60 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. White Lisbon Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, perennial (see zone info), open-pollinated, heirloom, cold hardy, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in...
Chinese Cabbage Seeds - Chun Yeon Gold - Hybrid
60-70 Days to maturity. Brassica rapa var pekinensis 'Chun Yeon Gold'. Chun Yeon Gold Hybrid Chinese Cabbage Seeds. Annual Hybrid. Chun Yeon Gold is a napa-type Chinese Cabbage that develops...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Blue Lake 274 (Treated)
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Blue Lake 247 Bush Bean Treated Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom snap bush bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and...
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