12 Crops You Should Plant in April
Haven't started your vegetable garden yet? Luckily, there are many crops ready for planting this month. Gardening expert Madison Moulton lists 12 crops you can plant this April.
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Whether you’re starting a productive survival garden to feed your entire family or just want to pop a couple of crops amongst your flower beds for fresh harvesting, April is a great time to plant. The weather is slowly warming and pulling us out of winter, making it an ideal time to build the foundations of your spring and summer garden.
No matter your climate, there are plenty of crops primed for planting this month. The sowing method may differ depending on your conditions, but no matter where you live, you’re bound to find something delicious to plant now.
These are 12 crops you should plant in April for an abundant garden full of fresh produce. This list is by no means exhaustive, but I’ve included several popular crops that cover a range of uses in the kitchen too.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the most popular crops in vegetable gardens and the first crop I ever planted. The same goes for many beginners who are often told to try planting tomatoes first due to their ease of growth and high productivity.
For gardeners in warmer zones (7 to 10), you have likely already started sowing in February or March, meaning April is the time for transplanting. For gardeners in zones 4 to 6, however, April is the perfect time to start your seeds in trays indoors. With the help of strong light (either through a window or from overhead grow lights), regular watering, and enough heat, your tomato seeds will develop into strong seedlings ready to deliver delicious produce in summer.
If you’re in a warmer zone and haven’t started your seeds yet, you can always purchase seedlings from your local nursery to transplant. As tomatoes are heat-loving crops, soil temperature is important to manage. Ideally, the soil temperature should be above 70°F and the ambient temperature above 60°F for quick growth.
The best part about planting tomatoes from seed is the variety you have access to. You aren’t limited to what grocery stores offer. Instead, you can access the wonderful cultivars created by growers with differing flavors and eye-catching colors. Choose a variety that works best for the space you have available or a more compact species good for planting in containers if you’re growing on a patio or balcony.
Cucumbers
A perfect match for tomatoes in the kitchen, cucumbers are next on the list of crops to plant in April. This is generally reserved for gardeners in zones 8 and above, as April temperatures are sufficient to prevent early damage and encourage growth. In zones 7 and below, if your spring weather is unpredictable, it may be best to wait until May.
That’s because cucumbers perform best when sown directly outdoors rather than transplanted. Their roots don’t respond well to disturbance, and you may struggle with transplant shock when growing this way.
If you want to get a head start and you’re in a colder zone, you can always sow in biodegradable pots and move your seedlings directly into the ground when the weather is warm enough. Also make use of protection like row covers or tunnels to extend your season.
When sowing, it’s best to install your supports at the same time to avoid damaging the roots later on. Install supports close to your rows and attach the vines to the supports as they grow to keep the leaves and eventual fruits off the ground. This helps prevent disease and damage to the fruits once they develop.
Peppers
Completing the fresh produce trio perfect for a summer salad, next we have peppers. Peppers are quite specific in their germination requirements, particularly when it comes to temperature. That’s why they perform best when sown indoors in a controlled environment. If you live in zones 4 to 8, April is the perfect time to start that process.
Peppers require soil temperatures of around 80°F and above to germinate and establish well. If you can’t reach those temperatures, a heating mat is helpful. These gadgets warm the soil gently from below the seedling tray, providing the perfect conditions for strong growth.
Those in warmer zones can still transplant peppers in April by purchasing store-bought seedlings and getting them in the ground now. Choose your varieties based on what you’re most likely to eat to make the most of your harvest. If you prefer milder peppers, choose bell peppers, or if you want a spicy kick, go for something stronger like classic habaneros.
Pumpkin
For those in warmer zones, April is a good time to plant your pumpkin crops because, like cucumbers, pumpkins don’t transplant well and hate root disturbance. That’s why it’s best to sow them directly when the weather is warm enough to encourage germination.
Although it may seem like harvesting time is far away, pumpkin vines need plenty of time to spread and develop, especially if you’re choosing larger varieties with a long maturity time. Sowing in April (as long as the soil is warm enough) will deliver a harvest around fall.
Choose your pumpkin varieties according to what you plan to use them for. There are many delicious pumpkins great for eating, like ‘Sugar Pie’ for pumpkin pie. If you’re after pumpkins mostly for decoration, choose one of the more unique species with interesting colors or patterns.
Zucchini
Zucchini is an often overlooked vegetable in the kitchen, but it’s a great choice in gardens for its ease of growth. These fruits are packed with nutrients and minerals and are a staple in my roast vegetable rotation.
Zucchini loves warm weather and requires temperatures above 70°F to germinate. If you live in zone 8 and above, mid to late April is a great time for direct sowing outdoors. If you live in slightly cooler zones, you can start zucchini indoors. However, these plants have sensitive roots and don’t appreciate disturbance.
If you are planning on planting early indoors to get a head start on the season, sow in biodegradable pots and avoid handling the roots where possible. If you do have to transplant, do so very carefully and watch for signs of transplant shock.
These seedlings will grow surprisingly quickly. Keep a close eye on them and transplant at the right time to avoid them getting root-bound or flowering in the pot, which can stunt growth.
Corn
If there is no chance of upcoming frost in your zone (give it about one to two weeks to be safe), corn is a great crop to plant in April.
If you haven’t tried growing corn before, it’s not as tricky as it may seem. As long as you plant at the right time and give them enough space and sunshine, you can harvest delicious cobs throughout the summer.
Corn cannot handle any frost, so make sure the temperatures are warm enough before sowing. Although they are typically direct sown, it is possible to sow indoors and transplant as long as you’re careful when handling the roots. Plant the seeds in the warmest and sunniest part of your garden for the most productive plants.
Beets
Beets are incredibly tough. These root vegetables handle cold well and can be planted relatively early in the season. They’re also great for continuous sowing, making April a good time if you started in February or March, or to start sowing if you haven’t yet.
As long as the soil is workable and temperatures are above about 45°F, you can sow beets safely without risk of damage. Stagger your planting every 2 weeks or so to harvest throughout the season rather than all at once. You can also harvest the baby greens or pull your beets early if you want them to be a smaller size.
Like tomatoes, growing from seed offers far greater variety in taste and color, including delicious golden beets or even striped Chioggia beets.
Carrots
Continuing with root crops, carrots are a great choice for planting now in moderate climates. Those in warmer climates may have started carrots a little earlier, but April is generally a better time to avoid any unpredictable cold weather. Warm temperatures and consistency are best for strong germination, ensuring your eventual carrot plants are far less stressed.
In many areas, the nights in April are still cool enough to keep the roots crisp and sweet without risk of excessively high temperatures. If you live in any zones below five, you can sow with some protection to avoid damage. Other gardeners can direct sow with ease.
Planting now will deliver a delicious carrot harvest around June, depending on which species you grow. Choose a few different varieties to vary colors, flavors, sizes, and harvesting times.
Peas
If you live in a warmer zone, your peas are probably already planted. However, for those in cooler zones, now is a great time to get them in the ground. Peas grow best in cooler weather and don’t appreciate excess heat, so planting at the right time is essential.
Direct seed sugar snap peas or snow peas as soon as the soil can be worked. As with cucumber, install a trellis at the same time so it’s ready to support the vines as the plant grows.
If you need to sow in trays (for example, if the soil is currently not workable or still snowy), you can. However, peas will perform far better when direct sown.
Beans
Pole beans and bush beans are a delicious staple of vegetable gardens. The flavor difference between store-bought beans and fresh beans is vast, making it a worthwhile crop to plant in April.
If you live in Zone 6 and above, this month is an ideal time to plant directly in the garden. To ensure they’ll germinate successfully, test the soil temperature. If it’s above 60°F, you can sow now.
For gardeners in lower zones who desperately want a head start on the season, it is possible to start these seeds indoors around 3 weeks before transplanting. In that case, it’s important to use biodegradable pots and avoid handling the roots wherever possible.
Basil
Vegetable gardens are incomplete without herbs to add flavor. And one of the best herbs to plant in April is basil.
This heat-loving crop needs soil temperatures above 60°F to germinate. This means that gardeners in zones 8 and above can direct sow outdoors. Alternatively, those in cooler climates should sow seeds now indoors to transplant when the weather is warm enough.
If you are in one of these cooler climates, a heating mat is helpful to encourage germination. It warms the soil just enough to deliver quick germination in 5 to 10 days.
If you have the space, choose a few different types of basil to add some variety to your dishes. Harvest bunches of leaves at once and toss them into a food processor with some olive oil to create your own homemade pesto.
Parsley
If it’s not the right time to plant basil in your garden, you can choose the slightly more cold-tolerant parsley that grows better in cooler weather. Parsley has a delicious earthy flavor that pairs well with almost any ingredient, enhancing flavor and adding a pop of color.
Early spring is a great time to plant because parsley tends to bolt when temperatures get too high. Flat-leaf parsley is most often used for flavor, while curly parsley is used for decoration. Curly parsley may be less sought after, but it attracts pollinators if you allow it to flower.
