What to plant in April

In zones 7–8, April is the primary planting month for warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) with last-frost awareness. In zones 5–6, April is for cool-season crops outdoors and continued indoor starts. In zones 9–10, April is prime warm-season growing. The biggest April mistake i

April is the transition month — cool-season crops are at peak production in most zones, and warm-season crops are moving outdoors for zones 7 and warmer. The last frost date looms over every decision this month.

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Zone-by-zone April calendar

Zones 3–5 (Upper Midwest, northern New England, mountain West)

April activity: Last frost dates range from April 30 (zone 5a) to June 1 (zone 3). April is not safe for warm-season outdoor planting in these zones.

What to do:

• Continue indoor starts for tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers (still 4–8 weeks away from outdoor planting)
• Direct sow spinach, peas, lettuce, and kale outdoors in zone 5 when soil is workable (typically late April)
• Plant onion sets and transplants outdoors in late April in zone 5b

Per University of Minnesota Extension, "zone 4 gardeners should wait until mid-May for warm-season outdoor planting" and April is primarily for cool-season crops.

Zones 6–7 (Philadelphia, Long Island, DC, Nashville)

April activity: Last frost dates range from April 1 (zone 7b) to April 30 (zone 6a). This is the transition window.

Cool-season crops (continue or start):

• Direct sow beets, carrots, more lettuce successions, radishes throughout April
• Per Penn State Extension, "continue succession planting of lettuce every 2 weeks through April for continued harvest"
• Transplant broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower starts outdoors in early April

Warm-season crops:

• Zone 7b–7a (last frost April 1–15): Transplant tomatoes and peppers outdoors in mid-to-late April with frost cloth available. Per Penn State Extension, "tomatoes can be planted 1–2 weeks before the last frost date with floating row cover protection."
• Zone 6 (last frost April 15–30): Wait until May 1 for unprotected warm-season planting. With row cover, mid-April transplanting is possible.

In my zone 7a beds, I typically transplant tomatoes around May 1, occasionally April 20–25 if the extended forecast looks clear. I don't rush it — a cold, slow-starting tomato that gets set back in late April often performs no better by July than one planted May 1 in warm soil.

What to direct sow outdoors in April (zones 6–7):

• Beets, carrots, Swiss chard, more peas, more lettuce, more spinach
• Cilantro (prefers cool weather; sow directly, resists transplanting)
• Dill (direct sow only; dislikes transplanting)
• Nasturtiums (seeds germinate best in cool to warm soil, 55–65°F)

Zones 8–9 (Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Sacramento)

April activity: Warm-season growing is fully underway.

Direct sow outdoors:

• Beans (after last frost; soil 60°F+): bush beans and pole beans germinate in 7–10 days at 60–70°F. Per NC State Extension, beans are "very sensitive to cold" — plant after soil has warmed.
• Summer squash, zucchini: direct sow or transplant. Per NC State Extension, "direct sowing is preferred" as squash dislikes root disturbance.
• Cucumbers: direct sow after last frost. Germination in 5–10 days at 65–85°F.
• Corn: direct sow in blocks (not rows) after soil reaches 60°F. Per Penn State Extension, "corn needs to be planted in blocks of at least 4 rows wide" for adequate pollination.

Transplant outdoors:

• Tomatoes: zone 8 last frost is mid-to-late March. April tomato planting is safe (2–4 weeks past last frost). Per Clemson HGIC, "soil temperature at transplanting should be at least 60°F."
• Peppers, eggplant, basil

Cool-season crops winding down: April is the last month for cool-season crops in zone 8–9. Lettuce, spinach, and peas will bolt as temperatures climb. Harvest frequently and plan to pull them by late April.

Zone 10–11 (Miami, Hawaii, South Texas)

April activity: Midsummer-equivalent conditions in zone 10–11.

For zone 10 (Southern Florida, the Rio Grande Valley): Transition to heat-tolerant vegetables. Per UF IFAS Extension, April through September is "the hot season" in South Florida, requiring heat-tolerant varieties. Plant sweet potatoes, Southern peas (cowpeas), okra, and Malabar spinach.

What to start indoors in April

Zones 3–5: warm-season transplants

If you haven't started tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant yet, there is still time in early April for zone 4–5 (last frost May 15–June 1). Per University of Minnesota Extension, "6–8 weeks before May 30 is April 1–15."

Start in early April:

• Tomatoes (for zone 4–5 May 30 last frost)
• Peppers (same timing)
• Annual flowers: marigolds, zinnias, petunias — 4–6 weeks before last frost

Starting melons (all zones)

Melons (Cucumis melo) need warm conditions and a long season — per Penn State Extension, "most melons require 70–90 days from transplant to harvest." Start indoors 2–3 weeks before outdoor transplanting date. For zone 6 (last frost April 30), start in mid-April.

Ornamental planting in April

Spring bulbs in full bloom

Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and early alliums are blooming in zones 5–7. Do not deadhead daffodils (the fallen petals drop naturally) but do deadhead tulips to prevent seed production that drains the bulb. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, "removing spent tulip flowers prevents energy loss to seed production and directs it back to the bulb."

Hardy perennial transplanting

April is an excellent time to divide and transplant established perennials. Per Penn State Extension, "most perennials can be divided in early spring just as new growth appears." This is the best window for dividing hostas, daylilies, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and ornamental grasses (warm-season types only; ornamental grasses are divided in spring, not fall).

I divide my hostas in early April in zone 7, when the "nose tips" (new growth points) are just visible at the soil surface. At that stage, the root mass is easy to cut and the plants recover quickly.

Summer annuals: start outdoors or buy transplants

By late April in zone 7–8, garden centers have full annual displays. Many gardeners wait to buy transplants rather than starting from seed — this is perfectly sensible for plants like impatiens, begonias, and vinca that are sold cheaply as 6-packs and grow quickly.

Cool-season vs. warm-season crops: April decision matrix

State planting calendars

• New York: /planting/ny/
• New Jersey: /planting/nj/
• Pennsylvania: /planting/pa/
• Georgia: /planting/ga/
• Texas: /planting/tx/
• North Carolina: /planting/nc/

Common mistakes

Frequently asked

What does "hardening off" mean, and do I need to do it?

Hardening off is the process of gradually acclimating indoor-grown seedlings to outdoor conditions — sun intensity, wind, and temperature variation. Per Penn State Extension, "seedlings grown indoors should be hardened off over 7–10 days" before final outdoor planting. Start by setting plants outside in a sheltered spot for 1 hour, increasing the time each day. Skipping this step can result in "transplant shock" — wilting, bleaching, or even death of otherwise healthy plants.

Can I direct sow tomato seeds outdoors in zone 7 in April?

Yes, but they'll be weeks behind transplanted seedlings. Per NC State Extension, direct-sown tomatoes "will lag behind transplanted seedlings by 3–6 weeks" and produce later harvests. This can actually be useful for extending the season — a direct-sown row planted in late April will fruit in late July–August when earlier transplants may be declining.

When can I plant morning glories outdoors?

Morning glories (Ipomoea purpurea) are warm-season annuals that need soil temperatures above 60°F for reliable germination. Per Penn State Extension, sow directly outdoors after last frost. In zone 7, late April to May 1 is the right window. Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours before planting to improve germination speed.

Sources

1. Penn State Extension — Vegetable Planting
2. University of Minnesota Extension — Spring Planting
3. NC State Extension — Vegetables
4. Clemson HGIC — Warm-Season Vegetables
5. UF IFAS Extension — Florida Vegetable Planting Guide
6. Missouri Botanical Garden — Spring Bulbs