April is an exciting time for gardeners! With the arrival of spring, it's the perfect opportunity to get your hands in the soil and start planting. Whether you're sowing seeds directly into the ground, transplanting seedlings, or starting plants indoors, April offers a wide range of possibilities. Find out what’s best to plant in your zone and be sure to check your hardiness zone on our Find Your Zone page before getting started.
Zones 3–4: Start Indoors & Transplant Hardy Vegetables
Vegetables:
- Transplant: Onions, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower
- Direct Sow: Beets, carrots, kale, peas, spinach
- Start Indoors: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, herbs
Flowers:
Garden Maintenance Tips:
- Work compost or organic matter into garden beds as soon as the soil is workable
- Remove winter mulch from strawberries and perennials
- Clean and repair garden tools
- Prune winter-damaged rose branches
Zones 5-6: Plant a Variety of Cold-Hardy Crops
Vegetables:
- Transplant: Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, chives, onion, garlic, herbs.
- Direct Sow: Greens, radishes, carrots, beets, peas.
Fruit:
- Plant fruit trees and berries.
Flowers:
- Start Indoors: Marigolds, cosmos, zinnia.
- Direct Sow: Viola, snapdragon, dianthus, sweet peas, calendula, alyssum, and perennial plants.
Garden Maintenance Tips:
- Weed the garden and remove dead plants
- Prune trees and shrubs and set up trellises for climbing plants
- Fertilize fruit trees, perennials, and early spring flowers
- Pinch raspberry and blackberry canes to encourage bushier growth
Zones 7–8: Time to Transplant & Sow Warm-Season Crops
Vegetables:
- End of Month Transplant: Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, herbs
- Direct Sow: Greens, radishes, carrots, beets, peas
- End of Month Direct Sow: Beans, squash, melons, cucumbers
Fruit:
- Plant fruit trees and berries.
Flowers:
- Direct Sow: Sweet peas, calendula, alyssum
- End of Month Direct Sow: Zinnia, cosmos, sunflowers, marigold
- Transplant: Roses, dianthus, viola, snapdragon, and other perennials
- End of Month: All annuals
Garden Maintenance Tips:
- Keep up with weeding to prevent them from going to seed
- Fertilize spring flowers, fruit plants, perennials, and vegetables with organic slow-release fertilizer
- Harden off vegetable seedlings before transplanting
- Cage tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants as soon as you plant them
- Cover tender crops in case of late frost
- Check plants for pests and treat accordingly
Zones 9–10: Keep Planting Warm-Season Crops
Vegetables:
- Transplant: Sweet potatoes
- Direct Sow: Melons, okra, beans
Fruit:
- Harvest strawberries
Flowers:
- Direct Sow: Sunflower, zinnia, marigolds
- Finish planting annuals
Garden Maintenance Tips:
- Continue planting warm-season crops
- Add marigolds to reduce nematodes
- Monitor and treat for insects
- Apply mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds
- Deadhead flowers to encourage continuous blooming
Zone 11: Extend the Growing Season
Vegetables:
- Transplant: Sweet potatoes
- Direct Sow: Melons, okra, beansFruit: Harvest strawberries
Flowers:
- Direct Sow: Sunflower, zinnia, marigolds
- Finish planting annuals
Garden Maintenance Tips:
- Continue planting warm-season crops
- Use marigolds to deter pests
- Keep up with insect monitoring and treatment
- Mulch garden beds to maintain moisture and reduce weeds
- Deadhead flowers for extended blooming
April is one of the most rewarding months for gardeners across all zones. Whether you're starting seeds indoors, transplanting seedlings, or directly sowing into the garden, there’s plenty to do! Don’t forget to check your hardiness zone before planting. Happy gardening!