What to Plant in April: The Complete Spring Planting Guide by Zone

April is when gardens come alive. In most of the country, this is the month where indoor seedlings go outside, direct sowing begins in earnest, and the real growing season kicks off. But timing still matters — a late frost in zone 5 can wipe out a weekend’s worth of transplanting.

Here’s what to plant in April, organized by zone so you’re not guessing.

Zones 3-4: Cold Still Rules — Focus on Indoor Starts

Last frost: May 1–15

April is still too early for most outdoor planting in zones 3-4, but it’s the critical month for starting seeds indoors.

Start indoors now:

• Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (if you haven’t already)
• Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage
• Herbs: basil, parsley

Direct sow outdoors (late April, zones 4 only):

• Peas — as soon as soil can be worked
• Spinach and lettuce — cold-hardy, can handle light frost
• Radishes — fastest vegetable, ready in 3-4 weeks

Pro tip: If your soil is still frozen or waterlogged, don’t force it. Working wet soil compacts it for the entire season. Wait until a handful crumbles when squeezed.

Zones 5-6: The Sweet Spot — Outdoor Planting Begins

Last frost: April 1–15

This is the magic window for zones 5-6. Cool-season crops go directly in the ground, and warm-season transplants can go out after mid-April (zone 6) or early May (zone 5).

Direct sow outdoors:

• Peas, spinach, lettuce, kale, radishes, beets, carrots, onion sets
• Potatoes — plant 2-4 weeks before last frost
• Swiss chard, turnips

Transplant outdoors (late April, zone 6):

• Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage — these can handle light frost
• Lettuce and kale starts

Keep indoors a bit longer:

• Tomatoes, peppers, squash — wait until after your last frost date
• Cucumbers, melons — need soil temps above 60°F

Pro tip: Succession plant lettuce every 2 weeks starting now. By the time one planting bolts in summer heat, the next one is ready.

Zone 7: Full Speed Ahead

Last frost: March 15

April in zone 7 is full-on planting season. Your last frost is behind you, and you have months of growing ahead.

Direct sow:

• Beans (bush and pole), corn, squash, cucumbers, melons
• Second round of lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots
• Sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos

Transplant outdoors:

• Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant — soil should be warm enough now
• Basil, herbs

Start planning fall crops: It sounds early, but count backward from your November frost date. Fall broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts need to be started by June.

Zones 8-9: Beat the Heat

Last frost: Feb 15 – March 1

By April, zones 8-9 are well into the growing season. The challenge now shifts from frost protection to heat management.

Plant now before it gets too hot:

• Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant — get them in early April, they’ll struggle if transplanted in May heat
• Squash, cucumbers, melons, okra
• Sweet potatoes (slips)
• Southern peas (black-eyed peas, cowpeas)

It’s too late for:

• Peas, spinach, lettuce — these bolt in zone 8-9 April heat unless you have shade cloth
• Broccoli, cauliflower — ship has sailed, try again in September

Pro tip: Mulch everything 3-4 inches deep. In zone 8-9, moisture retention is more important than soil warming.

Zone 10: Tropical Timing

Last frost: rarely freezes

Zone 10 gardeners operate on a different calendar. April starts getting hot, so this is actually the end of cool-season planting.

Plant now:

• Sweet potatoes, okra, southern peas
• Peppers (heat-tolerant varieties), eggplant
• Herbs: basil thrives, cilantro is done until fall
• Tropical: papaya, passion fruit, mango (from grafted trees)

Transition out of:

• Tomatoes may start struggling with heat — harvest what’s on the vine
• Lettuce and greens need shade structure or they’re done

April Planting Checklist

No matter your zone, here’s what every gardener should do in April:

1. Harden off indoor starts — set them outside for increasing hours over 7-10 days before transplanting
2. Test your soil — pH and nutrient levels matter more than any fertilizer schedule
3. Set up supports — install tomato cages and trellises at planting time, not after the plants are 3 feet tall
4. Mulch — 2-4 inches of organic mulch reduces watering by 50% and suppresses weeds
5. Start tracking — the best time to start a garden journal is right now

Track Your April Planting

Knowing what to plant is step one. Tracking what you actually planted — when, where, and how it performed — is what separates good gardeners from great ones.

Check your zone’s detailed planting schedule:

• Zone 5 Planting Calendar — Chicago, Columbus, Boston
• Zone 6 Planting Calendar — Philadelphia, Nashville, Portland
• Zone 7 Planting Calendar — Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas
• Zone 8 Planting Calendar — Austin, New Orleans, Sacramento

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