What to Plant in April: The Quick Guide

The best things to plant in April depend on your last frost date and on matching the right plants to your climate's planting window.

• Hot climate (frost already past): Beans, okra, sweet potatoes, eggplant, and zinnias — focus on heat-tolerant crops that can establish before summer temperatures spike.
• Mild climate (last frost in March or April): Cucumbers, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, peppers, basil, and nasturtiums — plant as soon as your frost date has passed.
• Cold climate (last frost in May or June): Lettuce, spinach, arugula, carrots, beets, radishes, and peas can go outside now; start tomatoes and peppers indoors for transplanting later.

What Do You Grow in April?

April is the month your garden either gets ahead or falls behind — and I say that from experience in three very different climates.

When I was gardening in Houston, April was everything. We knew that by late May, the heat would be relentless, and anything that hadn't put down strong roots just wasn't going to make it. In Chicago, April was the first real exhale after a long winter — the moment I could finally get seeds in the ground and watch something grow. And here in Nashville, where I garden now, April is this sweet, slightly urgent in-between: cool enough that my salad greens are still going strong, warm enough that I'm already thinking about what comes next.

The point is: wherever you live, April gives you a window. Your job is to know which window is yours.

I've grouped everything into three climates to make this simple. You're in a warm climate if your last frost date has already passed. You're in a mild climate if your last frost date falls in March or April. You're in a cold climate if your last frost date is still four to six weeks away. Not sure which one you are? Use a frost date calculator to find your last frost date — I've linked one below.

Scroll down to your climate and let's get planting.

What Can You Plant in Warmer Areas in April?

If you live in a warmer climate, then your last frost date has come and gone (if you even get frost in your neck of the woods). You've been enjoying temps in the 60s, 70s, and maybe even 80s already, and the rest of us are so jealous. You're currently in your warm growing season, when the average high temperature is between 65°F (18.3°C) and 84°F (29.4°C).

Believe it or not, April is the month to prepare your garden for the high temps that are heading your way. You'll transition to your hot season, when the average high is 85°F (29.4°C) or above, for the summer very soon.

That means it's already a little late to plant things like tomatoes and regular cucumbers. These warm-season plants won't have very long before the weather grows too hot for them to produce. Instead, you'll focus on planting things that can tolerate the heat.

My top plants to start this month in a warmer climate:

• Basil
• Squash & Zucchni
• Melons
• Pumpkins & Gourds
• Eggplant
• Okra
• Sweet potatoes
• Zinnias

Now let's dive into the best leaves, roots, fruit, and flowers you can plant in April to heat-proof your garden for the summer.

Herbs

If you haven't planted basil yet, you can direct sow basil seeds in your garden this month. Basil will grow so well in your warm April soil. It's the perfect herb to fill empty spaces in your garden. Some basil types, like Thai basil, can hang in there in triple-digit temps.

Consider planting any perennial herbs (lavender, oregano, sage, thyme, mint, lemon balm, and rosemary) in your garden this month to give them time to establish themselves in the garden before hot weather arrives. I recommend planting these as plants instead of seeds so you can enjoy them during their most active growing season. 

Leafy Greens

Focus on planting heat-tolerant greens until coolish weather returns in the fall. These include arugula, mizuna, and mustard greens. If you give these plants some shade as the weather warms up, you'll enjoy just-cut salads well into summer.

Roots

Plant sweet potatoes (tuberous roots) in April to help you keep your sanity through the hottest months of the summer. Sweet potatoes are ideal to grow for low-maintenance gardening, especially if you have summer travel plans. The aboveground vegetation will act as a ground cover to keep moisture and nutrients in your soil.

To start sweet potatoes, buy an organic sweet potato from the grocery store or farmers' market. Simply place it in some compost indoors to let it grow slips that you can then plant outside in about 6 weeks. If it's warm enough outside, you can literally take a sweet potato and just plant that directly in the soil.

It's a little late to plant potatoes (tubers), unless you're growing an early variety that can be ready to harvest in 75 to 90 days.

Fruit

Okra thrives in hot climates. If you haven't started your okra yet, now is the time to do so. You could start it by seed indoors or direct sow the seeds in your garden. Make sure to give these guys a lot of space and sunlight. Okra plants need at least one full square foot in the garden to grow to maturity, and they'll reach 6, 8, maybe even 10 feet tall by the middle of the summer. You'll harvest so many okra pods throughout the hottest months.

Eggplants and hot peppers are very similar to okra in that they don't mind extreme heat. If you haven't started these indoors yet, this is a great time to direct sow seeds in the garden. Another option is to buy plant starts from your local nursery so you have more mature plants and can get a jumpstart on the season. If you're a tomatillo fan, make sure to have at least two healthy plants ready to transplant to your garden to ensure proper pollination.

Another great fruiting plant option is beans. Plant fast-growing bush beans in any empty spaces you have in your garden. You'll get to harvest pods in just about 60 days.

Your goal is to get these fruiting plants established in your garden at least a month before the temps rise above 90°F (32.2°C)—that's how you ensure you'll have a packed, productive garden during your hot summer months.

Flowers

Zinnias are a wonderful flower to have in the garden throughout the hottest parts of the summer. They're heat- and drought-tolerant—and so, so pretty! Take 5 minutes to sprinkle zinnia seeds in any open spaces in your garden for blooms in under 2 months.

I will never stop recommending zinnias to gardeners in warm climates. Some years in Houston, when everything else in my garden was scorched and struggling, the zinnias were the one thing holding on. They're tough, they're beautiful, and they bring every beneficial insect you could want straight to your garden all summer long.

Other great flowers to plant this month include angelonia, cosmos, purple salvia, and marigolds. These flowers will push through the heat of summer and—most importantly—feed our pollinators.

What Can You Plant in Cooler Areas in April?

If you're in a mild climate, like mine here in Nashville, Tennessee, then April is the month when your garden is really taking off. At this point, you've got all your plants growing in the garden for the cool season. Your last frost date will switch you into the warm growing season, when your average high temp will be between 65°F (18.3°C) and 84°F (29.4°C). You'll stay in the warm season through most, if not all, of summer.

It's time to start adding to your garden plants that grow best once frost has passed.

My top plants to start this month in a mild climate:

• Arugula
• Beans
• Cucumbers
• Zinnias 
• Zucchini
• Basil
• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Eggplant
• Coreopsis

Now let's dive into the best leaves, roots, fruit, and flowers you can plant in April.

Herbs

You can direct sow cilantro, parsley, and dill this month, but know that you'll need to offer them shade once your temps start to warm up or they'll bolt.

As soon as you pass your last frost date, you can transplant basil started indoors or direct sow basil seeds.

If you want to grow perennial herbs (chives, oregano, sage, thyme, mint, lemon balm, rosemary, and lavender), I recommend waiting until your last frost date has passed and then buying these herbs from your local nursery. That way, you can begin harvesting from them as soon as possible.

Leafy Greens

Arugula is frost tolerant, so you can plant it right now, even if you're still under the threat of frost for a couple more weeks. Sow arugula seeds in blank spaces in your garden, and you'll harvest a ton of greens in just 45 days.

Lettuce is another leafy green you can direct sow this month. I recommend planting lots of different varieties for the tastiest salad bowl this spring—bibb lettuce, butterhead, romaine, spring mix, red lettuce, you name it. Maximize your lettuce harvest over the next month or two, before the temps climb into the 80s and your leaves turn bitter.

Roots

You can direct sow seeds for root crops like beets, radishes, and carrots. Radishes can be ready to harvest in just 30 to 45 day, beets take about 75 to 90 days, while carrots can take up to 90 to get a harvest. Get these veggies established in the garden before the temps climb.

I grew radishes every April when I lived in Chicago, and pulling them out of the soil before the end of the school year felt like a small miracle every single time. If you've never grown radishes before, start here. They're the fastest thing in the garden and one of the most satisfying.

You can also plant potatoes (tubers), even before your last frost date (they'll be protected underground). Order seed potatoes online or buy organic potatoes from your farmers' market, and chit them so they're ready to plant as soon as possible.

Fruit

You can plant all of the quintessential veggies (which are really fruiting plants) once your warm season begins.

As soon as the threat of frost has passed, direct sow seeds for pole beans and bush beans. Grow pole beans up a trellis or use bush beans to fill in any empty spaces in your garden beds. You'll get to harvest in just about 60 days. Beans fix nitrogen in your soil, which is great for your garden, and they're full of protein, which is great for you!

Cucumbers can also be direct sown as soon as your last anticipated frost date has passed. You'll need some type of trellis or net that's at least 5 feet tall if you're growing a vining variety. You'll get to harvest your first cukes in just about 60 days.

Next, you can direct sow squash and zucchini, which are from the same plant family as cucumbers. I recommend growing these plants either on the edge of your bed (so you can train their growth over the side) or outside of your raised beds (so you can let them sprawl). You'll get to harvest fruits in just 60 to 65 days, and these plants produce so much for you.

You can also plant large gourds, pumpkins, and melons in April. Either direct sow seeds or plant transplants. Plant these on the edges of your beds or in places where there's a lot of open soil. Better yet, grow mini pumpkins so you can utilize trellis space. These plants will spend all summer growing and be ready for harvest around September. 

Lastly, it's time to transplant tomato, eggplant, and pepper seedlings to your garden, as soon as you've passed your last frost date. Consider buying plant starts from your local nursery if you haven't already started these indoors. That way, you can maximize their time growing in nice, warm weather.

Flowers

April is the perfect month to plant nasturtiums for your warm season garden. Nasturtiums love to climb a trellis or trail over the edges of your raised beds. The seeds benefit from being scarified before you direct sow them in your garden.

Zinnias are my favorite cut flower to grow, and you can direct sow them this month or plant seedlings, after frost has passed. If you scatter zinnia seeds this month, you'll end up with blooms by June or July, and they'll last all the way until your first frost in the fall. You can also sow marigolds, strawflowers, and coreopsis at the same time

What Can You Plant in Cold Areas in April?

For all my friends in cold climates — this is your month. I know April can still feel uncertain when frost is possible every other night, and your soil is just barely workable. But frost-tolerant crops genuinely do not mind the cold, and getting them in the ground now means you'll have real harvests before your short season slips away.

If your soil is still frozen solid, use frost cloth to warm it up, or place a cold frame over your raised bed to get that soil workable to 3 or 4 inches deep. As soon as you're there, you're ready. Back when I lived in Chicago, my April garden was packed with leafy greens and root crops — and the best days of your cool season are still ahead of you.

My top plants to start this month in a cold climate:

• Carrots
• Cilantro
• Lettuce (I love Romaine!)
• Spinach
• Radishes
• Beets
• Peppers (indoors)
• Tomatoes (indoors)

Now let's dive into the best leaves, roots, and fruiting plants you can plant in April.

Herbs

Start basil by seed indoors so you'll have plants ready to move out once you pass your last frost date in 4 to 6 weeks. Basil will give you so much production over your summer months.

As long as you have at least 60 days left of nice, cool weather, you can plant cilantro, parsley, and dill. These herbs in the carrot family are frost tolerant, so you can go ahead and plant them as soon as your soil is workable.

Leafy Greens

Plant lots of leafy greens this months for salads. Salad season can be all too short in places that warm up pretty quickly in the spring. Direct sow seeds for spinach, arugula, and tons of lettuce. I love red leaf lettuce, which gives you loads of harvests and lasts longer into warmer spring weather than other lettuces.

You can also plant out bok choy, kale, cabbage, and Swiss chard plant starts this month.

Roots

If you have not planted your carrots and beets yet, this is the month to do so. These root crops love cooler weather and don't mind frost one bit. Carrots take at least 2 to 3 weeks to germinate, so direct sow your carrot seeds right away.

Also, go ahead and order your seed potatoes (tubers) so you can start chitting them and getting them ready to plant very soon.

Fruit

At the beginning of April (or about 45 days before your final frost date), it's time to start seeds for large warm season plants indoors. That includes peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant. That way, you'll be ready to transplant your seedlings outdoors in May or June and take advantage of every single long summer day.

You can also start melons and large gourds like pumpkins and butternut squash. These plants need 100 to 120 days to reach maturity, which gives you a very short growing window. The trick is to start these plants by seed indoors so you have young plants to move out to the garden for summer as soon as you pass your last frost date. Squash and zucchini are much quicker to grow from seed than melons, so if you start seeds now and move seedlings out by the end of May, you could be harvesting by the middle of June.

Sugar snap peas, snow peas, and fava beens can be planted right in the garden this month since they can handle some frost and cold. Sow seeds underneath a strong trellis and get ready to harvest so many pods in late spring.

Lastly, let's talk about broccoli and cauliflower. I often lump these large brassicas in with fruiting plants because of their size and long time to harvest. You can put these into your garden as plants about 45 days before your last frost date. Aim to harvest in early summer, before the weather warms up too much. If you didn't start them indoors, it's best to buy plants from your nursery.

Flowers

Direct sow seeds for flowers like calendula and chamomile, which prefer cooler weather. Start your favorite warm season flowers indoors for a colorful, butterfly-filled summer garden.

What are the best flowers to plant in April?

Zinnias, strawflowers, and marigolds can be planted outdoors once your final threat of frost has passed, or you can start them inside now. Wait a few weeks after your last predicted frost to plant your nasturtium seeds. You can also plant calendula and chamomile.

If you're in a warmer climate, cosmos, petunias, and begonias planted now will continue to thrive through your hot season.

Keep on Planting in April!

No matter what you plant, give your seeds a really good watering in and keep them moist in the first 7 to 10 days after sowing to prevent them from drying out. If you're new to starting seeds, check out our comprehensive guide.

If you're still getting your kitchen garden set up, learn more through Gardenary's many resources:

• Download our free 2025 garden calendar.
• Get started with my book, Kitchen Garden Revival.
• Fina a Gardenary-trained garden coach near you in our Directory. Follow them on social media or sign up for their newsletter for an easy way to know what's possible to grow in your area each month.

Whatever you grow in your garden, don't grow alone! We're here to help you have confidence and find success in the garden every step of the way, rain or shine.

Here's to maximizing your growing time this April for a wonderful spring harvest!

April Planting Questions, Answered

What can I plant in April if I still have frost? If you're still getting frost, stick to frost-tolerant crops: lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale, radishes, carrots, beets, cilantro, parsley, dill, peas, and calendula. These plants can handle cold temperatures and even light frost without damage. If your soil is still partially frozen, use frost cloth or a cold frame to warm it up before sowing.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in April? It depends on your climate. In mild climates (last frost in March or April), April is the right time to transplant tomato seedlings outdoors — just make sure your frost date has passed. In cold climates, April is actually the ideal time to start tomato seeds indoors so you have plants ready to move outside in May or June. In hot climates, it may already be too late to start tomatoes from seed, so buy transplants and get them in the ground as quickly as possible.

What vegetables can I direct sow outdoors in April? In mild to cold climates, you can direct sow lettuce, spinach, arugula, radishes, carrots, beets, peas, cilantro, dill, and parsley. Once your last frost date has passed, you can also direct sow beans, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, and basil. In hot climates, direct sow beans, okra, and zinnia seeds now, and get sweet potato slips in the ground as soon as possible.

What should I start indoors in April? In cold climates, April is the time to start tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil, and warm-season flowers like zinnias and marigolds indoors. You can also start melons, pumpkins, and large gourds indoors to get a head start before your last frost date. Give these plants 4 to 6 weeks indoors before moving them outside.

How do I know if my last frost date has passed? Your last frost date is an average, not a guarantee — so always watch your local forecast even after that date. A frost date calculator (linked below) will give you the average last frost date for your zip code. Once you've passed it and nighttime temps are consistently staying above 32°F, it's safe to move frost-sensitive plants outdoors.

What flowers should I plant in April? Zinnias, marigolds, and coreopsis can be direct sown in mild to warm climates after frost has passed. Nasturtiums can go in after your last frost date. In cold climates, direct sow calendula and chamomile now, and start warm-season flowers like zinnias indoors. All of these flowers attract pollinators, support pest management, and make your kitchen garden more beautiful throughout the season.