What to Plant in April 2026 ▷ US Garden Planting Guide

▷ What to plant in April by USDA hardiness zone

Zone 5–6: April is still early — start indoors and plant hardy crops

For gardeners in Zone 5–6 (upper Midwest, New England, mid-Atlantic highlands, Great Plains), April is a month of two phases. The first half of April is still too cold for warm-season crops outdoors — last frost dates range from late April to mid-May in this zone. Focus on: direct-sowing hardy vegetables outdoors (peas, spinach, kale, lettuce, radishes, carrots); starting tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, and squash indoors under grow lights; and hardening off any seedlings started in February and March by moving them outside during warm days and bringing them back in at night.

By late April, Zone 6 gardeners can plant out cold-hardy transplants like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and onion sets. A lightweight frost cloth or row cover gives you a 4–6°F buffer against late frosts, letting you get a jump on the season without gambling on losing transplants.

Zone 7–8: prime spring planting window

Zone 7–8 (Mid-Atlantic coast, Pacific Northwest lowlands, much of the Southeast and lower Midwest) is in its sweet spot in April. Last frost dates fall between mid-March and mid-April in this zone, meaning late April is generally safe for most transplanting. You can: plant tomato and pepper transplants outdoors in late April (keep frost cloth on hand for rare late cold snaps); direct-sow warm-season beans and summer squash; transplant warm-season herb starts (basil, rosemary, thyme); and plant warm-season annual flowers (zinnias, marigolds, lantana). Cool-season crops (lettuce, peas, spinach) are racing against the clock — get them in early April before summer heat arrives.

Zone 9–11: transition to warm-season crops

In Zone 9–11 (Florida, Gulf Coast, Southern California, Hawaii, low desert Southwest), April marks the transition away from cool-season crops (which are bolting in the heat) toward heat-tolerant warm-season plants. April is the time to: direct-sow heat-tolerant crops (Malabar spinach, cowpeas, okra, sweet potatoes); transplant heat-tolerant tomato varieties; start succession plantings of summer squash and beans every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest; and establish drought-tolerant perennial herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano) before summer heat intensifies. In South Florida and Hawaii, April is not too late for a quick planting of fast-maturing summer varieties before the rains arrive.

Cool-season vegetables to plant in April

These crops grow best when temperatures are between 45–75°F and can tolerate light frost. They are the workhorses of the April garden in Zone 5–8 and should be planted promptly before summer heat causes them to bolt (produce flowers and seed prematurely, which makes leaves bitter and inedible).

Crop	Direct Sow or Transplant	Days to Harvest	Frost Tolerance
Lettuce (leaf)	Direct sow or transplant	30–45 days	Tolerates light frost (28°F)
Spinach	Direct sow	35–45 days	Hardy to 20°F when established
Peas (snap/snow)	Direct sow	55–70 days	Hardy to 28°F
Radishes	Direct sow	22–30 days	Tolerates light frost
Kale	Direct sow or transplant	50–65 days	Very hardy to 20°F
Broccoli (transplant)	Transplant only	55–80 days from transplant	Hardy to 26°F

Warm-season crops to start indoors in April

For Zone 5–6 gardeners, April is the ideal month to start warm-season crops indoors if you did not already do so in March. These crops need 6–8 weeks of indoor growth before they can be transplanted outside after the last frost. Starting them now (early to mid-April) means they will be ready to go out in late May to early June — prime planting time for Zone 5–6.

Start indoors in April: cucumbers (3–4 weeks before transplant — they grow fast and do not like being pot-bound); summer squash and zucchini (2–3 weeks before transplant — they also resent being pot-bound, so do not start too early); melons (3–4 weeks, needs heat for germination — use a heat mat); basil (4 weeks, very tender, needs warmth); and eggplant if you did not start in March. Keep all of these at 70–75°F for germination and reduce to 65°F after sprouts emerge.

Flowers and bulbs to plant in April

April is one of the best months for the flower garden. Hardy annual flowers can be direct-sown outdoors, summer bulbs can go in the ground in warmer zones, and tender annuals can be started indoors in colder zones. Direct-sow outside in April (all zones once soil is workable): sweet peas, larkspur, bachelor's buttons (cornflower), California poppies, nasturtiums (Zone 7+), and love-in-a-mist (Nigella). Plant summer bulbs (once soil is above 55°F): dahlias (Zone 7+ in late April, Zone 5–6 wait until May), gladiolus, cannas, calla lilies, and begonia tubers. Start indoors in Zone 5–6: zinnias, marigolds, petunias, snapdragons, and impatiens — all need 6–8 weeks before safe outdoor transplanting.

Pansies, violas, and ornamental kale planted in early spring as cool-weather annuals are excellent for filling beds with color while you wait for summer flowers. They tolerate temperatures down to the mid-20s and will bloom continuously through spring. Remove spent flowers regularly to extend the bloom period. Expect them to fade as temperatures consistently exceed 75°F.

Seeds vs transplants: which is right for April planting?

The decision between direct-sowing seeds and buying or growing transplants depends on crop type, your zone, and what time of season it is. Direct sow when: the crop does not transplant well (carrots, peas, beans, squash, cucumbers — all have fragile roots that resent disturbance); when the crop grows so fast that starting indoors offers no real time advantage (radishes, lettuce, spinach); or when you need large volumes economically (seed is far cheaper than transplants per plant).

Use transplants when: you are starting frost-sensitive crops before last frost in a cold zone; when the crop has a very long growing season that benefits from an indoor head start (tomatoes need 6–8 weeks, peppers 8–10 weeks); or when you want a single specimen of a specific variety and buying one transplant is more practical than growing a tray of seed.

April planting table by crop and zone

Crop	Zone 5–6	Zone 7–8	Zone 9–11
Tomatoes	Start indoors	Transplant late Apr	Transplant now
Peas	Direct sow now	Direct sow early Apr	Too late (heat)
Lettuce	Direct sow now	Direct sow early Apr	Use bolt-resistant varieties
Cucumbers	Start indoors	Start indoors / direct sow late Apr	Direct sow now
Dahlias	Wait until May	Plant late April	Plant now

Soil prep and seed-starting tips for April

Before direct sowing any seed outside, test soil moisture. Grab a handful of soil from 2 inches deep and squeeze. If it forms a ball and crumbles when tapped, it is ready to work. If it stays in a wet, sticky ball, wait — working wet soil destroys its structure. If it falls apart without forming a ball at all, it may be too dry or too sandy; add compost to improve moisture retention.

For seed-starting indoors, use a dedicated seed-starting mix — not potting soil and never garden soil. Seed-starting mix is finer, lighter, and better draining than potting soil, which helps prevent damping-off disease (the number one cause of seedling death indoors). Use clean containers (wash used containers with a 10% bleach solution) and water from the bottom when possible to keep the soil surface dry. Provide 14–16 hours of light per day using a grow light suspended 2–3 inches above the seedling tops.

Harden off all indoor-started seedlings before transplanting outside. Hardening off is the process of gradually acclimating indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions — wind, direct sun, and temperature swings. Start by setting seedlings outside in a sheltered, partly shaded spot for 1 hour on day 1, then increase outdoor exposure by 1–2 hours per day over 7–10 days until they are spending full days outside. Never put soft, leggy indoor seedlings directly into full sun or strong wind — the stress will set them back by weeks.

Frequently asked questions about April planting

FAQ: What to Plant in April

What vegetables can I plant outside in April?

In April, you can safely direct-sow cool-season vegetables outdoors in most US hardiness zones (5–9). These include: peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes, kale, Swiss chard, arugula, Asian greens, turnips, and carrots. Broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage transplants can go out once hardened off. In Zone 7 and warmer, you can start transplanting tomatoes and peppers in late April with frost protection ready. In Zone 5 and colder, wait until May for warm-season crops.

What flowers can I plant in April?

April is ideal for direct-sowing hardy annuals: sweet peas (can go out in early April even in Zone 6), larkspur, bachelor's buttons, poppies, and snapdragons. Transplants of pansy, calibrachoa, and lobelia can go in the ground from mid-April in Zone 6–7. Tender annuals like zinnias, marigolds, and petunias should wait until after your last frost date — usually May in Zones 5–6, April in Zones 7–8. Summer bulbs (dahlias, gladiolus, cannas) can go in the ground in late April in Zone 7+ once soil temperature exceeds 55°F.

Can I plant tomatoes in April?

In warmer zones (Zone 8 and above), yes — tomato transplants can go outdoors in April once nighttime temperatures stay consistently above 50°F. In Zone 7, mid-to-late April is possible with frost cloth protection ready for cold snaps. In Zone 6 and colder, April is the right time to start tomatoes indoors under grow lights (6–8 weeks before last frost), but they should not go outside until after the last frost, typically mid-May to early June. Tomatoes stop growing when temperatures drop below 50°F and suffer chilling injury below 40°F.

What should I start indoors in April?

In colder zones (5–6), April is prime time to start indoors: tomatoes (if you missed March), peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, squash, melons, and basil. These need 4–8 weeks of indoor growing time before transplanting after last frost. In warmer zones (7–9), April indoor starting is too late for most warm-season crops — transplant what you started in February and March instead. Always use a quality seed-starting mix (not garden soil) and provide bottom heat for faster germination of heat-loving crops.

What is a hardiness zone and how do I find mine?

A USDA Plant Hardiness Zone is a defined geographic area based on the average annual minimum winter temperature. Zone 1 is the coldest (Alaska interior) and Zone 13 the warmest (Puerto Rico). The zones are divided into "a" and "b" sub-zones differing by 5°F. To find your zone, enter your zip code at the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map website (planthardiness.ars.usda.gov). Your zone tells you which plants can survive winter in your location — but for planting timing, the more useful tool is your last frost date, which is zone-correlated but more specific.