April marks a critical turning point in the gardening calendar. If you’re worried you’ve missed the boat on seed starting, take heart! While some early crops might be behind schedule, plenty of vegetables and herbs actually prefer an April start.
This guide highlights 25 crops that thrive when planted in April, organized by plant families and growing characteristics. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced gardener, these timely plantings will set you up for a productive growing season.
1. You’ll Get Perfect Timing For Cucumbers
Cucumbers grow remarkably fast when planted in April, reaching transplanting size in just 2 weeks compared to the 6+ weeks tomatoes require.
Why April works: Cucumbers are tropical plants that become sickly in temperatures below 50°F. Starting seeds indoors on a heat mat (80-85°F) 2 weeks before your last frost date produces perfect transplants ready for the garden 2 weeks after your last frost date.
Pro tip: Unlike tomatoes and peppers that tolerate cool nights, cucumbers need consistent warmth. Most gardeners start them too early alongside tomatoes, leading to stressed plants.
2. You Can Still Grow Zucchini and Summer Squash
Like their cucumber cousins, summer squash and zucchini grow best when started in April rather than earlier in the season.
Why it matters: April-started squash plants avoid the stress of cool nights and mature quickly—ready for transplanting in just 3-4 weeks. Their rapid growth means April-started plants quickly catch up to (and often surpass) earlier plantings that struggled through cool conditions.
Success strategy: Plan for succession plantings throughout summer, as squash plants decline after initial production. Instead of nursing tired plants all season, replace them with fresh seedlings every few weeks.
3. You Can Start Pumpkins at The Ideal Time
April is the perfect time to start pumpkin seeds indoors for most growing zones.
Why it works: Pumpkins need warm soil and air temperatures but require several months to mature. April seed starting gives them just enough time to reach maturity before fall while avoiding damage from early-season chill.
Growth acceleration: A heat mat dramatically speeds germination, with seeds sprouting in just 3-4 days instead of weeks in cool soil.
4. You Can Grow Perfect Melons
Melons are another cucurbit family member that performs better with an April start rather than earlier planting.
Why timing matters: Like their cousins, melons are tropical plants that need consistent warmth (above 50°F) to thrive. Starting seeds indoors in April ensures they reach transplanting size precisely when outdoor temperatures are consistently warm enough.
Succession strategy: Plan several waves of melon plantings throughout the season for continuous harvests, rather than trying to extend the life of older plants.
5. You Can Still Plant Potatoes
April offers your last opportunity to get potatoes in the ground before summer heat increases disease pressure.
Why it works: Though frost-sensitive above ground, potato tubers can be planted 2-3 weeks before your last frost date since they’re protected 6 inches underground and take time to emerge.
Pre-planting prep: Start sprouting seed potatoes now by placing them on your counter for a few weeks until eyes develop. This head start ensures stronger growth once planted.
6. You Can Start Sweet Potato Slips
Unlike regular potatoes, sweet potatoes require a different approach but April is still perfect timing to begin the process.
Why April matters: Sweet potatoes need 6-8 weeks to develop “slips” (rooted cuttings) before planting outdoors. Starting in April means slips will be ready for planting after all frost danger has passed.
Temperature tip: Use a heat mat set to 85°F to speed slip formation. The warmth mimics their tropical origins and accelerates growth.
7. You Can Direct Sow Peas for Perfect Timing
April creates the ideal window for direct-sowing peas in most North American growing zones.
Why the timing works: Peas present a timing challenge—plants are cold-hardy but pods are frost-sensitive, yet they also struggle in heat. April planting threads this needle perfectly:
- Seeds germinate in about 10 days (mid-April)
- Plants flower by early to mid-May
- Harvesting occurs in June, before persistent summer heat makes them tough and starchy
Regional adjustment: Southern gardeners should plant immediately and consider using shade cloth later in the season to protect developing pods from early heat waves.
8. You Can Plant Corn at the Perfect Moment
For backyard sweet corn enthusiasts, April planting (at or slightly before your last frost date) provides optimal conditions.
Why it works: Corn seeds need 7-10 days to germinate, which aligns perfectly with average last frost dates in April. The seeds remain safely underground during any late frosts, emerging only when conditions are favorable.
Variety strategy: Plant an early variety alongside a mid-to-late season variety simultaneously to spread your harvest over a longer period without multiple plantings.
9. You Can Grow Heat-Tolerant Romaine Lettuce
While most leafy greens are winding down, romaine lettuce can be direct-sown in April for an extended harvest.
Why it’s different: Unlike many lettuce varieties, most romaine types prefer warmer growing conditions and aren’t very frost-tolerant. April direct seeding positions them perfectly for late spring/early summer harvests.
Heat management: Plan to harvest before temperatures consistently exceed 80°F, or use shade cloth to prevent bolting during early heat waves.
10. You Can Direct Sow Beets Before It’s Too Late
April represents your last good opportunity to grow sweet, tender beets before summer heat affects their quality.
Why timing matters: Beet sweetness is inversely proportional to growing temperature—cooler weather produces sweeter roots. April-sown beets mature during the moderate temperatures of late spring.
Direct sowing only: Beets perform best when direct-sown rather than transplanted, as root disturbance significantly impacts quality.
11. You Can Start Carrots for Maximum Sweetness
Like beets, carrots develop better flavor when grown in cooling rather than warming conditions.
Why April works: Carrots sown in April develop during the moderate temperatures of late spring, avoiding both late frosts and intense summer heat that makes them tough and less sweet.
Heat protection: Consider using shade cloth when temperatures exceed 75°F to maintain quality and sweetness.
12. You Can Sow Daikon Radish Before Summer Heat
April offers the perfect timing for these Asian radishes that struggle in hot weather.
Why it matters: Daikon develops a woody texture and strong flavor in hot conditions. April planting allows them to mature in moderate temperatures that produce crisp, mild roots.
Growth note: Must be direct-sown as they don’t transplant well due to their long root structure.
13. You Can Plant Parsnips for Fall Harvest
These sweet root vegetables need to be started in April to have enough time to develop properly.
Why timing works: Parsnips have a long growing season (120+ days) but perform poorly in hot conditions. April planting gives them a head start with cool conditions, allowing them to establish before summer heat, then mature during fall’s cooling temperatures.
Cold-enhanced flavor: Parsnips actually become sweeter after frost exposure in the fall, making April the perfect starting time for fall/winter harvests.
14. You Can Direct Sow Quick-Growing Radishes
April offers ideal conditions for spring radishes that mature in just 3-4 weeks.
Why April works: Radishes develop best flavor in cool but not cold conditions. April planting gives them moderate temperatures for crisp, mild roots rather than the pithy, hot results from summer-grown radishes.
Succession strategy: Sow small amounts every 1-2 weeks for continuous harvests through spring.
15. You Can Plant Rutabagas for Extended Harvests
These often-overlooked root vegetables perform excellently when started in April.
Why timing works: With a longer growing season than turnips but similar temperature preferences, April-sown rutabagas mature during the cooling temperatures of early fall, developing maximum sweetness.
Storage benefit: April-planted rutabagas reach maturity at the perfect time for winter storage.
16. You Can Grow Swiss Chard for Year-Round Greens
Though not technically a root vegetable, Swiss chard shares many growing characteristics with beets and thrives when planted in April.
Why April works: Chard established in April’s moderate temperatures develops strong root systems that help it withstand both summer heat and winter cold in many climates.
Cut-and-come-again benefit: Unlike many greens, properly established chard can produce harvests for many months or even years in mild climates.
17. You Can Plant Turnips for Tender Roots
April represents the last good opportunity for spring turnips before summer heat affects quality.
Why timing matters: Like other root crops, turnips develop best flavor and texture in moderate temperatures. April planting allows them to mature before summer heat makes them woody and strong-flavored.
Dual-purpose crop: April-planted turnips provide both tender roots and nutritious greens before summer heat arrives.
18. You Can Start Leeks for Year-Round Harvests
These versatile alliums perform excellently when started from seed in April.
Why they’re exceptional: Leeks are incredibly cold-hardy (to nearly 0°F) yet also heat-tolerant, with biennial lifespans of 18-24 months. April starts establish during favorable conditions.
Growth tip: Start indoors as transplants since their tiny seeds can wash away if direct-sown during spring rains.
19. You Can Plant Bunching Onions for Continuous Harvests
Also known as scallions or green onions, these quick-growing alliums are perfect for April planting.
Why April works: Like leeks, bunching onions tolerate both cold and heat once established, making April an ideal starting time. Their quick growth means April-sown seeds provide harvests by early summer.
Succession strategy: Start a new six-pack every 4-6 weeks for continuous harvests all year.
20. You Can Start Basil at the Perfect Time
Unlike many herbs, basil is heat-loving and frost-sensitive, making April ideal for starting seeds indoors.
Why timing works: Basil seeds started indoors in April will be ready to transplant after your last frost date, giving them the warm conditions they need to thrive from the beginning.
Temperature requirement: Wait until after your last frost date to plant outdoors, as even a light frost will damage basil.
21. You Can Grow Chives Before Summer Heat
April offers perfect conditions for establishing these perennial herbs.
Why April works: Chives germinate and establish best in moderate temperatures. April planting gives them time to develop strong roots before summer heat potentially triggers flowering.
Heat management: Consider planting in containers that can be moved to shade when temperatures exceed 80°F.
22. You Can Direct Sow Dill for Best Flavor
Unlike many herbs, dill performs best when direct-sown, and April provides ideal conditions.
Why direct-sowing matters: Dill develops a taproot that doesn’t transplant well. April soil temperatures are perfect for direct seeding.
Continuous harvest tip: Succession plant every 3-4 weeks for fresh dill all season, as it quickly flowers in warm weather.
23. You Can Start Fennel Before Summer Heat
April provides the perfect conditions for establishing fennel before hot weather triggers bolting.
Why timing matters: Fennel prefers moderate temperatures for developing its flavorful bulbs. April planting gives it time to establish before summer heat potentially causes premature flowering.
Growing location: Consider partial shade locations in warmer climates to extend the harvest window.
24. You Can Plant Garlic Chives for Years of Harvests
These perennial allium herbs establish perfectly when started in April.
Why April works: Garlic chives germinate best in moderate temperatures and, once established, will return year after year. April planting gives them ideal establishment conditions.
Heat tolerance note: Though they’ll tolerate heat better than regular chives, consider afternoon shade in hot climates.
25. You Can Still Start Notoriously Slow Parsley
Parsley seeds are infamously slow to germinate, making April starts perfectly timed for summer use.
Why April works: Starting parsley in April gives these slow-to-germinate seeds (2-3 weeks) plenty of time to develop before summer use. By summer, they’ll be well-established and more heat-tolerant.
Germination tip: Be generous when seeding as germination can be spotty, and pre-soak seeds overnight to improve success rates.
BONUS: You Can Plant Pollinator-Supporting Flowers
Supporting beneficial insects with diverse flowering plants throughout your garden creates a healthier ecosystem that reduces pest problems naturally.
Why diversity matters: Different flowering times, shapes, and colors attract varied beneficial insects. Sunflowers, borage, nasturtiums, zinnias, marigolds, and alyssum each attract specific pollinator groups.
Ecological strategy: The “population density theory” suggests that maximizing beneficial insect populations leaves less physical space for pest insects to establish, creating natural balance.
Conclusion
April truly is a powerhouse planting month, offering the perfect conditions for starting crops that prefer moderate temperatures or require specific timing to avoid temperature extremes. Rather than viewing April as “too late” for planting, recognize it as the ideal time for many garden favorites.
The key to success lies in understanding each plant’s unique temperature preferences and growth cycles. By aligning these with your local climate patterns, you’ll maximize harvests and minimize frustration.
Whether you’re just getting started or expanding an established garden, these 25 crops offer excellent opportunities for April planting—setting you up for a productive and rewarding growing season ahead.