What to Plant in April: The Complete Guide

As the weather changes and spring arrives, knowing what to plant in April may be on your mind. This can certainly be a busy planting month if you live in a Hardiness Zone that is starting to warm up. But what grows best during the month of April, whether it be vegetables, flowers, or trees? 

If you’re wondering what to plant in April, a number of vegetables and flowers are viable at this time. If you haven’t started your pepper or tomato plants indoors, now is definitely the time, and some might be able to be transplanted outside. A number of annual flowers can be sown in April including forget-me-nots and violets. Finally, some groundcover and shrub options do well when planted in April, such as sedum or even grass seed for a fresh lawn!

If you don’t know the particular Hardiness Zone that you live in, now’s the time to find out. Your frost dates will be extremely important to pay attention to during this time of year. Remember, April showers bring May flowers, so keep in mind which of your crops might be a bit more sensitive to seasonal weather conditions before planting. Let’s get digging!

What to Plant in April: The Complete Guide

There are a number of things to plant during the month of April, both indoors and out. A number of summer vegetables and flowers should be started indoors during this month if you haven’t started them yet! This is an important month to determine the crops that you want to grow indoors from seed so that you can transplant them, as well as the ones that you want to purchase as established seedlings from your local nursery or hardware store. 

Your Hardiness Zone and final frost dates will also be extremely important when it comes to the timing of your planting. It’s always a good idea to keep a cold frame or cold weather cover handy in case you need to protect any of your young crops or flowers. With all of this in mind, let’s get started and talk all about a few of the things that you can plant during April! 

What to Plant in April: Flowers

While it’s likely too late to plant your springtime bulbs, there are plenty of other flowers to consider planting in the month of April. There are lots of different summertime blooms to consider, as well as some popular shrub flowers. As the daffodils begin to appear, it’s time to plant even more beautiful flowers! Let’s talk about some options that may interest you now. 

Calla Lily Bulbs

Capable of coming back year after year and available in a variety of delicate colors, calla lily bulbs are best planted during the month of April. You should ensure that your soil temperatures average above 50 to 55 degrees before planting them, as calla lilies are dormant in colder temperatures. If you live in a particularly warm and sunny area, calla lilies prefer partial shade to protect their delicate, pitcher-like flowers! When planted in the proper location and at the right time, calla lilies need two to three months before they bloom. 

Gladiolus Bulbs

Similar to calla lily bulbs, gladiolus bulbs need ambient soil temperatures of 50 to 55 degrees before you consider planting them. These tall and impressive flowers can reach up to five feet high and are available in a variety of colors as well as bloom sizes. They can also handle being planted in full sunlight and in fact, prefer it. If you live in Hardiness Zones 7 and up, these bulbs can be left in the soil year-round. However, anywhere colder than this and you are better off digging up the bulbs to reuse the following spring! 

Poppies

Best grown from seed, there are countless different types of poppies. From California poppies to Shirley poppies, these beautiful blooms are simple to grow so long as temperatures are right. Plant your poppy seeds directly on top of your garden soil, once temperatures reach 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This type of flower requires light in order to properly germinate, and you should put your poppy seeds in a location where they will receive at least 6 hours of sunlight each and every day! Thin your seedlings as they grow, and enjoy poppies year after year. This is a flower that readily reseeds and you don’t have to do a thing! 

Bachelor’s Buttons

Also known as cornflower, bachelor’s buttons are a fantastic flower to choose if you are worried that you don’t have a green thumb. This full-sun flower can grow in Hardiness Zones 2-11 and comes back annually without you having to do a thing! Besides its signature cornflower blue color, this shrub-like plant can be found in shades of pink, purple, and white. Plus, these adorably textured flowers bloom more profusely in warmer climates, so expect plenty of blossoms in the summertime. 

Lobelia

Available in both clumping and trailing varieties, lobelia flowers have a trademark sky-blue color to their petals. You can also find this plant in a few other shades such as pink, yellow, and white. While typically grown as an annual, lobelia flowers are a tender perennial in some Zones. You can directly sow lobelia seeds outside if your temperatures average anywhere from 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This flower will need some protection from full sunlight during the summertime but tolerates partial shade conditions quite well.

Nemesia

Grown as an annual in Zones 2 through 10, nemesia flowers can be found in countless colors and cultivar varieties. This is a plant that prefers some afternoon shade and cooler temperatures in the summertime, though it will need sunshine in order to produce its ample blooms. You should start your nemesia flowers from seed indoors during the month of April, planting them outside after all frost dangers have passed. When properly fertilized and grown in the right climate, nemesia plants can produce flowers up until the first frost dates in the winter! 

Ranunculus

Also known as Persian buttercups, ranunculus flowers are beautiful and striking in both container and border planting. You can start ranunculus flowers from their tubers indoors, or you can start them outdoors once temperatures average a little over 50 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep these flowers happy, they will need full sunlight. While they may slow their growth during the hottest parts of the summertime, you can deadhead ranunculus blooms in order to promote more flowers. You can also dig up the tubers in winter and save them for the following year! 

What to Plant in April: Vegetables

April is a wonderful time to plant a number of leafy greens from seed directly into your garden beds. If you have yet to start your tomato or pepper plants indoors, now is the time. Otherwise, April is a month of decision-making in terms of your vegetables and whether or not you want to grow things from seed or purchase established plants from your local garden center. Regardless of what you decide, here are some potential vegetables that you can plant during the month of April! 

Parsnips

Similar in appearance to a carrot but with a more herbaceous and spicy flavor, parsnips can be sown as soon as your soil is workable, likely during the month of April. These root vegetables need a very long growing season, complete with frosty conditions during the fall. While your parsnips will need most of the year to grow, they are delicious and relatively easy to care for. Plant them in full sun and thin your seedlings as they grow so that there is plenty of room to develop these delicious roots! 

Carrots

While carrots may require a very particular type of soil in order to successfully germinate, they are delicious and worth attempting! You can sow carrot seeds directly once your soil temperatures are over 40 degrees Fahrenheit on average. To ensure large vegetables, carrots need loose, slightly sandy soil. If your earth is too compacted, your carrots can’t stretch and grow! Plus, they also require at least seven to 10 hours of sunlight each and every day. You can grow carrots in a garden bed or a container, so long as you have at least 8 to 12 inches of soil depth. 

Peas

Depending on your Hardiness Zone, you might be able to still plant peas in your garden. From sugar snap to English, peas are an easy addition to any garden, but they are a cool-weather crop only. If you are in a warmer Zone, April may be a bit too late to plant your peas, but it’s still worth a try! They germinate quickly and will require a trellis or other support system in order to vine and produce delicious pea pods. Temperatures over 85 degrees Fahrenheit will take a toll on your peas, but their growing season is always short, sweet, and worth it! 

Cabbage

Given the potential for pests and diseases in the average cabbage crop, this isn’t a vegetable for beginners. However, it’s a delicious addition to any garden, and nearly every cabbage variety can be started indoors during the month of April. You may also have some success directly sowing them outside depending on your Zone, planting seeds a quarter inch into your soil. Cabbages love full sunlight for at least 6 hours a day, and make sure that your soil is fertilized regularly to produce large heads! 

Melons (Many Types)

Whether you want to plant watermelons, honeydews, or cantaloupes, starting melon seeds indoors during the month of April works well for nearly all Hardiness Zones. These warm-loving crops will require a heating mat for their seedlings. You will also need to take special care of their roots when transplanting, likely during the month of May. All types of melons grow the sweetest in full sunlight and make sure you give them plenty of water during the hottest months of summer. 

Eggplants

Depending on how warm it is where you live, you may want to consider purchasing an already-established eggplant crop rather than growing from seed. Like peppers and tomatoes, eggplants need warm temperatures and no frosty conditions in order to properly grow. You may still have time to start seedlings indoors in April and make sure to supply your eggplant starts with a heat source. Once your outdoor temperatures are consistently greater than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, you can plant your seedlings outside. Eggplants will need full sunlight and some structural support, as some varieties can reach over 3 feet tall. 

Lettuce (Many Types)

April is typically a safe month to directly sow lettuce seeds outside in your garden. There are countless different varieties of lettuce to consider, but make sure you plant certain varieties such as Romaine with plenty of space to grow! Make sure to avoid sowing these seeds too deep, as they are extremely small and can’t sprout if there are too many rocks or compacted soil. Lettuce is great for beginners as it grows quickly and can be harvested at just about any size. Just watch out for a variety of pests, and make sure that your lettuce gets at least 5 hours of direct sun but not too much hot afternoon sunshine! 

Peppers

Just like eggplants, you may want to wait and purchase already-established pepper plants from your local garden center rather than starting them from seed during the month of April. With countless varieties, heat levels, and sizes, peppers are a great crop for gardeners of any experience level. However, they require plenty of sunlight and hot temperatures, as well as plenty of time to germinate and grow. Make sure your ambient temperatures are over 60 degrees Fahrenheit before putting any pepper plants outside. Most pepper varieties grow well in containers, giving you the option to move them around should the need arise! 

Tomatoes

There’s nothing like a homegrown tomato, which is another fantastic vegetable for gardeners of all experience levels. Just like eggplants and peppers, tomatoes likely needed to be started indoors from seed during the month of March. However, many gardeners purchase established tomato plants rather than grow their own, as they are extremely affordable and easy to find. There are a dizzying number of tomato cultivars, but all tomato plants will need at least 8 hours of direct sunshine to produce plenty of delicious results!

What to Plant in April: Shrubs, Ground Cover, and More

April is a fantastic month to get the rest of your outdoor landscaping in shape. Pruning is often recommended during this time of year, and you may want to consider planting shrubs, trees, and ground cover options depending on your region. Here are some other things to consider planting during the month of April! 

Sedum Ground Cover

Also known as stonecrop, sedum plants can be found in countless shapes, sizes, and cold-hardy conditions. Some sedum ground cover can handle Hardiness Zones 2-3, while other varieties prefer hot temperatures. These unique plants do well in containers, but their shallow root systems make them ideal ground cover crops. They propagate readily and can be easily removed if you don’t like the way they look. Stonecrop also thrives in rocky or sandy soil, making them fantastic choices for desert climates. 

Dogwood Shrubs

Nearly all dogwood shrub varieties grow under 15 feet tall and prefer wetter soil than most plants. If you provide your dogwood shrub with 5 hours of sunlight a day and plenty of water during its first growing season, you can expect beautiful foliage and flowers if you have purchased a flowering dogwood shrub variety. This is a fantastic plant for birds and pollinators, and it is relatively cold-hardy down to Zone 2. 

Grass Seed

If you have a patchy lawn and want an even field of grass for the summertime, you may want to consider planting grass seeds during the month of April. Depending on your region and the type of grass you are trying to grow, these seeds are best planted outdoors when temperatures have reached at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. It’s important to plan your lawn carefully and smooth out the soil as evenly as you can. While grass can cause plenty of allergies during the spring, it grows quite well during this time of year! 

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