13 Vegetables You Should Plant In April

With April comes the opportunity to sow and transplant all sorts of vegetables, vitamin-packed and ready to take off in the warming weather. While cold-climate gardeners continue to start seeds indoors for transplanting soon, warmer areas find nursery tables stocked with leafy selections. It’s time to harden off seedlings for moving to their garden locations and to begin enjoying the first rounds of fresh harvests.

This month, we’ve selected tried-and-true favorites for their performance and culinary appeal, whether they are heirloom, versatile across garden scales, or bring a flair of unique color and flavor to the edible landscape.

The anticipated final frost date of the season helps determine which vegetables to plant in April and when to plant them throughout the month. Growing zones, too, and your local microclimate give a general guideline for planting. In zones 7 and higher, you’re (likely) frost-free in April. In zones 5-6, you’re looking at early to mid-month. Zones 4 and colder, May is your month for planting outdoors post-frost.

For vegetables to plant in April, we’ll look at those to sow or transplant near and just after the final frost, waiting for soil and air temperatures to warm for summer growers. 

Cucumber ‘Spacemaster 80’

	botanical name Cucumis sativus ‘Spacemaster 80’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-3’

Cucumber seeds are best directly sown to minimize root disturbance. Transplant them when soils warm to 60°F (16°C) or more—the warmer, the better for these heat lovers, even up to 90°F (32°C).

Dwarf varieties save space while producing sizeable cukes on compact vines. ‘Spacemaster 80’ yields full-size slicers from short vines. You can also pick them small for pickling. These cucumbers don’t occupy much growing room, making them perfect for containers and raised beds.

For a novel variety to try indoors or on a patio, look to ‘Quick Snack.’ The mini indoor grower with short vines bears tasty small fruits. Sow them directly in six to eight-inch pots in spring through fall. ‘Quick Snack’ matures in under 45 days without the need for pollination. Indoors, fruits are seedless and best picked when young, around two inches long and one inch wide.

Chili Pepper ‘Lemon Drop’

	botanical name Capsicum baccatum ‘Lemon Drop’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 20-24”

These drops of sunshine are lemony yellow with a flavor to match. Ornamental in the garden and spicy in the kitchen, these Peruvian heirloom peppers (also called ‘Aji Limón’) have the heat level of cayenne with citrusy notes and fragrance.

‘Lemon Drop’ is tasty fresh or dried for warm heat from two-to-three-inch long fruits. Each pepper holds only 10-15 seeds for easy use. Plants produce large numbers of peppers, though they are slow to mature. These vegetables take 100 days to fruit, so start seeds indoors in April to get a jump on growing. Alternatively, start them outdoors as soil temperatures reach 70°F (21°C).

‘Lemon Drop’ is well-suited to beds and containers. Grow them for their culinary heritage, ornamental value, and unique flavor.

Sweet Corn ‘Martian Jewels’

	botanical name Zea mays ‘Martian Jewels’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6’

Sweet corn is a hallmark crop of summer and the most popular “eating” type of corn, with sugary starches that intensify when freshly picked. In addition to their tastiness, the juicy kernels have antioxidants, vitamins A and C, nutrients like magnesium and potassium, and dietary fiber. With versatility in varieties and a high sugar content, its sweet flavor ranges in intensity. 

‘Martian Jewels’ isn’t overly sweet and can be enjoyed fresh (raw and right off the stalk) or cooked. Its glowing appeal is pearly white kernels that shine against violet husks.

Direct sow this classic vegetable around April, one to two weeks after the final frost and when soil temperatures are above 60°F (16°C). Sow successional rounds every few weeks for harvests throughout the season. Corn thrives in fertile, well-drained soils with regular water.

Bush Bean ‘Maxibel Filet’

	botanical name Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Maxibel’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 22-24”

‘Maxibel Filet’ are French green beans: refined, long, and slender. They’re also sweet and tender. Rather than being harvested young like others, the full-length beans are bred to be lean and stringless at six to eight inches long.

Bush beans are compact and bushy, tailored to containers, small spaces, or anywhere you want a prolific producer that doesn’t need staking. They have a delicate root system and are best direct-sown. Ensure adequate spacing for ample air circulation.

‘Maxibel’ matures in about 50 days. Harvest the pods regularly so they’ll keep producing. They thrive in mild conditions with summer temperatures below 90°F (32°C). Spring and fall sowing is best for hot climates.

Ground Cherry ‘Pineapple’

	botanical name Physalis pruinosa ‘Pineapple’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12-18”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Ground cherries are a fun and delicious addition to the edible landscape. They’re “husk tomatoes” that resemble tomatillos but have a sweet, tart flavor. Use them in fresh salsas, salads, and preserves, or snack on the bite-sized rounds right from the garden.

‘Pineapple’ ground cherries bring a hint of the tropics to the half-inch fruits. When ripe, ground cherries drop to the ground and turn golden yellow. ‘Pineapple’ produces in profusion.

Ground cherries have grown for centuries in their native South and Central America. More adaptable to northern climates than tomatillos, the compact plants also don’t need staking or caging.

Sow seeds indoors four to six weeks before your final frost date or outdoors two to four weeks after the last frost. Ground cherries germinate best in warm soils.

Tomato ‘Chocolate Cherry’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Chocolate Cherry’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5-6’

With its unique coloration and bite-size appeal, ‘Chocolate Cherry’ is an exciting little tomato. The sweetly flavored, one-inch rounds ripen to purplish-red and cluster prolifically on tall vines. 

‘Chocolate Cherry’ is indeterminate with long stems up to six feet tall and three feet wide. The fruits resist cracking and emerge in groups of 6-8 throughout the season. 

Pick the fruits a few days early and allow them to ripen indoors. They’ll be just as tasty but protected from birds and bursting. Thin-skinned and juicy, these tomatoes are among the most flavorful of the cherry types.

Like peppers, tomatoes are heat-loving nightshades that do well in warm temperatures. Sow them indoors four to six weeks before transplanting when air temperatures are above 45°F (7°C). 

Squash ‘Tromboncino’

	botanical name Cucurbita moschata ‘Tromboncino’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 15’ vines

‘Tromboncino,’ also called ‘Zucchino Rampicante,’ is an Italian heirloom and a perfect vegetable to start in April. Although the elongated fruits mature in the fall, they’re equally tasty when harvested young, green, and tender in the summer. They provide a flavorful stand-in for summer squash and develop their butternut characteristics later.

‘Tromboncino’ adds vertical interest as the long, narrow fruits develop (they reach up to three feet long at maturity). Trellis or arch the vigorous growers to watch the spectacle unfold.

C. moschata is more resistant to squash vine borer (SVB) infestations than other species. Their thick, smooth stems make them less accessible during egg-laying and larval cycles. With its zucchini qualities at early harvest, ‘Tromboncino’ is a good one to try in place of summer squashes where SVB is a problem.

Both summer and winter squashes benefit from being sown in place outdoors. Easy to grow from seed, plant squash one to two weeks after the final frost and when soil temperatures warm above 70°F (21°C).

In areas with short growing seasons only, try starting them indoors in biodegradable pots or soil blocks to allow time for development. Dwarf varieties may mature earlier; these suit both small-space gardens and those with a short growing season.

Okra ‘Clemson Spineless’

	botanical name Abelmoschus esculentes ‘Clemson Spineless’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4-5’

For some, okra is an acquired taste, but the plants are highly ornamental with small, hibiscus-like flowers, attractive palmate leaves, and striking seed pods. Enjoy the pods fresh, cooked, or pickled, or freeze them to store for winter vegetable soups.

Clemson University introduced ‘Clemson Spineless’ in 1939, building off of forty-year heirloom selections of Mr. Thomas Davis of Lancaster, South Carolina. The selection has ribbed, velvety green pods without spines. Harvest them when they’re five inches or smaller for the best texture and crispness (they keep growing but become tough and sinewy).

Okra grows best in full sun in warm to hot conditions. Germination is highest when soil temperatures are 70°F (21°C) and higher. The heritage crop tolerates various soil types, preferring sandy loams with good drainage.

Eggplant ‘Black Beauty’

	botanical name Solanum melongena ‘Black Beauty’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24-30”

‘Black Beauty,’ a Burpee 1902 introduction, has shiny, dark purple fruits and leafy stems with lavender blooms. It’s a longtime favorite for its large eggplants and delicate flavor.

‘Black Beauty’ originates from an 1880s cross between ‘Black Pekin’ Chinese eggplant and ‘Large Early Purple.’ The fruits are one to three pounds. With tender skins, there’s no need for peeling.

Start seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before your final frost and move seedlings outdoors one to two weeks after. To direct sow, wait until soil temperatures warm to 70°F (21°C) for best growth. ‘Black Beauty’ is a compact variety that does well in containers.

Pumpkin ‘Jack Be Little’

	botanical name Cucurbita pepo ‘Jack Be Little’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-5’ vines

While we associate pumpkins with autumn and Halloween, April and May are prime for planting these vegetables. With a long development time, they’re ready to light up our porches and tables as the weather cools.

‘Jack Be Little’ is an adorable miniature pumpkin that grows only three to four inches in diameter and two inches high. It’s ideal for trellising in containers or on obelisks as a specimen. Each plant sets six to ten fruits in bright orange.

The little squashes are good for eating, stuffing, and for decorations. They have a long storage life, lasting for up to a year. The small fruits grow on compact vines. To grow them in containers, choose a five-gallon or larger pot that’s at least 18 inches deep. 

Watermelon ‘Sugar Baby’

	botanical name Citrullus lanatus ‘Sugar Baby’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6-10’ vines

‘Sugar Baby’ is a classic watermelon, sweet and delicious but with the advantage of being small enough to fit in an ice box. It packs juicy flavor in a compact form with firm, dark skin. At six to ten pounds, the little rounds are enough to feed a few, making it easy to enjoy the melony goodness faster than larger varieties.

‘Sugar Baby’ is an improved dwarf variety with deep red flesh and mottled black-green skin. Woodside Seed Growing Company of Rocky Ford, Colorado, introduced it in its 1958 seed catalog. Amateur breeder Mr. Hardin of Oklahoma selected it from an heirloom Japanese variety, ‘Tough Sweets.’

In addition to its sweet flavor, ‘Sugar Baby’ is an early-maturing melon, ready about 80 days after planting. Wait to sow seeds until at least one or two weeks after the final frost. Watermelons prefer warm soils, between 70-90°F (21-32°C).

Asparagus ‘Purple Passion’

	botanical name Asparagus officinalis ‘Purple Passion’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-5’

Asparagus is one of the earliest spring vegetables, and its fresh, crisp stems grow quickly to reach peak readiness in cool conditions. It takes time to achieve a harvest, about two years after planting crowns (one-year-old roots). But in the right spot, it’s an easy-care and cold-hardy perennial.

‘Purple Passion’ in deep purple tones is an intriguing ornamental addition. The plump spears hold more sugars than green selections for a mild flavor, and they have a low fiber content. When cooked, stems turn bright green. 

Thicker than green varieties, spears emerge later in the season, giving the opportunity to stagger the harvest with early and late producers. Emerging later protects sensitive shoots from early spring frosts. Pick when the stems are less than five inches long for that balance of crisp and tender shoots.

Carrot ‘Little Finger’

	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Little Finger’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3″ roots

Carrots are a prime vegetable to plant in April in cool climate zones (6 and lower). They tuck in easily in raised beds, pots, or in a patch with companion plantings, taking up little space. Frost-tolerant, they thrive in cool, mild temperatures and in loose, organic soils where their flavorful taproots are free to develop unencumbered.

‘Little Finger’ brings a petite form perfect for fresh eating. While most baby carrots are larger varieties picked early, ‘Little Finger’ is a true miniature that peaks at three to four inches long. Roots are a Nantes type: cylindrical, uniform in diameter from end to end, and with blunt tips.