I’ve incorporated the USDA Hardiness Zone Map a lot in my gardening work and preach others to do the same because of how useful it is.
Today’s article is no exception to this. We’ll be taking a look at vegetables you can plant in April for each USDA zone. Trust me, this is going to be fun!
What To Plant In April? Best Vegetables By USDA Zone
USDA Zones 1-3 (Cold Climates):
When it’s extremely cold outside, starting certain vegetables indoors is your best bet. This allows you to protect them from the harsh conditions and give them a slight headstart, which is especially good for vegetables that need a longer growing season.
Start these indoors, control their growing conditions as much as you can, and transplant seedlings outside later on when conditions are favorable.
Keep in mind that only certain vegetables can survive direct outdoor sowing in cold climates as lower temperatures can be very harsh, especially for younger, developing plants.
USDA Zones 4-5 (Cool Climates):
These zones are still on the cooler end of the spectrum. April here can still be harsh though, and many of the vegetables you want to plant will have to be started indoors in order for them to grow properly.
These generally do very well if started indoors in these cool climates and transplanted outside as spring emerges later on.
Again, there’s a limited number of vegetables you can directly sow outdoors in such cool climates, especially in April when temperatures still remain quite low.
Give these a shot by sowing them directly outdoors in your garden. They’re hardy and can most definitely survive as well as grow in cooler climates.
USDA Zones 6-7 (Mild Climates):
In zones 6-7, you should still start some seeds indoors and opt for late transplanting. These veggies and fruits are best suited for milder climates that are neither too hot nor too cold.
Be diligent with transplanting though as you don’t want to transplant these vegetables too late in the season where they’re exposed to lots of heat and warmth all of a sudden.
Now, this is where you have options. Milder climates support direct outdoors sowing a lot more than extremely hot or cold climates would.
Check and prepare the garden soil before sowing these vegetables outdoors, and ensure proper care and protection in case cold and frost start becoming a problem.
USDA Zones 8-9 (Warm Climates):
In warmer climates, you generally want to sow plants that can withstand rising temperatures and won’t bolt or spoil. Direct sowing works in warmer climates because these vegetables are resilient enough to not get damaged by the warmth but instead utilize it for optimal growth.
If you didn’t already know, succession planting involves planting certain crops repeatedly throughout the growing season to keep up a continuous harvest.
These are some solid options for succession planting in zone 8-9 April as they can survive the growing warmth and continue to multiply in it.
USDA Zones 10-13 (Tropical & Hot Climates):
These are some of the best options you have for direct sowing in hot climate zones. Not only do these withstand strong heat but also grow quite well in it.
Though sunlight is pretty much an essential requirement for plant growth, there are some like lettuce, spinach, and arugula that can do quite well in partial shade too.
These will provide you with year-round growth. Yes, they may need a little more love and attention, but I’d say it’s worth the benefit of having your favorite vegetables growing all year.
