What to Plant in April

Wait until nights stay above 50F before transplanting. Cold soil stalls them.

Peppers want warm soil. Going out two weeks after the last frost beats rushing them.

Slower to germinate than sweet peppers, so give them the full head start.

Even fussier about cold than peppers. Warm soil is the whole game.

Direct sowing usually catches up to transplants. They hate root disturbance.

One or two plants is plenty unless you really love zucchini bread.

Needs a long run. In short-season zones start it indoors.

Wants heat and room. Look for an icebox variety if space is tight.

Same needs as watermelon but finishes a little sooner.

Planted as slips, not seed, and only once the soil is properly warm.

One cold night will blacken it. Wait for settled warm weather.

Self-seeds happily once you have it, and the bees find it fast.

Easy from seed and quick to bloom.

Poor soil gives you more flowers and fewer leaves.

Sow a little every two weeks instead of all at once.

Bolts the moment it gets hot, so spring and fall are its seasons.

Frost actually sweetens it. The fall crop is the better one.

Bulbing fennel does better as a fall crop in most zones.

Slow to germinate. Soaking the seed overnight helps.

Planted as crowns or bare root. Keep the crown level with the soil.

Plant while dormant in early spring, or in fall in mild zones.

Keep it in a pot. In the ground it will take over.

Wants sharp drainage and tolerates being forgotten.

Hardy outdoors from about zone 7 up. Colder than that, grow it in a pot and bring it in.