What to plant in April — zone 5b
Zone 5b averages its last spring frost around May 5 and its first fall frost around October 5. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Garden care
- Harden off early transplantsaround Apr 7
Two weeks of increasing outdoor time keeps cold-hardy seedlings from stalling when they go out.
Start indoors
- Lettucearound Apr 7
4 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Succession sow every 2 weeks. Harvest outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again supply.
- Cucumberaround Apr 14
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Trellis vertically to double yield in the same footprint and cut mildew.
- Zucchiniaround Apr 14
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). One plant feeds a family. Pick at 6-8 in for the sweetest fruit.
- Winter squasharound Apr 14
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Cure 10 days in a warm dry spot after harvest — the skin toughens and storage doubles.
- Watermelonaround Apr 14
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Ripe = tendril nearest the fruit is brown and the ground spot has turned buttery yellow.
- Cantaloupe / Melonaround Apr 14
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Ripe fruit slips off the vine with a gentle tug — the smell alone tells you.
Direct sow
- Lettucearound Apr 7
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Spinacharound Apr 7
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Radisharound Apr 7
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Carrotaround Apr 14
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Kalearound Apr 14
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Beetaround Apr 14
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Onionaround Apr 14
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Broccoliaround Apr 14
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Chivesaround Apr 14
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Potatoaround Apr 21
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Cilantroaround Apr 21
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Parsleyaround Apr 21
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
Transplant out
- Kalearound Apr 14
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Broccoliaround Apr 14
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Chivesaround Apr 14
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Strawberryaround Apr 14
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Lettucearound Apr 21
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Onionaround Apr 21
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Strawberryaround Apr 21
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Parsleyaround Apr 21
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Mintaround Apr 21
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
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