What to plant in April — zone 6a
Zone 6a averages its last spring frost around April 30 and its first fall frost around October 10. 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 2
Two weeks of increasing outdoor time keeps cold-hardy seedlings from stalling when they go out.
Start indoors
- Lettucearound Apr 2
4 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Succession sow every 2 weeks. Harvest outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again supply.
- Cucumberaround Apr 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Trellis vertically to double yield in the same footprint and cut mildew.
- Zucchiniaround Apr 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). One plant feeds a family. Pick at 6-8 in for the sweetest fruit.
- Winter squasharound Apr 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Cure 10 days in a warm dry spot after harvest — the skin toughens and storage doubles.
- Watermelonaround Apr 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Ripe = tendril nearest the fruit is brown and the ground spot has turned buttery yellow.
- Cantaloupe / Melonaround Apr 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Ripe fruit slips off the vine with a gentle tug — the smell alone tells you.
Direct sow
- Lettucearound Apr 2
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Spinacharound Apr 2
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Radisharound Apr 2
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Carrotaround Apr 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Kalearound Apr 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Beetaround Apr 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Onionaround Apr 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Broccoliaround Apr 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Chivesaround Apr 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Potatoaround Apr 16
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Cilantroaround Apr 16
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Parsleyaround Apr 16
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Dillaround Apr 30
Soil is ready 0 weeks after last frost.
Transplant out
- Kalearound Apr 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Broccoliaround Apr 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Chivesaround Apr 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Strawberryaround Apr 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Lettucearound Apr 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Onionaround Apr 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Strawberryaround Apr 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Parsleyaround Apr 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Mintaround Apr 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
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