What to plant in April in zone 4a
135 crops to start indoors, direct sow, transplant, or harvest in April in USDA hardiness zone 4a. Typical last spring frost around May 12, 2026, first fall frost around Oct 3, 2026 — exact dates vary by location within the zone.
Want exact April dates for your address in zone 4a, a drag-and-drop bed layout, and sowing reminders? Enter your ZIP:
Or get a printable zone 4a calendar and reminders by email:
Start indoors
Sow these under lights or on a windowsill now for transplants later.
- Ageratum
- Alternanthera
- Amaranth
- Amaranth Microgreens
- Amaranthus
- Bachelor's Button
- Balsam
- Basil
- Basil Microgreens
- Beach Sunflower
- Billy Buttons
- Black Cumin / Nigella
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Brachycome
- Burdock
- California Poppy
- Cape Gooseberry
- Chamomile
- Chinese Toon
- Chrysanthemum
- Cleome
- Common Morning Glory
- Cosmos
- Dahlberg Daisy
- Dahlia
- Dichondra
- Epazote
- Feverfew
- Four O Clock
- French Marigold
- Gomphrena
- Grain Amaranth
- Ground Cherry
- Gypsophila
- Hibiscus
- Holy Basil
- Huauzontle
- Korean Mint
- Lace Fern
- Lemon Basil
- Lime Basil
- Love-in-a-Mist
- Love-Lies-Bleeding
- Malabar Spinach
- Marigold
- Maximilian Sunflower
- Mexican Sunflower
- Mexican Zinnia
- Misome
- Moonflower
- Morning Glory
- Nasturtium
- Nasturtium Microgreens
- Orach
- Orach Microgreens
- Ornamental Millet
- Phacelia
- Poppy
- Portulaca
- Ricinus
- Roselle
- Shiso
- Shiso Herb Microgreens
- Shiso Microgreens
- Signet Marigold
- Silver Ponysfoot
- Strawberry Spinach
- Sulphur Cosmos
- Summer Savory
- Sweet Annie
- Thai Basil
- Thunbergia
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Water Pepper
- Wild Arugula
- Winged Bean
Direct sow outside
Sow these straight into the garden bed this month.
- Arugula Microgreens
- Beet Microgreens
- Corn Salad
- Daikon Radish
- Daikon Sprouts
- Fava Bean
- Garden Sorrel Microgreens
- Leaf Radish
- Miner's Lettuce
- New Zealand Spinach
- Oats
- Parsnip
- Radish
- Radish Microgreens
- Radish Sprouts
- Red Clover
- Red-Veined Sorrel
- Shell Pea
- Snap Pea
- Snow Pea
- Sorrel
- Sorrel Microgreens
- Spinach
- Swiss Chard
- Swiss Chard Microgreens
- White Clover
Transplant outdoors
Move these hardened-off seedlings into the garden.
- Arugula
- Beet
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Broccoli Raab
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bunching Onion
- Cabbage
- Cabbage Microgreens
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Chinese Broccoli
- Chinese Cabbage
- Collard
- Flowering Cabbage
- Flowering Kale
- Kale
- Kale Microgreens
- Kohlrabi
- Leek
- Leek Microgreens
- Onion
- Onion Microgreens
- Romanesco Broccoli
- Russian Kale
- Russian Kale Microgreens
- Rutabaga
- Shallot
- Siberian Kale
- Tat Soi
- Turnip
Plant out
Set out these crops (sets, tubers, or starts) now.
Keep going
Timings use NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for a representative location (Stanton, ND) in zone 4a, computed with the same engine as GardenDraft’s in-app schedule. Guidance, not guarantees — your exact dates depend on your address.