What to plant in April in zone 5a
161 crops to start indoors, direct sow, transplant, or harvest in April in USDA hardiness zone 5a. Typical last spring frost around May 4, 2026, first fall frost around Oct 6, 2026 — exact dates vary by location within the zone.
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Start indoors
Sow these under lights or on a windowsill now for transplants later.
- Amaranth
- Amaranth Microgreens
- Amaranthus
- Armenian Cucumber
- Bachelor's Button
- Basil
- Basil Microgreens
- Billy Buttons
- Black Cumin / Nigella
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Burdock
- California Poppy
- Chamomile
- Chinese Toon
- Cosmos
- Cucamelon
- Cucumber
- Epazote
- Feverfew
- French Marigold
- Garbanzo Bean Sprouts
- Gourd (Angled Luffa)
- Gourd (Bitter)
- Gourd (Bottle)
- Gourd (Luffa)
- Gourd (Ornamental)
- Gourd (Turban)
- Gourd (Wax)
- Grain Amaranth
- Gypsophila
- Holy Basil
- Huauzontle
- Korean Summer Squash
- Lemon Basil
- Lime Basil
- Love-in-a-Mist
- Love-Lies-Bleeding
- Mexican Sunflower
- Misome
- Mung Bean Sprouts
- Narrowleaf Zinnia
- Nasturtium
- Nasturtium Microgreens
- Orach
- Orach Microgreens
- Phacelia
- Poppy
- Pumpkin
- Pumpkin (Maxima)
- Pumpkin (Moschata)
- Shiso
- Shiso Herb Microgreens
- Shiso Microgreens
- Strawberry Spinach
- Sulphur Cosmos
- Summer Savory
- Summer Squash
- Sweet Annie
- Thai Basil
- Watermelon
- West Indian Gherkin
- Wild Arugula
- Winged Bean
- Winter Squash (Acorn)
- Winter Squash (Banana)
- Winter Squash (Buttercup)
- Winter Squash (Butternut)
- Winter Squash (Cushaw)
- Winter Squash (Delicata)
- Winter Squash (Hubbard)
- Winter Squash (Spaghetti)
- Zinnia
Direct sow outside
Sow these straight into the garden bed this month.
- Arugula Microgreens
- Asian Greens
- Beet Microgreens
- Cilantro
- Cilantro 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
- Celtuce / Stem Lettuce
- Chicory
- Chinese Broccoli
- Chinese Cabbage
- Chive
- Collard
- Echinacea
- Endive
- Flowering Cabbage
- Flowering Kale
- Garlic Chives
- Hamburg Parsley
- Kale
- Kale Microgreens
- Kohlrabi
- Komatsuna Microgreens
- Komatsuna Mustard
- Leek
- Leek Microgreens
- Lettuce
- Lettuce Crisphead Microgreens
- Lettuce Leaf Microgreens
- Lettuce Microgreens
- Lettuce Romaine Microgreens
- Mibuna
- Mibuna Microgreens
- Mizuna
- Mizuna Microgreens
- Onion
- Onion Microgreens
- Pak Choi Microgreens
- Parsley
- Parsley Microgreens
- Purple Yu Choy Sum
- Radicchio
- Romanesco Broccoli
- Russian Kale
- Russian Kale Microgreens
- Rutabaga
- Shallot
- Siberian Kale
- Snapdragon
- Tat Soi
- Tatsoi Microgreens
- Tendergreen Mustard Microgreens
- Turnip
- Turnip Microgreens
- Yu Choy Sum
Plant out
Set out these crops (sets, tubers, or starts) now.
Keep going
Timings use NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for a representative location (Rumford, ME) in zone 5a, computed with the same engine as GardenDraft’s in-app schedule. Guidance, not guarantees — your exact dates depend on your address.