What to plant in April in zone 5b
110 crops to start indoors, direct sow, or transplant in April in USDA hardiness zone 5b. Typical last spring frost around May 1, 2026, first fall frost around Oct 13, 2026 — exact dates vary by location within the zone.
Zone 5b covers a lot of ground. Enter your ZIP for April dates from your nearest weather station and a month-by-month calendar:
Start indoors
Sow these under lights or on a windowsill now for transplants later.
- Amaranth
- Amaranthus
- Armenian Cucumber
- Basil
- Black Cumin / Nigella
- Burdock
- Chamomile
- Chinese Toon
- Cucamelon
- Cucumber
- Epazote
- Feverfew
- Gourd (Angled Luffa)
- Gourd (Bitter)
- Gourd (Bottle)
- Gourd (Luffa)
- Gourd (Ornamental)
- Gourd (Turban)
- Gourd (Wax)
- Grain Amaranth
- Holy Basil
- Huauzontle
- Korean Summer Squash
- Lemon Basil
- Lime Basil
- Misome
- Nasturtium
- Orach
- Pumpkin
- Pumpkin (Maxima)
- Pumpkin (Moschata)
- Shiso
- Strawberry Spinach
- 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)
Direct sow outside
Sow these straight into the garden bed this month.
Transplant outdoors
Move these hardened-off seedlings into the garden.
- Arugula
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Broccoli Raab
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bunching Onion
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Celtuce / Stem Lettuce
- Chicory
- Chinese Broccoli
- Chinese Cabbage
- Chive
- Collard
- Echinacea
- Endive
- Garlic Chives
- Hamburg Parsley
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Komatsuna Mustard
- Leek
- Lettuce
- Mibuna
- Mizuna
- Onion
- Parsley
- Purple Yu Choy Sum
- Radicchio
- Romanesco Broccoli
- Russian Kale
- Shallot
- Siberian Kale
- Tat Soi
- 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 (ZIP 53187) in zone 5b, computed with the same engine as GardenDraft’s in-app schedule. Guidance, not guarantees — your exact dates depend on your address.