What to plant in April in zone 8a
217 crops to start indoors, direct sow, transplant, or harvest in April in USDA hardiness zone 8a. Typical last spring frost around Mar 29, 2026, first fall frost around Nov 8, 2026 — exact dates vary by location within the zone.
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Direct sow outside
Sow these straight into the garden bed this month.
Transplant outdoors
Move these hardened-off seedlings into the garden.
- Achillea
- Agastache
- Ageratum
- Aji Pepper
- Alpine Strawberry
- Alternanthera
- Amaranth
- Amaranth Microgreens
- Amaranthus
- Angel Wing Begonia
- Angelonia
- Armenian Cucumber
- Asparagus Fern
- Bachelor's Button
- Bacopa
- Balsam
- Basil
- Basil Microgreens
- Beach Sunflower
- Begonia
- Billy Buttons
- Black Cumin / Nigella
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Blue Fescue
- Bolivian Begonia
- Brachycome
- California Poppy
- Canna
- Cantaloupe Microgreens
- Cape Gooseberry
- Carnation
- Chamomile
- Chiltepin Pepper
- Chinese Toon
- Chrysanthemum
- Cleome
- Coleus
- Common Morning Glory
- Coreopsis
- Cosmos
- Creeping Thyme
- Cucamelon
- Cucumber
- Dahlberg Daisy
- Dahlia
- Delosperma
- Dianthus
- Dichondra
- Dove Pincushion
- Dracaena
- Dusty Miller
- Eggplant
- Epazote
- Ethiopian Eggplant
- Feverfew
- Flowering Tobacco
- Four O Clock
- French Marigold
- Gaillardia
- Garbanzo Bean Sprouts
- Gazania
- Geranium
- Goldmoss Stonecrop
- Gomphrena
- Gourd (Angled Luffa)
- Gourd (Bitter)
- Gourd (Bottle)
- Gourd (Luffa)
- Gourd (Ornamental)
- Gourd (Turban)
- Gourd (Wax)
- Grain Amaranth
- Ground Cherry
- Gypsophila
- Heliopsis
- Heliotrope
- Hibiscus
- Holy Basil
- Hybrid Coneflower
- Hybrid Lobelia
- Hypoestes
- Impatiens
- Interspecific Dianthus
- Ivy Geranium
- Japanese Mugwort
- Kniphofia
- Korean Mint
- Korean Summer Squash
- Lace Fern
- Lavender
- Lemon Basil
- Lime Basil
- Lobelia
- Love-in-a-Mist
- Love-Lies-Bleeding
- Malabar Spinach
- Marigold
- Marjoram
- Maximilian Sunflower
- Melon
- Melon (Pickling)
- Mexican Sunflower
- Mexican Tarragon
- Mexican Zinnia
- Mimosa
- Mimulus
- Mitsuba
- Moonflower
- Morning Glory
- Mung Bean Sprouts
- Narrowleaf Zinnia
- Nasturtium
- Nasturtium Microgreens
- Nicotiana
- Nierembergia
- Okra
- Oregano
- Oregano (Greek)
- Oregano Microgreens
- Ornamental Millet
- Osteospermum
- Painted Sage
- Paracress
- Pennyroyal Mint
- Penstemon
- Pepper (Habanero)
- Pepper (Hot)
- Pepper (Sweet & Hot)
- Pepper (Tabasco)
- Peruvian Verbena
- Petunia
- Phacelia
- Plectranthus
- Poppy
- Portulaca
- Pumpkin
- Pumpkin (Maxima)
- Pumpkin (Moschata)
- Ricinus
- Rocky Mountain Penstemon
- Roselle
- Rudbeckia
- Russian Sage
- Salpiglossis
- Salvia
- Saponaria
- Savory
- Scabiosa
- Scarlet Sage
- Sedum
- Shiso
- Shiso Herb Microgreens
- Shiso Microgreens
- Signet Marigold
- Silver Ponysfoot
- Sprenger Fern
- Statice
- Stevia
- Stipa
- Strawflower
- Sulphur Cosmos
- Summer Savory
- Summer Squash
- Sweet Annie
- Texas Sage
- Thai Basil
- Thunbergia
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Torenia
- Veined Catmint
- Verbena
- Veronica
- Vietnamese Culantro
- Vinca
- Water Pepper
- Watermelon
- Wax Begonia
- West Indian Gherkin
- Western Coneflower
- 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)
- Woodland Sage
- Woodland Tobacco
- Yarrow
- Zinnia
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 20372) in zone 8a, computed with the same engine as GardenDraft’s in-app schedule. Guidance, not guarantees — your exact dates depend on your address.