What to Plant in April
New Orleans, LA · Zone 9a
Last frost: Feb 15
Frost-free days: 293
It's prime planting season — the soil is warm and frost is behind you. Most warm-season crops can go directly into the ground now. Succession-plant fast crops for continuous harvest.
April at a Glance
Indoor
Transplant
Direct Sow
1
5
10
15
20
25
Basil
Chives
Cilantro
Dill
Lavender
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Artichoke
Beans (Bush)
Beet
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Corn
Eggplant
Garlic
Kale
Leek
Lettuce
Melon
Okra
Onion
Peas
Potato
Pumpkin
Radish
Squash
Strawberry
Sunflower
Sweet Potato
Swiss Chard
Turnip
Watermelon
Zucchini
Start Indoors 26
Start these seeds indoors under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill.
Chives
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
60–90 days
Lavender
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
90–120 days
Mint
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Oregano
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–90 days
Parsley
Jan 1 – Apr 8
4 per sq ft
70–90 days
Rosemary
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–120 days
Sage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
75–90 days
Thyme
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
70–90 days
Artichoke
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
85–100 days
Eggplant
Jan 1 – May 8
1 per sq ft
70–90 days
Kale
Jan 1 – Apr 30
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
90–150 days
Onion
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
100–120 days
Pepper
Jan 1 – May 16
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Growing guide
Pumpkin
Jan 1 – Jun 8
¼ per sq ft
85–120 days
Squash
Jan 1 – Jul 31
1 per sq ft
45–65 days
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Sunflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Swiss Chard
Jan 1 – May 16
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Tomato
Jan 1 – Jun 15
1 per sq ft
65–80 days
Growing guide
Zucchini
Jan 1 – Aug 8
1 per sq ft
45–60 days
Cucumber
Jan 24 – Jul 23
2 per sq ft
50–70 days
Growing guide
Melon
Feb 1 – Jun 15
½ per sq ft
70–90 days
Okra
Feb 1 – Jun 30
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Watermelon
Feb 8 – Jun 15
¼ per sq ft
70–90 days
Basil
Mar 17 – Jul 16
4 per sq ft
25–35 days
Transplant 31
Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.
Chives
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
60–90 days
Lavender
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
90–120 days
Mint
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Oregano
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–90 days
Parsley
Jan 1 – Jun 15
4 per sq ft
70–90 days
Rosemary
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–120 days
Sage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
75–90 days
Thyme
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
70–90 days
Artichoke
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
85–100 days
Broccoli
Jan 1 – May 16
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Jan 1 – May 16
1 per sq ft
80–110 days
Cabbage
Jan 1 – May 16
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Cauliflower
Jan 1 – May 16
1 per sq ft
55–100 days
Celery
Jan 1 – May 16
4 per sq ft
80–120 days
Kale
Jan 1 – Jun 15
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
90–150 days
Lettuce
Jan 1 – Apr 23
4 per sq ft
45–60 days
Onion
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
100–120 days
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Sunflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Swiss Chard
Jan 1 – Jun 15
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Pumpkin
Jan 24 – Jun 30
¼ per sq ft
85–120 days
Squash
Jan 24 – Aug 23
1 per sq ft
45–65 days
Tomato
Jan 24 – Aug 8
1 per sq ft
65–80 days
Growing guide
Zucchini
Jan 24 – Aug 31
1 per sq ft
45–60 days
Cucumber
Feb 15 – Aug 16
2 per sq ft
50–70 days
Growing guide
Eggplant
Feb 15 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
70–90 days
Pepper
Feb 15 – Jul 23
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Growing guide
Melon
Mar 1 – Jul 16
½ per sq ft
70–90 days
Okra
Mar 9 – Aug 8
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Watermelon
Mar 9 – Jul 16
¼ per sq ft
70–90 days
Direct Sow 12
Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.
Cilantro
Jan 1 – Apr 23
9 per sq ft
30–45 days
Beet
Jan 1 – Jun 15
9 per sq ft
50–70 days
Carrot
Jan 1 – Aug 8
16 per sq ft
70–80 days
Garlic
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
180–240 days
Peas
Jan 1 – May 8
8 per sq ft
55–70 days
Potato
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–150 days
Radish
Jan 1 – Apr 23
16 per sq ft
22–30 days
Turnip
Jan 1 – Jun 15
9 per sq ft
30–60 days
Sweet Potato
Feb 8 – Jun 30
1 per sq ft
90–120 days
Dill
Feb 15 – Oct 8
4 per sq ft
40–60 days
Beans (Bush)
Feb 15 – Aug 23
9 per sq ft
50–60 days
Corn
Feb 15 – Jul 23
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
April Gardening Tips
- Start Tomato, Pepper, Cucumber indoors now to give them a head start before transplanting outside.
- Tomato, Pepper, Cucumber can be transplanted outside this month. Harden off seedlings over 5–7 days before planting out.
- Direct sow Corn, Beans (Bush), Carrot straight into the garden — no transplanting needed.
- Soil temperature matters more than air temperature for germination. Use a soil thermometer before direct sowing.
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