What to Plant in April

San Diego, CA · Zone 10a

Last frost: Jan 20 Frost-free days: 334

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
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
Spinach
Squash
Strawberry
Sunflower
Sweet Potato
Swiss Chard
Turnip
Watermelon
Zucchini

Start Indoors 32

Start these seeds indoors under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill.

Plant now

Chives
Chives
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 60–90 days
Lavender
Lavender
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 90–120 days
Mint
Mint
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Oregano
Oregano
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 60–90 days
Parsley
Parsley
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 70–90 days
Rosemary
Rosemary
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 80–120 days
Sage
Sage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 75–90 days
Thyme
Thyme
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 70–90 days
Artichoke
Artichoke
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 85–100 days
Broccoli
Broccoli
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 80–110 days
Cabbage
Cabbage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 70–100 days
Cauliflower
Cauliflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 55–100 days
Celery
Celery
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 80–120 days
Kale
Kale
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 50–65 days
Leek
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 90–150 days
Lettuce
Lettuce
Jan 1 – Jun 15
4 per sq ft 45–60 days
Onion
Onion
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 100–120 days
Spinach
Spinach
Jan 1 – May 8
9 per sq ft 35–50 days
Strawberry
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Sunflower
Sunflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 70–100 days
Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 50–60 days
Tomato
Tomato
Jan 9 – Jun 8
1 per sq ft 65–80 days Growing guide
Eggplant
Eggplant
Feb 8 – Apr 30
1 per sq ft 70–90 days
Pepper
Pepper
Feb 8 – May 8
1 per sq ft 60–100 days Growing guide
Pumpkin
Pumpkin
Feb 8 – May 31
¼ per sq ft 85–120 days
Squash
Squash
Feb 8 – Jul 31
1 per sq ft 45–65 days
Zucchini
Zucchini
Feb 8 – Jul 31
1 per sq ft 45–60 days
Cucumber
Cucumber
Mar 24 – Jul 8
2 per sq ft 50–70 days Growing guide
Melon
Melon
Apr 9 – May 31
½ per sq ft 70–90 days

Later this month

Okra
Okra
Apr 16 – Jun 23
1 per sq ft 50–65 days
Watermelon
Watermelon
Apr 24 – May 31
¼ per sq ft 70–90 days

Transplant 29

Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.

Plant now

Chives
Chives
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 60–90 days
Lavender
Lavender
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 90–120 days
Mint
Mint
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Oregano
Oregano
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 60–90 days
Parsley
Parsley
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 70–90 days
Rosemary
Rosemary
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 80–120 days
Sage
Sage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 75–90 days
Thyme
Thyme
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 70–90 days
Artichoke
Artichoke
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 85–100 days
Broccoli
Broccoli
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 80–110 days
Cabbage
Cabbage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 70–100 days
Cauliflower
Cauliflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 55–100 days
Celery
Celery
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 80–120 days
Kale
Kale
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 50–65 days
Leek
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 90–150 days
Lettuce
Lettuce
Jan 1 – Jul 16
4 per sq ft 45–60 days
Onion
Onion
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 100–120 days
Spinach
Spinach
Jan 1 – Jun 8
9 per sq ft 35–50 days
Strawberry
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Sunflower
Sunflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 70–100 days
Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 50–60 days
Pumpkin
Pumpkin
Mar 1 – Jun 23
¼ per sq ft 85–120 days
Squash
Squash
Mar 1 – Aug 23
1 per sq ft 45–65 days
Tomato
Tomato
Mar 1 – Jul 31
1 per sq ft 65–80 days Growing guide
Zucchini
Zucchini
Mar 1 – Aug 23
1 per sq ft 45–60 days

Later this month

Direct Sow 12

Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.

Cilantro
Cilantro
Jan 1 – Jun 23
9 per sq ft 30–45 days
Beet
Beet
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 50–70 days
Carrot
Carrot
Jan 1 – Dec 31
16 per sq ft 70–80 days
Garlic
Garlic
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 180–240 days
Peas
Peas
Jan 1 – May 31
8 per sq ft 55–70 days
Potato
Potato
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 70–150 days
Radish
Radish
Jan 1 – Jul 16
16 per sq ft 22–30 days
Turnip
Turnip
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 30–60 days
Sweet Potato
Sweet Potato
Feb 8 – Jun 15
1 per sq ft 90–120 days
Beans (Bush)
Beans (Bush)
Mar 1 – Aug 16
9 per sq ft 50–60 days
Corn
Corn
Mar 1 – Jul 23
1 per sq ft 60–100 days
Dill
Dill
Mar 24 – Sep 23
4 per sq ft 40–60 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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