What to Plant in April
San Jose, CA · Zone 9b
Last frost: Feb 10
Frost-free days: 303
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
Onion
Peas
Potato
Pumpkin
Radish
Spinach
Squash
Strawberry
Sunflower
Sweet Potato
Swiss Chard
Turnip
Zucchini
Start Indoors 28
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 – Dec 31
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 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–110 days
Cabbage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Cauliflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
55–100 days
Celery
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
80–120 days
Kale
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
90–150 days
Lettuce
Jan 1 – Jun 15
4 per sq ft
45–60 days
Onion
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
100–120 days
Spinach
Jan 1 – Apr 30
9 per sq ft
35–50 days
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Swiss Chard
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Sunflower
Feb 1 – Jun 15
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Tomato
Feb 22 – May 23
1 per sq ft
65–80 days
Growing guide
Eggplant
Mar 17 – Apr 15
1 per sq ft
70–90 days
Pepper
Mar 17 – Apr 23
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Growing guide
Pumpkin
Mar 24 – May 8
¼ per sq ft
85–120 days
Squash
Mar 24 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
45–65 days
Zucchini
Mar 24 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
45–60 days
Transplant 26
Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.
Plant now
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 – Dec 31
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 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–110 days
Cabbage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Cauliflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
55–100 days
Celery
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
80–120 days
Kale
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
90–150 days
Lettuce
Jan 1 – Jul 16
4 per sq ft
45–60 days
Onion
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
100–120 days
Spinach
Jan 1 – May 31
9 per sq ft
35–50 days
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Swiss Chard
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Sunflower
Feb 22 – Jul 8
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Later this month
Pumpkin
Apr 16 – May 31
¼ per sq ft
85–120 days
Squash
Apr 16 – Aug 8
1 per sq ft
45–65 days
Tomato
Apr 16 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
65–80 days
Growing guide
Zucchini
Apr 16 – Aug 8
1 per sq ft
45–60 days
Direct Sow 12
Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.
Cilantro
Jan 1 – Jun 15
9 per sq ft
30–45 days
Beet
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
50–70 days
Carrot
Jan 1 – Dec 31
16 per sq ft
70–80 days
Garlic
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
180–240 days
Peas
Jan 1 – May 31
8 per sq ft
55–70 days
Potato
Jan 1 – Aug 16
1 per sq ft
70–150 days
Radish
Jan 1 – Jul 16
16 per sq ft
22–30 days
Turnip
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
30–60 days
Sweet Potato
Mar 24 – May 23
1 per sq ft
90–120 days
Dill
Apr 1 – Aug 31
4 per sq ft
40–60 days
Beans (Bush)
Apr 1 – Jul 31
9 per sq ft
50–60 days
Corn
Apr 1 – Jul 8
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
April Gardening Tips
- Start Tomato, Pepper, Squash indoors now to give them a head start before transplanting outside.
- Tomato, Squash, Zucchini 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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