What to Plant in April (Zone 6 Garden Guide)

April is when the garden starts to party. The ground is soft, the days are longer, and the last frost is just around the corner—if it hasn’t already passed. For Zone 6 gardeners (like us here in Northeast PA), this is the month to get serious about sowing, transplanting, and prepping beds for a big season ahead.

Here’s what to plant indoors, outdoors, and how to make the most of April’s growing window.

🌿 What to Plant Outdoors in April

As soil warms and frost dates approach (typically April 15–30 in Zone 6), you can begin direct sowing cold-hardy crops and prepping for warm-season staples.

✅ Direct Sow Now:

• Carrots

• Beets

• Radishes

• Spinach

• Arugula

• Lettuce

• Peas

• Swiss Chard

• Turnips

• Potatoes (mid-April)

• Onion sets or transplants

Transplant Outdoors:

• Cabbage

• Broccoli

• Cauliflower

• Kale

• Collards

Tip: Use row covers to protect from chilly nights and early pest pressure.

What to Start Indoors (Still Not Too Late!)

If you haven’t already started these, there’s still time to sow:

• Tomatoes

• Peppers

• Eggplant

• Basil

• Zinnias and other heat-loving flowers

These will be ready to transplant outside after your last frost in May.

Garden Tasks for April

• Add compost to beds and gently mix it in

• Set up trellises, stakes, and support structures

• Harden off indoor seedlings before transplanting

• Mulch pathways and around early plants

• Clean up any winter debris still lingering

April Timeline by Week

• Early April: Sow greens, peas, and root crops

• Mid-April: Plant potatoes and brassicas

• Late April: Start prepping warm-weather beds and harden off tomatoes

Love and Vegetables: Helping you grow with the rhythm of the seasons—one seed, one month, one garden at a time.