What to plant in April in zone 8
USDA zone 8 has winter lows of 10 to 20°F, a typical last spring frost around Mar 20 and first fall frost around Nov 5, roughly 230 frost-free days. April is the "main planting month" there.
58 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including dill, sunflower, ground cherry, new zealand spinach, peanut, pumpkin - and 51 of those windows close during April.
Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 8 (last frost Mar 20, first frost Nov 5). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.
Zone 8: planting activity through the year
Last chance in April
Dill (direct sow (spring), by Apr 3) · Sunflower (direct sow (spring), by Apr 3) · Ground Cherry (transplant outdoors, by Apr 6) · New Zealand Spinach (transplant outdoors, by Apr 6) · Peanut (transplant outdoors, by Apr 6) · Pumpkin (transplant outdoors, by Apr 6) · Rosemary (transplant outdoors, by Apr 6) · Shiso (Perilla) (transplant outdoors, by Apr 6) · Summer Savory (transplant outdoors, by Apr 6) · Sunflower (transplant outdoors, by Apr 6) · Sweet Marjoram (transplant outdoors, by Apr 6) · Tomatillo (transplant outdoors, by Apr 6) · Tomato (transplant outdoors, by Apr 6) · Winter Squash (transplant outdoors, by Apr 6) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (transplant outdoors, by Apr 6) · Amaranth (Leaf) (direct sow (spring), by Apr 10) · Bush Bean (direct sow (spring), by Apr 10) · Edamame (Soybean) (direct sow (spring), by Apr 10) · New Zealand Spinach (direct sow (spring), by Apr 10) · Pole Bean (direct sow (spring), by Apr 10) · Pumpkin (direct sow (spring), by Apr 10) · Shiso (Perilla) (direct sow (spring), by Apr 10) · Summer Savory (direct sow (spring), by Apr 10) · Sweet Corn (direct sow (spring), by Apr 10) · Sweet Marjoram (direct sow (spring), by Apr 10) · Winter Squash (direct sow (spring), by Apr 10) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (direct sow (spring), by Apr 10) · Basil (transplant outdoors, by Apr 13) · Bell Pepper (transplant outdoors, by Apr 13) · Bitter Melon (transplant outdoors, by Apr 13) · Cantaloupe / Muskmelon (transplant outdoors, by Apr 13) · Chili Pepper (transplant outdoors, by Apr 13) · Cucamelon (transplant outdoors, by Apr 13) · Cucumber (transplant outdoors, by Apr 13) · Luffa (Loofah Gourd) (transplant outdoors, by Apr 13) · Malabar Spinach (transplant outdoors, by Apr 13) · Okra (transplant outdoors, by Apr 13) · Watermelon (transplant outdoors, by Apr 13) · Basil (direct sow (spring), by Apr 17) · Bitter Melon (direct sow (spring), by Apr 17) · Cantaloupe / Muskmelon (direct sow (spring), by Apr 17) · Chayote (direct sow (spring), by Apr 17) · Cucamelon (direct sow (spring), by Apr 17) · Cucumber (direct sow (spring), by Apr 17) · Lima Bean (direct sow (spring), by Apr 17) · Luffa (Loofah Gourd) (direct sow (spring), by Apr 17) · Malabar Spinach (direct sow (spring), by Apr 17) · Okra (direct sow (spring), by Apr 17) · Peanut (direct sow (spring), by Apr 17) · Southern Pea (Cowpea) (direct sow (spring), by Apr 17) · Watermelon (direct sow (spring), by Apr 17)
Sow or plant outdoors in April (55)
Direct sowing and transplanting windows that fall in April, most urgent first. Windows are one-to-two-week bands around the ideal date.
| Crop | What to do | Window | This month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dill | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 15 – Apr 3 | Last chance - ends Apr 3 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 15 – Apr 3 | Last chance - ends Apr 3 |
| Ground Cherry | Transplant outdoors | Mar 20 – Apr 6 | Last chance - ends Apr 6 |
| New Zealand Spinach | Transplant outdoors | Mar 20 – Apr 6 | Last chance - ends Apr 6 |
| Peanut | Transplant outdoors | Mar 20 – Apr 6 | Last chance - ends Apr 6 |
| Pumpkin | Transplant outdoors | Mar 20 – Apr 6 | Last chance - ends Apr 6 |
| Rosemary | Transplant outdoors | Mar 20 – Apr 6 | Last chance - ends Apr 6 |
| Shiso (Perilla) | Transplant outdoors | Mar 20 – Apr 6 | Last chance - ends Apr 6 |
| Summer Savory | Transplant outdoors | Mar 20 – Apr 6 | Last chance - ends Apr 6 |
| Sunflower | Transplant outdoors | Mar 20 – Apr 6 | Last chance - ends Apr 6 |
| Sweet Marjoram | Transplant outdoors | Mar 20 – Apr 6 | Last chance - ends Apr 6 |
| Tomatillo | Transplant outdoors | Mar 20 – Apr 6 | Last chance - ends Apr 6 |
| Tomato | Transplant outdoors | Mar 20 – Apr 6 | Last chance - ends Apr 6 |
| Winter Squash | Transplant outdoors | Mar 20 – Apr 6 | Last chance - ends Apr 6 |
| Zucchini / Summer Squash | Transplant outdoors | Mar 20 – Apr 6 | Last chance - ends Apr 6 |
| Amaranth (Leaf) | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 22 – Apr 10 | Last chance - ends Apr 10 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 22 – Apr 10 | Last chance - ends Apr 10 |
| Edamame (Soybean) | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 22 – Apr 10 | Last chance - ends Apr 10 |
| New Zealand Spinach | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 22 – Apr 10 | Last chance - ends Apr 10 |
| Pole Bean | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 22 – Apr 10 | Last chance - ends Apr 10 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 22 – Apr 10 | Last chance - ends Apr 10 |
| Shiso (Perilla) | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 22 – Apr 10 | Last chance - ends Apr 10 |
| Summer Savory | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 22 – Apr 10 | Last chance - ends Apr 10 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 22 – Apr 10 | Last chance - ends Apr 10 |
| Sweet Marjoram | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 22 – Apr 10 | Last chance - ends Apr 10 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 22 – Apr 10 | Last chance - ends Apr 10 |
| Zucchini / Summer Squash | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 22 – Apr 10 | Last chance - ends Apr 10 |
| Basil | Transplant outdoors | Mar 27 – Apr 13 | Last chance - ends Apr 13 |
| Bell Pepper | Transplant outdoors | Mar 27 – Apr 13 | Last chance - ends Apr 13 |
| Bitter Melon | Transplant outdoors | Mar 27 – Apr 13 | Last chance - ends Apr 13 |
| Cantaloupe / Muskmelon | Transplant outdoors | Mar 27 – Apr 13 | Last chance - ends Apr 13 |
| Chili Pepper | Transplant outdoors | Mar 27 – Apr 13 | Last chance - ends Apr 13 |
| Cucamelon | Transplant outdoors | Mar 27 – Apr 13 | Last chance - ends Apr 13 |
| Cucumber | Transplant outdoors | Mar 27 – Apr 13 | Last chance - ends Apr 13 |
| Luffa (Loofah Gourd) | Transplant outdoors | Mar 27 – Apr 13 | Last chance - ends Apr 13 |
| Malabar Spinach | Transplant outdoors | Mar 27 – Apr 13 | Last chance - ends Apr 13 |
| Okra | Transplant outdoors | Mar 27 – Apr 13 | Last chance - ends Apr 13 |
| Watermelon | Transplant outdoors | Mar 27 – Apr 13 | Last chance - ends Apr 13 |
| Basil | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 29 – Apr 17 | Last chance - ends Apr 17 |
| Bitter Melon | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 29 – Apr 17 | Last chance - ends Apr 17 |
| Cantaloupe / Muskmelon | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 29 – Apr 17 | Last chance - ends Apr 17 |
| Chayote | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 29 – Apr 17 | Last chance - ends Apr 17 |
| Cucamelon | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 29 – Apr 17 | Last chance - ends Apr 17 |
| Cucumber | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 29 – Apr 17 | Last chance - ends Apr 17 |
| Lima Bean | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 29 – Apr 17 | Last chance - ends Apr 17 |
| Luffa (Loofah Gourd) | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 29 – Apr 17 | Last chance - ends Apr 17 |
| Malabar Spinach | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 29 – Apr 17 | Last chance - ends Apr 17 |
| Okra | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 29 – Apr 17 | Last chance - ends Apr 17 |
| Peanut | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 29 – Apr 17 | Last chance - ends Apr 17 |
| Southern Pea (Cowpea) | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 29 – Apr 17 | Last chance - ends Apr 17 |
| Watermelon | Direct sow (spring) | Mar 29 – Apr 17 | Last chance - ends Apr 17 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | Apr 3 – Apr 20 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
| Ginger | Transplant outdoors | Apr 3 – Apr 20 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors | Apr 3 – Apr 20 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
| Turmeric | Transplant outdoors | Apr 3 – Apr 20 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
Harvesting in April
First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.
Main planting month: April garden jobs in zone 8
- With the average last frost on March 20, 37 crops can go in outdoors this month, including dill, sunflower, ground cherry, new zealand spinach.
- Transplant on a cloudy afternoon and water in well - see transplanting seedlings without shock.
- Once the soil has warmed, lay mulch around established plants to hold moisture and smother weeds.
- Sow quick crops little and often - lettuce, radish and beans every two to three weeks give a steady harvest instead of a glut (succession planting).
Questions gardeners ask
What can I plant in zone 8 in April?
58 crops have a window in April: dill, sunflower, ground cherry, new zealand spinach, peanut, pumpkin, rosemary, shiso (perilla), summer savory, sweet marjoram and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.
When are the last and first frost in zone 8?
The typical last spring frost is around Mar 20 and the first fall frost around Nov 5. These are broad zone averages, so your own town can be a week or two either side: look yours up by ZIP code in the planting calendar.
What can I harvest in zone 8 in April?
From plantings made on time: arugula, tatsoi, mizuna, mustard greens, mache (corn salad), lettuce, turnip, rapini (broccoli raab), chervil, pea.
April in states with land in zone 8
Zone 8 in other months
What to plant in April in other zones
Dates are computed from the zone’s typical frost dates and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side.