My Planting Calendar

What to plant in April in zone 9

USDA zone 9 has winter lows of 20 to 30°F, a typical last spring frost around Feb 20 and first fall frost around Nov 30, roughly 280 frost-free days. April is the "peak growing season" there.

9 crops have a sowing or planting window this month.

Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 9 (last frost Feb 20, first frost Nov 30). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 9Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 39

Zone 9: planting activity through the year

70
83
63
9
9
9
4
9
28
20
2
25
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Feb 20 – Nov 30
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 9 have one in April; the busiest month is February (83).

Harvesting in April

First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.

Lettuce · Mar 8 – Apr 7Beet · Mar 14 – Apr 3Kale · Mar 21 – Apr 5Cilantro / Coriander · Mar 23 – Apr 17Green Onion / Scallion · Mar 24 – Apr 13Collard Greens · Mar 26 – Apr 15Swiss Chard · Mar 28 – Apr 7Napa Cabbage · Mar 28 – Apr 22Watercress · Mar 28 – Apr 7Amaranth (Leaf) · Mar 29 – Apr 18Cabbage · Mar 31 – May 10Carrot · Mar 31 – Apr 20Dill · Apr 1 – Apr 21Borage · Apr 2 – Apr 22Basil · Apr 5 – May 5Broccoli · Apr 7 – May 2Cauliflower · Apr 7 – May 7Radicchio · Apr 7 – May 17Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · Apr 8 – Apr 23Zucchini / Summer Squash · Apr 13 – Apr 28Tarragon · Apr 14 – May 14Potato · Apr 17 – Jun 6Parsley · Apr 17 – May 7Bush Bean · Apr 18 – Apr 28New Zealand Spinach · Apr 18 – May 8Fennel (Bulb) · Apr 19 – May 14Summer Savory · Apr 23 – May 8Mint · Apr 24 – May 14Lemon Balm · Apr 24 – May 14Cucumber · Apr 25 – May 15Okra · Apr 25 – May 10Tomato · Apr 28 – May 23Pole Bean · Apr 28 – May 8Sweet Corn · Apr 28 – Jun 7Sweet Marjoram · Apr 28 – May 18Onion · Apr 30 – May 30Shallot · Apr 30 – May 30Bitter Melon · Apr 30 – May 20Malabar Spinach · Apr 30 – May 15

Peak growing season: April garden jobs in zone 9

  1. Water deeply two or three times a week rather than a little every day - about an inch a week, more in heat. See watering a vegetable garden.
  2. 33 weeks until the average first frost (November 30). Plan the fall garden now - most fall crops are sown 8-12 weeks before first frost. See the fall and winter garden guide.
  3. Check the undersides of leaves twice a week - catching pests early is most of the battle (pest identification guide).
  4. Harvest often: lettuce, beet, kale, cilantro / coriander should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

Questions gardeners ask

What can I plant in zone 9 in April?

9 crops have a window in April: . The tables above give the exact dates for each.

When are the last and first frost in zone 9?

The typical last spring frost is around Feb 20 and the first fall frost around Nov 30. 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 9 in April?

From plantings made on time: lettuce, beet, kale, cilantro / coriander, green onion / scallion, collard greens, swiss chard, napa cabbage, watercress, amaranth (leaf).

April in states with land in zone 9

AlabamaArizonaCaliforniaFloridaGeorgiaLouisianaMississippiNevadaNew MexicoOregonSouth CarolinaTexasUtahWashington

Zone 9 in other months

JanuaryFebruaryMarchMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberZone 9 overview →

What to plant in April in other zones

Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 10All states →

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.