What to Plant in April: Zone 7 Vegetable Garden Guide
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April in Zone 7 is the best planting month of the year. Your last frost is mid-April, and by late April you can plant almost everything. Cool-season crops are thriving and warm-season crops are ready to go in.
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Quick Answer
In Zone 7, April is transition month. Early April: keep planting cool-season crops and harden off indoor starts. After last frost (April 15 average): transplant tomatoes, peppers, and direct sow beans, squash, and cucumbers. By late April, everything can go in the ground.
Zone 7 April Overview
| Week | Direct Sow | Transplant |
|---|---|---|
| Early April | Peas, lettuce, carrots, beets, radishes | Broccoli, cabbage, kale |
| Mid April | Beans (after last frost) | Tomatoes (with protection) |
| Late April | Squash, cucumbers, corn, melons | Peppers, eggplant, herbs |
Last frost date: April 10-20 (average for Zone 7) Soil temp in April: 50-65°F
Early April (Before Last Frost)
Direct Sow Now
- Peas — Final planting. They'll finish before summer heat.
- Lettuce — Succession plant every 2 weeks.
- Spinach — Last chance before bolting season.
- Carrots — Sow now for June harvest.
- Beets — Direct sow, harvest in 60 days.
- Radishes — Fast 30-day crop.
- Kale — Direct sow or transplant.
- Swiss chard — Tolerates both cool and warm weather.
Transplant Now
- Broccoli — Needs to mature before heat. Transplant early April.
- Cabbage — Same urgency as broccoli.
- Cauliflower — Finicky but worth it. Transplant early.
- Onion sets — Plant as soon as soil is workable.
After Last Frost (Mid-Late April)
Transplant
- Tomatoes — Transplant after April 15. Use wall-o-water if planting earlier.
- Peppers — Wait for soil to warm. Mid-late April is safer.
- Eggplant — Needs warm soil. Late April.
- Basil — Transplant after all frost danger passes.
- Herbs — Rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage.
Direct Sow
- Beans — Bush and pole. Soil needs to be 60°F+.
- Squash — Summer and winter. Direct sow after frost.
- Cucumbers — Need 60°F+ soil.
- Corn — Plant in blocks. Soil 60°F+.
- Melons — Late April. Need warm soil.
- Okra — Late April. Loves heat.
Cool-Season Crop Urgency
These crops bolt when temps hit 80°F consistently (usually late May in Zone 7):
- Lettuce — plant now, harvest by late May
- Spinach — final planting, bolts by June
- Peas — plant early April, harvest by June
- Cilantro — bolts fast, plant in shade
- Broccoli — transplant early April for May harvest
You have about 6 weeks left for cool-season crops. Plant them in early April.
April Tasks Checklist
Week 1 (Early April):
- Direct sow peas, lettuce, carrots, beets, radishes
- Transplant broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower
- Begin hardening off tomato and pepper starts
Week 2 (Mid April):
- Watch forecast — transplant tomatoes after last frost
- Direct sow beans if soil is 60°F+
- Succession plant lettuce and radishes
Week 3 (Late April):
- Transplant peppers, eggplant, basil
- Direct sow squash, cucumbers, corn
- Mulch around all transplants
Week 4 (End of April):
- Direct sow melons, okra
- Set up tomato cages/stakes
- Install drip irrigation or soaker hoses
Warm-Season Planting Schedule
| Crop | Earliest Safe Date | Ideal Date | Days to Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | April 15 | April 20 | 70-85 |
| Peppers | April 20 | April 25 | 65-80 |
| Beans | April 15 | April 20 | 50-60 |
| Squash | April 20 | April 25 | 50-65 |
| Cucumbers | April 20 | April 25 | 55-65 |
| Corn | April 15 | April 20 | 70-90 |
| Melons | April 25 | May 1 | 80-100 |
| Eggplant | April 25 | May 1 | 65-80 |
Zone 7 April Advantages
- Perfect timing — Cool enough for lettuce, warm enough for tomatoes.
- Long season ahead — April transplants have 5+ months of growing weather.
- Two-crop potential — Early spring crops clear space for fall planting.
Common Zone 7 April Mistakes
- Rushing warm-season crops — One late frost kills tomatoes. Watch the forecast, not the calendar.
- Forgetting cool-season crops — April is your last good month for lettuce and peas. Don't skip them.
- Not hardening off transplants — Indoor starts need 7-10 days of gradual outdoor exposure.
- Planting too deep — Tomatoes like deep planting. Most other crops don't. Follow seed packet instructions.
- Skipping mulch — Mulch after transplanting saves water and suppresses weeds all season.
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Last updated: February 2026