What to Plant in April in Zone 3
134 crops you can start in zone 3a & 3b during April. The dates are worked out from zone 3's typical frosts: last spring frost around May 30, first fall frost around Sep 5. Each crop links to its full dates for zone 3.
Start indoors in April
Seeds to start under lights or on a sunny sill this month. Dates are the indoor-start window for zone 3.
Vegetables & herbs
- BasilApr 18–Apr 25
- Bok ChoyApr 25–May 2
- BroccoliApr 18–Apr 25
- BroccoliniApr 25–May 2
- Brussels SproutsApr 18–Apr 25
- CabbageApr 18–Apr 25
- CatnipApr 11–Apr 18
- CauliflowerApr 18–Apr 25
- Chamomile (German)Apr 18–Apr 25
- ChervilApr 4–Apr 11
- ChivesApr 4–Apr 11
- Collard GreensApr 11–Apr 18
- Cutting Celery (Leaf Celery)Apr 4–Apr 11
- Flower SproutsApr 18–Apr 25
- Ground Cherry (Husk Cherry)Apr 11–Apr 18
- HyssopApr 4–Apr 11
- KaleApr 18–Apr 25
- KalettesApr 18–Apr 25
- KohlrabiApr 25–May 2
- Lemon BalmApr 25–May 2
- OnionApr 4–Apr 11
- ParsleyApr 4–Apr 11
- RoselleApr 4–Apr 11
- SorrelApr 25–May 2
- Summer SavoryApr 18–Apr 25
- TobaccoApr 4–Apr 11
- TomatilloApr 11–Apr 18
- TomatoApr 18–Apr 25
- ValerianApr 18–Apr 25
Peppers
- Anaheim Pepper (New Mexico, Hatch)Apr 4–Apr 11
- Bell PepperApr 4–Apr 11
- Cayenne PepperApr 4–Apr 11
- Chile de Árbol PepperApr 4–Apr 11
- Cubanelle PepperApr 4–Apr 11
- Fresno PepperApr 4–Apr 11
- Guajillo Pepper (Mirasol)Apr 4–Apr 11
- Hungarian Wax PepperApr 4–Apr 11
- Italian Frying Pepper (Corno di Toro, Marconi)Apr 4–Apr 11
- Jalapeño PepperApr 4–Apr 11
- Mini Sweet Pepper (Snacking)Apr 4–Apr 11
- Padrón PepperApr 4–Apr 11
- Pasilla Pepper (Chilaca)Apr 4–Apr 11
- Pimento PepperApr 4–Apr 11
- Poblano Pepper (Ancho)Apr 4–Apr 11
- Serrano PepperApr 4–Apr 11
- Shishito PepperApr 4–Apr 11
- Sweet Banana PepperApr 4–Apr 11
- Sweet Cherry PepperApr 4–Apr 11
- Thai Chili Pepper (Bird's Eye)Apr 4–Apr 11
Flowers
- Ageratum (Flossflower)Apr 11–Apr 18
- Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding)Apr 25–May 2
- Ammi (False Queen Anne's Lace)Apr 25–May 2
- Ammobium (Winged Everlasting)Apr 18–Apr 25
- Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)Apr 11–Apr 18
- Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)Apr 11–Apr 18
- Bells of IrelandApr 11–Apr 18
- Black-Eyed SusanApr 11–Apr 18
- Black-Eyed Susan VineApr 18–Apr 25
- Bupleurum (Thoroughwax)Apr 11–Apr 18
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias)Apr 4–Apr 11
- CalendulaApr 11–Apr 18
- Campanula (Bellflower)Apr 11–Apr 18
- CarnationApr 11–Apr 18
- CelosiaApr 11–Apr 18
- Cerinthe (Honeywort)Apr 18–Apr 25
- China AsterApr 11–Apr 18
- Cleome (Spider Flower)Apr 11–Apr 18
- CosmosApr 25–May 2
- Craspedia (Drumstick Flower)Apr 11–Apr 18
- Echinops (Globe Thistle)Apr 11–Apr 18
- Euphorbia (Snow-on-the-Mountain)Apr 25–May 2
- Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)Apr 11–Apr 18
- GazaniaApr 18–Apr 25
- Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)Apr 11–Apr 18
- Gypsophila (Baby's Breath)Apr 11–Apr 18
- Helipterum (Paper Daisy)Apr 11–Apr 18
- MarigoldApr 18–Apr 25
- MoonflowerApr 25–May 2
- Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco)Apr 18–Apr 25
- Orlaya (Laceflower)Apr 25–May 2
- Phlox (Annual)Apr 25–May 2
- Portulaca (Moss Rose)Apr 11–Apr 18
- Salvia (Scarlet Sage)Apr 4–Apr 11
- Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower)Apr 11–Apr 18
- Spilanthes (Toothache Plant)Apr 18–Apr 25
- StaticeApr 18–Apr 25
- StockApr 18–Apr 25
- StrawflowerApr 11–Apr 18
- Sweet AlyssumApr 11–Apr 18
- Sweet Annie (Artemisia)Apr 18–Apr 25
- Sweet WilliamApr 11–Apr 18
- Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)Apr 18–Apr 25
- Xeranthemum (Immortelle)Apr 18–Apr 25
Sow or plant outside in April
What goes in the ground this month, either as seed or as a transplant. Dates are the planting-out window for zone 3.
Vegetables & herbs
Flowers
- Sweet PeaDirect sowApr 18–Apr 25
Still time to start indoors
The usual indoor-start date for these has passed, but planting-out hasn't come yet. Seed started now still makes a transplant, just a smaller one. Buying starts is the easy alternative. Dates are when they go outside.
Vegetables & herbs
- Celeriac (Celery Root)Plant outMay 16–May 23
- CeleryPlant outMay 16–May 23
- LeekPlant outMay 9–May 16
Peppers
- 7 Pot Douglah Pepper (Chocolate 7 Pot)Plant outJun 13–Jun 20
- 7 Pot Primo PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Aji Amarillo PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Carolina Reaper PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Datil PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Dorset Naga PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)Plant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Habanero PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Komodo Dragon PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Lemon Drop PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Naga Viper PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Rocoto PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Scotch Bonnet PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Superhot Pepper (Ghost, Reaper, Scorpion)Plant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Tabasco PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Trinidad Scorpion Butch T PepperPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
Flowers
- Annual Geranium (Pelargonium)Plant outJun 6–Jun 13
- ColeusPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- ColumbinePlant outJun 6–Jun 13
- Dusty MillerPlant outJun 6–Jun 13
- Eryngium (Sea Holly)Plant outJun 6–Jun 13
- EucalyptusPlant outJun 6–Jun 13
- ImpatiensPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Johnny Jump UpPlant outMay 16–May 23
- LisianthusPlant outJun 6–Jun 13
- LobeliaPlant outJun 6–Jun 13
- Pansy / ViolaPlant outMay 16–May 23
- PetuniaPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Purple ConeflowerPlant outMay 9–May 16
- SnapdragonPlant outMay 23–May 30
- Torenia (Wishbone Flower)Plant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)Plant outJun 13–Jun 20
- Wax BegoniaPlant outJun 13–Jun 20
- YarrowPlant outMay 30–Jun 6
← March in zone 3 · May in zone 3 →
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April in other zones: zone 2, zone 4, zone 5, zone 6, zone 7, zone 8, zone 10
Worth having in April
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What to plant in April in zone 3: 134 crops to start indoors or plant outside, including kale, broccoli, onion, cabbage, with exact dates for zone 3a and 3b.
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