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What to Plant in April — USDA Zone 5a

Here's everything you can start, transplant, sow, and harvest in April in USDA Zone 5a. This zone has an average last spring frost around April 25 and first fall frost around October 8, with a growing season of approximately 166 days.

There are 125 planting activities for April in Zone 5a.

Zone 5a Moderate season
166 days
❄
Last Spring Frost April 25
➔ 166 growing days ➔
❄
First Fall Frost October 8

Where Is Zone 5a?

AL — Zone 7b AL AR — Zone 7b AR AZ — Zone 8a AZ CA — Zone 9a CA CO — Zone 5a CO CT — Zone 6b CT DE — Zone 7a DE FL — Zone 9a FL GA — Zone 7b GA IA — Zone 5a IA ID — Zone 5b ID IL — Zone 5b IL IN — Zone 6a IN KS — Zone 6a KS KY — Zone 6b KY LA — Zone 8b LA MA — Zone 6a MA MD — Zone 7a MD ME — Zone 4b ME MI — Zone 5b MI MN — Zone 4a MN MO — Zone 6a MO MS — Zone 8a MS MT — Zone 4b MT NC — Zone 7a NC ND — Zone 3b ND NE — Zone 5a NE NH — Zone 5a NH NJ — Zone 7a NJ NM — Zone 6b NM NV — Zone 6b NV NY — Zone 5b NY OH — Zone 6a OH OK — Zone 7a OK OR — Zone 7a OR PA — Zone 6a PA RI — Zone 6b RI SC — Zone 8a SC SD — Zone 4a SD TN — Zone 7a TN TX — Zone 8a TX UT — Zone 5b UT VA — Zone 7a VA VT — Zone 4b VT WA — Zone 7a WA WI — Zone 4b WI WV — Zone 6a WV WY — Zone 4a WY AK — Zone 2a AK HI — Zone 11a HI
Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Transplant Outdoors in April

Plant Type Date Range Days to Maturity
Angelica Herb 365–730 days
Anise Herb 90–120 days
Arugula Vegetable 30–50 days
Belgian Endive Vegetable 110–150 days
Bok Choy Vegetable 40–60 days
Borage Herb 50–60 days
Broccoli Vegetable 60–90 days
Broccoli Rabe Vegetable 40–60 days
Brussels Sprouts Vegetable 90–130 days
Cabbage Vegetable 60–100 days
Caraway Herb 365–450 days
Cauliflower Vegetable 55–100 days
Celeriac Vegetable 100–120 days
Celery Vegetable 80–120 days
Celtuce Vegetable 60–90 days
Chamomile Herb 60–90 days
Chard Vegetable 50–60 days
Chervil Herb 40–60 days
Chickpeas Vegetable 80–110 days
Chicory Vegetable 60–85 days
Chinese Cabbage Vegetable 50–70 days
Cilantro Herb 40–60 days
Collard Greens Vegetable 55–75 days
Cress Vegetable 14–21 days
Cumin Herb 100–120 days
Dill Herb 40–60 days
Endive Vegetable 45–65 days
Escarole Vegetable 50–70 days
Fava Beans Vegetable 75–100 days
Fennel (herb) Herb 60–90 days
Kai Lan Vegetable 45–60 days
Kale Vegetable 50–70 days
Kohlrabi Vegetable 45–65 days
Komatsuna Vegetable 35–50 days
Leeks Vegetable 90–150 days
Lentils Vegetable 80–110 days
Lettuce Vegetable 30–60 days
Mache Vegetable 40–60 days
Microgreens Vegetable 7–21 days
Mitsuba Vegetable 50–70 days
Mizuna Vegetable 30–45 days
Mustard Greens Vegetable 30–50 days
Napa Cabbage Vegetable 55–75 days
Onion Vegetable 90–120 days
Pac Choi Vegetable 40–55 days
Parsley Herb 60–80 days
Peas Vegetable 55–70 days
Purslane Vegetable 40–60 days
Radicchio Vegetable 60–80 days
Romanesco Vegetable 75–100 days
Savoy Cabbage Vegetable 70–110 days
Scallions Vegetable 50–70 days
Shallot Vegetable 90–120 days
Snow Peas Vegetable 50–65 days
Sorrel Herb 40–60 days
Spinach Vegetable 35–50 days
Tatsoi Vegetable 35–50 days
Watercress Vegetable 40–60 days

Direct Sow in April

Plant Type Date Range Days to Maturity
Angelica Herb 365–730 days
Anise Herb 90–120 days
Arugula Vegetable 30–50 days
Beets Vegetable 50–70 days
Belgian Endive Vegetable 110–150 days
Bok Choy Vegetable 40–60 days
Borage Herb 50–60 days
Broccoli Vegetable 60–90 days
Broccoli Rabe Vegetable 40–60 days
Brussels Sprouts Vegetable 90–130 days
Cabbage Vegetable 60–100 days
Caraway Herb 365–450 days
Carrots Vegetable 60–80 days
Cauliflower Vegetable 55–100 days
Celeriac Vegetable 100–120 days
Celery Vegetable 80–120 days
Celtuce Vegetable 60–90 days
Chamomile Herb 60–90 days
Chard Vegetable 50–60 days
Chervil Herb 40–60 days
Chickpeas Vegetable 80–110 days
Chicory Vegetable 60–85 days
Chinese Cabbage Vegetable 50–70 days
Cilantro Herb 40–60 days
Collard Greens Vegetable 55–75 days
Cress Vegetable 14–21 days
Crosne Vegetable 150–200 days
Cumin Herb 100–120 days
Daikon Vegetable 50–70 days
Dill Herb 40–60 days
Endive Vegetable 45–65 days
Escarole Vegetable 50–70 days
Fava Beans Vegetable 75–100 days
Fennel (herb) Herb 60–90 days
Kai Lan Vegetable 45–60 days
Kale Vegetable 50–70 days
Kohlrabi Vegetable 45–65 days
Komatsuna Vegetable 35–50 days
Leeks Vegetable 90–150 days
Lentils Vegetable 80–110 days
Lettuce Vegetable 30–60 days
Mache Vegetable 40–60 days
Microgreens Vegetable 7–21 days
Mitsuba Vegetable 50–70 days
Mizuna Vegetable 30–45 days
Mustard Greens Vegetable 30–50 days
Napa Cabbage Vegetable 55–75 days
Onion Vegetable 90–120 days
Pac Choi Vegetable 40–55 days
Parsley Herb 60–80 days
Parsnip Vegetable 100–130 days
Peas Vegetable 55–70 days
Purslane Vegetable 40–60 days
Radicchio Vegetable 60–80 days
Radish Vegetable 22–35 days
Romanesco Vegetable 75–100 days
Rutabaga Vegetable 80–100 days
Salsify Vegetable 100–130 days
Savoy Cabbage Vegetable 70–110 days
Scallions Vegetable 50–70 days
Shallot Vegetable 90–120 days
Snow Peas Vegetable 50–65 days
Sorrel Herb 40–60 days
Spinach Vegetable 35–50 days
Tatsoi Vegetable 35–50 days
Turnip Vegetable 40–60 days
Watercress Vegetable 40–60 days

Other Months for Zone 5a

April Planting by State

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals, University Cooperative Extension planting guides. Planting dates are estimates based on average frost dates — local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

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