Blog

What to Plant in April — USDA Zone 8a

Here's everything you can start, transplant, sow, and harvest in April in USDA Zone 8a. This zone has an average last spring frost around March 8 and first fall frost around November 18, with a growing season of approximately 255 days.

There are 170 planting activities for April in Zone 8a.

Zone 8a Long season
255 days
Last Spring Frost March 8
255 growing days
First Fall Frost November 18

Where Is Zone 8a?

Transplant Outdoors in April

Plant Type Date Range Days to Maturity
Acorn Squash Vegetable 80–100 days
Alpine Strawberries Fruit 90–180 days
Amaranth Vegetable 90–120 days
Aronia Fruit 730–1095 days
Artichoke Vegetable 120–180 days
Asparagus Vegetable 730–1095 days
Basil Herb 50–75 days
Bitter Melon Vegetable 60–90 days
Blackberries Fruit 365–730 days
Blueberries Fruit 730–1095 days
Boysenberries Fruit 365–730 days
Butternut Squash Vegetable 85–110 days
Calabash Vegetable 80–120 days
Cantaloupe Fruit 70–90 days
Cardoon Vegetable 120–150 days
Chayote Vegetable 120–180 days
Che Fruit Fruit 1095–1825 days
Christmas Lima Beans Vegetable 80–100 days
Crookneck Squash Vegetable 45–60 days
Cucumber Vegetable 50–70 days
Delicata Squash Vegetable 80–100 days
Eggplant Vegetable 65–85 days
Elderberries Fruit 730–1095 days
Epazote Herb 45–60 days
Fennel Vegetable 60–90 days
Figs Fruit 730–1825 days
Ginger Vegetable 240–300 days
Goji Berries Fruit 730–1095 days
Gooseberries Fruit 730–1095 days
Grapes Fruit 730–1095 days
Ground Cherry Fruit 65–80 days
Hardy Kiwi Fruit 1095–1825 days
Honeydew Fruit 80–110 days
Horseradish Vegetable 120–180 days
Hot Peppers Vegetable 70–120 days
Hubbard Squash Vegetable 100–120 days
Jicama Vegetable 120–180 days
Jostaberry Fruit 730–1095 days
Kabocha Vegetable 85–100 days
Kiwi Fruit 1095–1825 days
Lemon Verbena Herb 60–90 days
Lemongrass Herb 75–120 days
Loofah Vegetable 100–150 days
Loquat Fruit 730–1825 days
Luffa Vegetable 90–150 days
Malabar Spinach Vegetable 55–70 days
Medlar Fruit 1095–1825 days
Melon Vegetable 70–100 days
Mulberries Fruit 730–1825 days
New Zealand Spinach Vegetable 55–70 days
Okra Vegetable 50–65 days
Patty Pan Squash Vegetable 45–60 days
Pawpaw Fruit 1095–2555 days
Peppers Vegetable 60–90 days
Persimmon Fruit 1095–2555 days
Pole Beans Vegetable 55–70 days
Pomegranate Fruit 730–1095 days
Potatoes Vegetable 70–120 days
Pumpkin Vegetable 85–120 days
Quince Fruit 1095–1825 days
Raspberries Fruit 365–730 days
Rhubarb Vegetable 365–730 days
Scarlet Runner Beans Vegetable 60–80 days
Serviceberries Fruit 730–1095 days
Shiso Vegetable 50–70 days
Snap Peas Vegetable 55–70 days
Spaghetti Squash Vegetable 85–100 days
Squash (Summer) Vegetable 45–65 days
Squash (Winter) Vegetable 80–120 days
Stevia Herb 60–90 days
Strawberries Fruit 90–365 days
Sunchoke Vegetable 110–150 days
Sunflower Vegetable 70–100 days
Sweet Potatoes Vegetable 90–120 days
Thai Basil Herb 50–75 days
Tomatillo Vegetable 60–85 days
Tomatoes Vegetable 60–85 days
Turmeric Vegetable 240–300 days
Watermelon Vegetable 70–100 days
Winter Melon Vegetable 90–120 days
Yard Long Beans Vegetable 55–80 days
Zucchini Vegetable 45–60 days

Direct Sow in April

Plant Type Date Range Days to Maturity
Acorn Squash Vegetable 80–100 days
Amaranth Vegetable 90–120 days
Basil Herb 50–75 days
Bitter Melon Vegetable 60–90 days
Black Beans Vegetable 90–120 days
Butternut Squash Vegetable 85–110 days
Calabash Vegetable 80–120 days
Chayote Vegetable 120–180 days
Christmas Lima Beans Vegetable 80–100 days
Corn Vegetable 60–100 days
Cowpeas Vegetable 60–90 days
Crookneck Squash Vegetable 45–60 days
Cucumber Vegetable 50–70 days
Delicata Squash Vegetable 80–100 days
Edamame Vegetable 75–100 days
Eggplant Vegetable 65–85 days
Epazote Herb 45–60 days
Fennel Vegetable 60–90 days
Ginger Vegetable 240–300 days
Green Beans Vegetable 50–65 days
Hot Peppers Vegetable 70–120 days
Hubbard Squash Vegetable 100–120 days
Jicama Vegetable 120–180 days
Kabocha Vegetable 85–100 days
Kidney Beans Vegetable 85–110 days
Lemon Verbena Herb 60–90 days
Lemongrass Herb 75–120 days
Lima Beans Vegetable 60–90 days
Loofah Vegetable 100–150 days
Luffa Vegetable 90–150 days
Malabar Spinach Vegetable 55–70 days
Melon Vegetable 70–100 days
New Zealand Spinach Vegetable 55–70 days
Okra Vegetable 50–65 days
Patty Pan Squash Vegetable 45–60 days
Peppers Vegetable 60–90 days
Pole Beans Vegetable 55–70 days
Potatoes Vegetable 70–120 days
Pumpkin Vegetable 85–120 days
Scarlet Runner Beans Vegetable 60–80 days
Shiso Vegetable 50–70 days
Snap Peas Vegetable 55–70 days
Soybeans Vegetable 80–120 days
Spaghetti Squash Vegetable 85–100 days
Squash (Summer) Vegetable 45–65 days
Squash (Winter) Vegetable 80–120 days
Stevia Herb 60–90 days
Sunflower Vegetable 70–100 days
Sweet Corn Vegetable 60–90 days
Sweet Potatoes Vegetable 90–120 days
Thai Basil Herb 50–75 days
Tomatillo Vegetable 60–85 days
Tomatoes Vegetable 60–85 days
Turmeric Vegetable 240–300 days
Watermelon Vegetable 70–100 days
Wax Beans Vegetable 50–65 days
Winter Melon Vegetable 90–120 days
Yard Long Beans Vegetable 55–80 days
Zucchini Vegetable 45–60 days

Harvest in April

Plant Type Date Range Days to Maturity
Arugula Vegetable 30–50 days
Beets Vegetable 50–70 days
Bok Choy Vegetable 40–60 days
Borage Herb 50–60 days
Broccoli Rabe Vegetable 40–60 days
Carrots Vegetable 60–80 days
Chervil Herb 40–60 days
Cilantro Herb 40–60 days
Cress Vegetable 14–21 days
Daikon Vegetable 50–70 days
Dill Herb 40–60 days
Endive Vegetable 45–65 days
Kai Lan Vegetable 45–60 days
Kohlrabi Vegetable 45–65 days
Komatsuna Vegetable 35–50 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
Pac Choi Vegetable 40–55 days
Purslane Vegetable 40–60 days
Radish Vegetable 22–35 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

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.