Planting guide

What to plant in Zone 6 in April

USDA Zone 6 · US Northern Hemisphere April

April is the main planting month for the hardy half of the zone 6 garden. The soil is workable, the average last frost is still a few weeks off (mid April to early May), and everything that tolerates a light frost can go in now. Tomatoes and peppers stay indoors until mid May.

Plant now

Seed potatoesSolanum tuberosum

Plant early to mid April, 2-4 weeks before your last frost. Shoots that come up before a frost recover if you hill soil over them.

Onion sets and transplantsAllium cepa

Plant early in the month. Long-day or intermediate-day varieties suit zone 6.

Lettuce, spinach, radish, carrots, beets, chard

Direct-sow now and again every two weeks.

Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale transplants

Harden off and plant out in mid April; they handle light frosts.

Strawberry plants and asparagus crowns

Plant as early as the soil allows so they root before the heat.

Tomatoes (seed, indoors, early in the month)Solanum lycopersicum

Sow now if not already done, for transplants 6-8 weeks old in mid May.

Timing notes

  • Tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash go out in mid May, after your last frost and once the soil reaches about 60°F (16°C).
  • Start cucumbers, squash and melons indoors in late April, 3-4 weeks before they go out, or direct-sow them in late May.
  • Look up the average last frost for your own town; the zone number is a winter-minimum band, not a planting date.
Frost dates and a seed-starting schedule for your ZIP code Free calculator from NOAA station records: last spring frost, first fall frost, and what to start each week. ← All planting guides