Zone 3A — April
What to Plant in April in Zone 3A
April in Zone 3A:
46 crops to start indoors,
3 to plant or direct sow outside, and
0 entering harvest window.
Last frost averages May 22. Reference city: Tower, MN.
46 Start Indoors
3 Plant Outside
0 Harvest
Start Indoors in April
| Plant | Type | Start Indoors | Transplant Outside | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch Yellow Shallots | allium | Apr 17 | Apr 24 | Jul 23 – Aug 22 |
| French Red Shallots | allium | Apr 17 | Apr 24 | Jul 23 – Aug 22 |
| Holland Red Shallots | allium | Apr 17 | Apr 24 | Jul 23 – Aug 22 |
| Alaska Early Pea | legume | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jun 25 – Jun 30 |
| Alexandria Alpine Strawberry | berry | Apr 17 | May 29 | Perennial — see plant page |
| All Season Cabbage | brassica | Apr 24 | May 8 | Jul 17 – Jul 27 |
| All Year Round Cauliflower | brassica | Apr 24 | May 8 | Jul 12 |
| Angelica | herb | Apr 24 | May 22 | Aug 10 – Aug 20 |
| Broad Windsor Fava Bean | legume | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 25 |
| Brunswick Cabbage | brassica | Apr 24 | May 8 | Jul 27 – Aug 6 |
| Calabrese Broccoli | brassica | Apr 24 | May 8 | Jul 12 |
| Cascadia Sugar Snap Pea | legume | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jul 5 – Jul 7 |
| Charleston Wakefield Cabbage | brassica | Apr 17 | May 1 | Jul 15 |
| Chervil | herb | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jun 5 – Jun 15 |
| Copenhagen Cabbage | brassica | Apr 24 | May 8 | Jul 12 |
| Dandelion | herb | Apr 24 | May 1 | Perennial — see plant page |
| Delicatesse Blue Kohlrabi | brassica | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jun 25 – Jun 30 |
| Delicatesse White Kohlrabi | brassica | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jun 25 – Jun 30 |
| Di Cicco Broccoli | brassica | Apr 24 | May 8 | Jul 12 |
| Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage | brassica | Apr 17 | May 1 | Jul 5 – Jul 15 |
| Early Purple Broccoli | brassica | Apr 24 | May 8 | Jul 12 |
| Giant Maximum Mix Snapdragon Flowers | flower | Apr 24 | May 22 | Aug 10 – Aug 25 |
| Glory of Enkhuizen Cabbage | brassica | Apr 24 | May 8 | Aug 6 |
| Golden Acre Cabbage | brassica | Apr 24 | May 8 | Jul 12 |
| Green Arrow Pea | legume | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jul 5 – Jul 10 |
| Hard Red Wheat Cover Crop | cover crop | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jul 15 – Aug 4 |
| Igloo Cauliflower | brassica | Apr 24 | May 8 | Jul 12 – Jul 17 |
| Little Marvel Pea | legume | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jun 30 – Jul 3 |
| Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Pea | legume | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jul 8 – Jul 14 |
| Michihili Cabbage | brassica | Apr 17 | May 1 | Jul 10 |
| Oregon Giant Snow Pea | legume | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jul 10 – Jul 14 |
| Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Pea | legume | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jun 30 – Jul 8 |
| Ox-Eye Daisy Flowers | flower | Apr 24 | May 22 | Perennial — see plant page |
| Progress No. 9 Shelling Pea | legume | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jun 28 – Jul 2 |
| Red Acre Cabbage | brassica | Apr 17 | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 20 |
| Savoy Perfection Cabbage | brassica | Apr 24 | May 8 | Aug 6 – Aug 11 |
| Shasta Daisy Flowers | flower | Apr 17 | May 22 | Perennial — see plant page |
| Snowball Self-Blanche Cauliflower | brassica | Apr 24 | May 8 | Jul 12 |
| Sugar Ann Snap Pea | legume | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jun 22 – Jun 26 |
| Victoria Rhubarb | vegetable | Apr 17 | May 8 | Perennial — see plant page |
| Vienna Purple Kohlrabi | brassica | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jun 25 – Jul 5 |
| Vienna White Kohlrabi | brassica | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jul 5 |
| Viola and pansy edible flowers | flower | Apr 3 | May 8 | Jul 7 – Jul 17 |
| Violetta Purple Cauliflower | brassica | Apr 24 | May 8 | Jul 12 |
| Wando Pea | legume | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jul 3 – Jul 8 |
| Cherry Bomb peppers | pepper | Apr 24 | Jun 5 | Aug 19 – Aug 24 |
Plant Outside in April
| Plant | Type | Action | Target Date | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch Yellow Shallots | allium | Transplant | Apr 24 | Jul 23 – Aug 22 |
| French Red Shallots | allium | Transplant | Apr 24 | Jul 23 – Aug 22 |
| Holland Red Shallots | allium | Transplant | Apr 24 | Jul 23 – Aug 22 |
Harvest in April
Nothing to harvest in April for Zone 3A.
Next window: June
— 40 varieties, including Alaska Early Pea, Astro Arugula, Beauty Pink Radishes.
Key Tasks for April in Zone 3A
- 1 Start 46 varieties indoors this month under grow lights or in a sunny south-facing window. Use a seed-starting mix and bottom heat (70–75°F) for best germination rates.
- 2 Harden off transplants before moving outdoors — set them outside in a sheltered spot for increasing hours over 7–10 days before planting in the ground.
- 3 Check soil moisture before watering — stick a finger 2 inches into the soil. Water only when the soil is dry at that depth. Consistent moisture is more important than frequency.
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