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Zone 5B — April

What to Plant in April in Zone 5B

April in Zone 5B: 48 crops to start indoors, 100 to plant or direct sow outside, and 3 entering harvest window. Last frost averages May 4. Reference city: Des Moines, IA.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
48 Start Indoors
100 Plant Outside
3 Harvest
Frost window: Active

This is when frost can still happen in Zone 5B. The last spring frost typically lands on May 4, with a 10% chance of frost as late as May 18. Plan transplants with this window in mind.

See full Zone 5B frost outlook

Start Indoors in April

Plant Type Start Indoors Transplant Outside Harvest Window
Basil Herb Mix herb Apr 6 May 11 Jul 10 – Jul 30
Bitter melons vegetable Apr 20 May 18 Aug 1 – Aug 16
Black Beauty Zucchini squash Apr 17 May 15 Jun 29 – Jul 9
Broccolini brassica Apr 13 May 18 Jul 7 – Jul 17
Brussels Sprouts brassica Apr 13 May 18 Aug 11 – Sep 5
Cinnamon Basil herb Apr 6 May 11 Jul 15 – Jul 30
Classic Tomatillos vegetable Apr 6 May 11 Jul 30 – Aug 4
Clemson Spineless Okra vegetable Apr 13 May 18 Jul 12 – Jul 21
Cosmos flower Apr 13 May 18 Jul 27 – Aug 16
Crimson Sweet Watermelon melon Apr 20 May 18 Aug 6 – Aug 16
Delica Kabocha Squash squash Apr 20 May 18 Aug 21 – Sep 5
Delicata Squash squash Apr 20 May 18 Aug 6 – Aug 26
Early White Bush Scallop Pattypan Squash squash Apr 20 May 18 Jul 4 – Jul 12
French Marigold flower Apr 13 May 18 Jul 7 – Jul 17
German Chamomile herb Apr 13 May 18 Jul 17 – Jul 22
Greek Basil herb Apr 6 May 11 Jul 15 – Jul 25
Green Cabbage brassica Apr 13 May 18 Jul 17 – Aug 26
Green shiso leaves herb Apr 6 May 11 Jul 10 – Jul 20
Hale's Best Jumbo Cantaloupe melon Apr 20 May 18 Aug 6 – Aug 16
Honeydew Melon melon Apr 20 May 18 Aug 26 – Sep 10
Italian Large Leaf Basil herb Apr 6 May 11 Jul 10 – Jul 25
Jack O'Lantern Pumpkin squash Apr 20 May 18 Aug 16 – Sep 5
Lemon Cucumber cucumber Apr 27 May 18 Jul 17 – Jul 27
Lettuce Leaf Basil herb Apr 6 May 11 Jul 15 – Jul 30
Licorice Basil herb Apr 6 May 11 Jul 15 – Jul 30
Lime Basil herb Apr 6 May 11 Jul 15 – Jul 25
Luffa gourds vegetable Apr 13 May 18 Aug 26 – Sep 15
Marketmore 76 Cucumber cucumber Apr 20 May 18 Jul 15 – Jul 25
National Pickling Cucumber cucumber Apr 27 May 18 Jul 7 – Jul 15
Orion Florence Fennel vegetable Apr 6 May 11 Jul 30
Purple Tomatillos vegetable Apr 6 May 11 Jul 25 – Aug 4
Red Cabbage brassica Apr 13 May 18 Jul 17 – Aug 26
Red Velvet Leaf Basil herb Apr 6 May 11 Jul 15 – Jul 30
Romanesco brassica Apr 13 May 18 Aug 1 – Aug 26
Roselle calyces and leaves vegetable Apr 6 May 11 Oct 8 – Nov 7
Scarlet Sage Flowers flower Apr 6 May 11 Perennial — see plant page
Snow Crown Cauliflower brassica Apr 13 May 18 Jul 7 – Jul 17
Spaghetti Squash squash Apr 20 May 18 Aug 14 – Aug 26
Sugar Baby Watermelon melon Apr 20 May 18 Aug 1 – Aug 6
Sugar Pie Pumpkin squash Apr 20 May 18 Aug 16 – Sep 5
Table Queen Acorn Squash squash Apr 20 May 18 Aug 6 – Aug 26
Tomatillo vegetable Apr 13 May 18 Jul 17 – Aug 11
Tri-X 313 Seedless Watermelon melon Apr 13 May 18 Jul 22 – Aug 1
Verde Tomatillos vegetable Apr 6 May 11 Jul 25 – Aug 4
Waltham 29 Broccoli brassica Apr 13 May 18 Aug 1 – Aug 16
Waltham Butternut Squash squash Apr 20 May 18 Aug 26 – Sep 15
Yellow Crookneck Squash squash Apr 20 May 18 Jul 7 – Jul 17
Zinnia flower Apr 13 May 18 Jul 17 – Aug 16

Plant Outside in April

Plant Type Action Target Date Harvest Window
AC Wendy Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Albion Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Alfalfa Cover Crop cover crop Direct Sow Apr 27 Perennial — see plant page
All Season Cabbage brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jun 29 – Jul 9
All Year Round Cauliflower brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jun 24
Allstar Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Berry Blue honeyberry shrubs berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Blue Flax Flowers flower Direct Sow Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Bluecrop Blueberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Bluegold Blueberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Blueray Blueberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Bouquet Dill herb Direct Sow Apr 20 Jun 9 – Jun 24
Brunswick Cabbage brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jul 19
Calabrese Broccoli brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jun 24
Caraway herb Direct Sow Apr 13 Perennial — see plant page
Carentan Leeks allium Transplant Apr 20 Jul 19 – Aug 8
Chandler Blueberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Chandler Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage brassica Transplant Apr 13 Jun 22
Chervil herb Direct Sow Apr 13 May 18 – May 28
Chinese Forget-Me-Not Flowers flower Direct Sow Apr 20 Jun 24 – Jul 14
Common Milkweed Flowers flower Direct Sow Apr 27 Perennial — see plant page
Concord grape vines berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Copenhagen Cabbage brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jun 24
Crimson Cherry Rhubarb Root vegetable Plant Out Apr 6 Perennial — see plant page
Dandelion herb Direct Sow Apr 13 Perennial — see plant page
Danish Ballhead Cabbage brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jul 29 – Aug 8
Dark Green Italian Giant Parsley herb Direct Sow Apr 20 Jun 19 – Jul 4
Di Cicco Broccoli brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jun 4 – Jun 7
Drumhead Cabbage brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jul 19 – Jul 29
Dukat Dill herb Direct Sow Apr 20 May 30 – Jun 9
Duke Blueberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Dutch Yellow Shallots allium Plant Out Apr 6 Jul 5 – Aug 4
Earliglow Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage brassica Transplant Apr 13 Jun 17 – Jun 27
Early Purple Broccoli brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jun 24
Elliott Blueberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Evergreen Parsley herb Direct Sow Apr 20 Jun 29 – Jul 14
Fairy Dwarf Mix Candytuft Flowers flower Direct Sow Apr 27 Jun 11 – Jun 21
Fenugreek herb Direct Sow Apr 20 May 25 – Jun 9
Fort Laramie Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Foxglove Flowers flower Direct Sow Apr 27 Perennial — see plant page
French Red Shallots allium Plant Out Apr 6 Jul 5 – Aug 4
Giant Imperial Mix Larkspur Flowers flower Direct Sow Apr 13 Jul 22 – Aug 11
Giant Musselburgh Leeks allium Transplant Apr 20 Aug 3
Glory of Enkhuizen Cabbage brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jul 19
Golden Acre Cabbage brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jun 24
Hamburg Rooted Parsley herb Direct Sow Apr 20 Jul 19 – Aug 8
Hard Red Wheat Cover Crop cover crop Direct Sow Apr 13 Jun 27 – Jul 17
Heritage Raspberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Holland Red Shallots allium Plant Out Apr 6 Jul 5 – Aug 4
Honeoye Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Honeycrisp apple trees berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Igloo Cauliflower brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jun 24 – Jun 29
Invicta gooseberry shrubs berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Issai hardy kiwi vines berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Jersey Blueberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Jersey Knight Asparagus vegetable Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Jewel Strawberries berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
King Richard Leek allium Transplant Apr 6 Jun 20
King's Cure-All Evening Primrose Flowers flower Direct Sow Apr 27 Perennial — see plant page
Leek allium Transplant Apr 6 Jul 15 – Aug 14
Legacy Blueberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Lunaria Silver Dollar Flowers flower Direct Sow Apr 27 Perennial — see plant page
Mammoth Dill herb Direct Sow Apr 20 Jun 4 – Jun 24
Mara des Bois Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Mary Washington Asparagus vegetable Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Medium Red Clover Cover Crop cover crop Direct Sow Apr 20 Jun 19 – Jul 4
Michihili Cabbage brassica Transplant Apr 13 Jun 22
Millennium Asparagus vegetable Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
New England Aster Flowers flower Direct Sow Apr 27 Perennial — see plant page
Northblue Blueberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Northland Blueberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
OG American Flag Leeks allium Transplant Apr 20 Jul 19 – Jul 29
Ozark Beauty Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Patriot Blueberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Purple Passion Asparagus vegetable Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Quinault Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Rapeseed Cover Crop cover crop Direct Sow Apr 20 Jun 4 – Jun 29
Raspberry Shortcake berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Red Acre Cabbage brassica Transplant Apr 13 Jun 27 – Jul 2
Red Lake currant shrubs berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Royal Carpet Alyssum Flowers flower Direct Sow Apr 27 Jun 11 – Jun 26
Salad Burnet herb Direct Sow Apr 27 Perennial — see plant page
San Andreas Strawberries berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Savoy Perfection Cabbage brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jul 19 – Jul 24
Scarlet Flax Flowers flower Direct Sow Apr 20 Jun 14 – Jun 29
Seascape Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Shallot allium Plant Out Apr 13 Jul 12 – Aug 11
Smooth Blue Aster Flowers flower Direct Sow Apr 27 Perennial — see plant page
Snowball Self-Blanche Cauliflower brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jun 24
Sparkle Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Surecrop Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Top Hat Blueberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Toro Blueberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Tristar Strawberry berry Plant Out Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Victoria Rhubarb vegetable Transplant Apr 20 Perennial — see plant page
Viola and pansy edible flowers flower Transplant Apr 20 Jun 19 – Jun 29
Violetta Purple Cauliflower brassica Transplant Apr 20 Jun 24
Yellow Sweet Blossom Clover Cover Crop cover crop Direct Sow Apr 20 Jun 19 – Jul 19

Harvest in April

Plant Type Planted / Sown Harvest Window
Astro Arugula lettuce Mar 28 Apr 18 – May 7
Mesclun Mix lettuce Mar 28 Apr 18 – Apr 27
Tatsoi lettuce Mar 28 Apr 22 – May 12

Key Tasks for April in Zone 5B

  1. 1 Start 48 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. 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. 3 Direct sow seeds at the recommended depth and spacing. Keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination is complete.
  4. 4 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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