What to plant in April in Italy
13 vegetables, fruits and herbs to sow or plant in April in Italy, for the climate around Umbria and Marche border, central Italy (Perugia–Terni area).
Climate: Cold winters with frosts down to about -3 °C from November to February, hot dry summers peaking near 38 °C, and a wet autumn and winter with the heaviest rain from October to February, while June to August are nearly rainless.
Vegetables
Tomato Solanum lycopersicum
Warm dry summers ripen fruit well once seedlings are planted after the last frost.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Zucchini Cucurbita pepo
Hot summer days give vigorous growth and heavy yields with little care.
Harvest: 45–60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Lettuce Lactuca sativa
Mild spring and autumn suit it, and summer shade avoids bolting.
Harvest: 45–60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Carrot Daucus carota
Loose soil and mild autumn weather give sweet, well-formed roots.
Harvest: 70–80 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Beetroot Beta vulgaris
Tolerates both spring cool and summer heat, giving a long harvest window.
Harvest: 55–70 daysEasyIn pots
Fruits
Fig Ficus carica
Thrives in hot dry summers and tolerates the mild winters of this region.
Harvest: 2–3 yearsEasyIn potsCare guide →
Olive Olea europaea
Native to this Mediterranean-type climate and handles the hot dry summers.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsModerateIn potsCare guide →
Strawberry Fragaria × ananassa
Cool springs and hardy crowns give a productive June harvest.
Harvest: 90–120 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Herbs
Basil Ocimum basilicum
Loves the warm summer days and thrives on a sunny balcony.
Harvest: 60–70 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Rosemary Salvia rosmarinus
Drought-tolerant Mediterranean shrub that copes with dry summers and mild winters.
Harvest: 60–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Thyme Thymus vulgaris
Hardy and drought-tolerant, it suits the hot dry summers.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Parsley Petroselinum crispum
Cool seasons suit its growth and it tolerates light frost.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Mint Mentha spicata
Hardy perennial that thrives with the spring and autumn rains.
Harvest: 60–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →