What to plant in April in South Korea
18 vegetables, fruits and herbs to sow or plant in April in South Korea, for the climate around Central Gangwon, South Korea (38°N, 127°E).
Climate: Cold continental winters with frosts from about October to April and nights reaching -16°C, then a warm, humid summer where most of the year's rain falls in July and August, so planting follows late spring and the monsoon.
Vegetables
Lettuce Lactuca sativa
Cool spring and autumn weather suits it, and it bolts less than in the hot summer months.
Harvest: 45–60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Spinach Spinacia oleracea
It tolerates frost well and thrives in the cool shoulder seasons of this climate.
Harvest: 40–50 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Radish Raphanus sativus
Fast-maturing roots grow well in the mild spring and autumn with plenty of rain.
Harvest: 25–35 daysEasyIn pots
Carrot Daucus carota
Deep, loose soil in the warm growing season produces sweet roots before the autumn frosts.
Harvest: 70–90 daysModerateIn potsCare guide →
Onion Allium cepa
Sets planted in early spring mature well before the summer rains peak.
Harvest: 100–120 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Potato Solanum tuberosum
Cool spring soil and a summer harvest avoid the worst of the late-summer wet weather.
Harvest: 70–100 daysEasyIn pots
Chinese cabbage Brassica rapa
Autumn sowings mature in cool weather, the traditional season for kimchi cabbage here.
Harvest: 60–80 daysModerate
Fruits
Apple Malus domestica
Cold winters give the chill hours apple trees need, and the warm summers ripen the fruit.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsModerateCare guide →
Asian pear Pyrus pyrifolia
It is hardy to this winter minimum and ripens well in the long, warm autumn.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsModerate
Strawberry Fragaria × ananassa
Hardy crowns survive the frosts and crop reliably in late spring.
Harvest: 60–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
Cold-hardy highbush types handle the winter, and it does well in containers with acidic soil.
Harvest: 2–3 yearsModerateIn potsCare guide →
Grape Vitis labrusca
Cold-tolerant American hybrid vines survive this winter and ripen in the warm late summer.
Harvest: 3 yearsModerate
Japanese plum Prunus salicina
Japanese plum cultivars are cold-hardy and fruit well in this climate.
Harvest: 3–4 yearsModerate
Raspberry Rubus idaeus
Canes are very cold-hardy and fruit reliably each early summer.
Harvest: 1–2 yearsEasyCare guide →
Herbs
Perilla Perilla frutescens
Korean perilla leaves are traditional and thrive in the humid summer.
Harvest: 40–60 daysEasyIn pots
Parsley Petroselinum crispum
It tolerates light frost and grows well in the cool seasons.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Chives Allium schoenoprasum
Hardy perennial clumps survive the winter and return each spring.
Harvest: 60–75 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Mint Mentha spicata
It is hardy to frost and spreads vigorously in the moist summer climate.
Harvest: 60–80 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →