What to plant in April in Switzerland
21 vegetables, fruits and herbs to sow or plant in April in Switzerland, for the climate around Eastern Switzerland near Liechtenstein and Lake Constance, Northern Hemisphere.
Climate: Cold continental winters with hard frosts down to about -30 °C from November to March, a short frost-free season from roughly May to September, and rain spread through the year with peaks in autumn and summer.
Vegetables
Potato Solanum tuberosum
Tubers tolerate cool springs and the summer rain, and they store well through the cold winter.
Harvest: 80–120 daysEasyIn pots
Carrot Daucus carota
Cool summers suit carrots well, and the sweetness develops in the autumn chill.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Lettuce Lactuca sativa
Quick and cool-tolerant, lettuce can be sown in succession from spring until early autumn.
Harvest: 45–60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Spinach Spinacia oleracea
Spinach handles frost and cool weather, so it works in early spring and again in late summer.
Harvest: 40–50 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Pea Pisum sativum
Peas are hardy in cool springs and finish before the summer heat.
Harvest: 60–75 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Broad bean Vicia faba
Broad beans tolerate the cold of early spring and produce well in the cool summer.
Harvest: 90–120 daysEasy
Beetroot Beta vulgaris
Beetroot grows well in cool summers and tolerates light frost.
Harvest: 55–70 daysEasyIn pots
Onion Allium cepa
Onion sets go in early spring and mature in the long summer days before storage.
Harvest: 100–150 daysModerateIn potsCare guide →
Radish Raphanus sativus
Radishes are fast and cool-tolerant, so they fit into gaps in spring and early autumn.
Harvest: 25–35 daysEasyIn pots
Fruits
Raspberry Rubus idaeus
Hardy canes survive the Alpine winter and fruit reliably in the cool summer.
Harvest: 1–2 yearsEasyCare guide →
Strawberry Fragaria × ananassa
Strawberry plants are fully hardy and their runners root easily in the moist summers.
Harvest: 1 yearEasyIn potsCare guide →
Blackcurrant Ribes nigrum
Blackcurrant needs the winter chill to fruit and it thrives in this climate.
Harvest: 2–3 yearsEasy
Apple Malus domestica
Apple trees are fully hardy and need the cold winters to set their blossom.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsModerateCare guide →
Pear Pyrus communis
Pear trees survive the winter minimum, though they need a warm sheltered spot to ripen fruit.
Harvest: 4–6 yearsModerate
Plum Prunus domestica
Plum trees are hardy and fruit reliably where the summers are warm enough.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsModerate
Sour cherry Prunus cerasus
Sour cherry is among the hardiest tree fruits and copes well with late spring frost.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsModerate
Herbs
Chives Allium schoenoprasum
Chives are fully hardy and return every spring from the bulbs.
Harvest: 60–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Parsley Petroselinum crispum
Parsley tolerates cool weather and light frost and keeps producing into autumn.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Dill Anethum graveolens
Dill grows quickly in the cool spring and summer and self-seeds readily.
Harvest: 40–60 daysEasyIn pots
Thyme Thymus vulgaris
Thyme is hardy and drought-tolerant, and it does well in a sunny dry spot or pot.
Harvest: 90–120 daysModerateIn potsCare guide →
Spearmint Mentha spicata
Spearmint is fully hardy and spreads vigorously, so it is best kept in a pot.
Harvest: 60–80 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →