What to plant in April in United States
19 vegetables, fruits and herbs to sow or plant in April in United States, for the climate around Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, USA.
Climate: A cold continental temperate climate with hard winters (nights to -16 °C, frost roughly November to March), warm humid summers up to 39 °C, and rain spread evenly through the year with a wetter July to September.
Vegetables
Lettuce Lactuca sativa
Cool spring and autumn weather suits lettuce, and it can be sown again for a fall crop.
Harvest: 40–60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Spinach Spinacia oleracea
It thrives in the cool shoulder seasons and tolerates light frost.
Harvest: 40–50 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Kale Brassica oleracea
Kale survives cold nights and sweetens after autumn frosts.
Harvest: 55–70 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Carrot Daucus carota
Loose soil warms in spring and carrots can be sown in succession through summer.
Harvest: 70–80 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Garden pea Pisum sativum
Peas are sown early, before the heat, and tolerate the cool spring frosts.
Harvest: 60–70 daysEasyCare guide →
Beetroot Beta vulgaris
Beets handle both cool springs and warm summers and can be sown repeatedly.
Harvest: 50–70 daysEasyIn pots
Potato Solanum tuberosum
Potatoes go in after the last frost and do well with the region's reliable rainfall.
Harvest: 90–120 daysEasyIn pots
Onion Allium cepa
Onion sets planted in early spring mature well before the summer heat.
Harvest: 100–120 daysEasyCare guide →
Fruits
Strawberry Fragaria × ananassa
Strawberry plants are fully hardy and bear well in the sunny, moist summers.
Harvest: 60–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Raspberry Rubus idaeus
Canes are very cold hardy and the summer rain keeps the fruit plump.
Harvest: 1–2 yearsEasyCare guide →
Highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
Cold winters meet the chill requirement, and acidic soil with ample rain suits it.
Harvest: 2–3 yearsEasyIn potsCare guide →
Apple Malus domestica
Apple trees are hardy to far below -16 °C and need the cold winters to set fruit.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsModerateCare guide →
Sour cherry Prunus cerasus
Sour cherries are hardy and self-fertile enough to fruit reliably in this climate.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsModerate
Pear Pyrus communis
Pears tolerate the cold winters and benefit from the warm late summers.
Harvest: 4–6 yearsModerate
Concord grape Vitis labrusca
This native grape is cold hardy and ripens in the warm, humid late summer.
Harvest: 3–4 yearsModerate
Herbs
Parsley Petroselinum crispum
Parsley handles cool weather and light frost and keeps producing through autumn.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Chives Allium schoenoprasum
Chives are fully hardy perennials that return every spring.
Harvest: 60–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Spearmint Mentha spicata
Mint is vigorous in the rainy summers and survives the coldest winters underground.
Harvest: 60–80 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Thyme Thymus vulgaris
Thyme is hardy here and loves the sunny, well-drained spots of a garden or balcony.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →