Seeds to Sow in April

The journey from winter to spring sets the tone for what we need to do to cultivate the plants we want to grow this season.

By April, sunny weather arrives in Napa County just in time for spring break and Easter! After alternating bursts of wet, cold, mildly sunny and windy weather, we’re either going with the flow or over it!

So what’s good to plant in April in early spring conditions?

Short answer: plant and nurture the same seeds and seedlings we’ve tended to in March—these seeds are still good to plant in April.

As the water drains through your garden soils, carefully work (or rework) the ground to about 1/2 inch depth as it soaks up almost a week of sun and warmth. Do a little strategic planning, hand remove competitive insects that start to emerge (in my garden pillbugs and snails rule at this time), and—if you have them ready—*cautiously* transplant a couple of tomato seedlings (Personally, I’d wait until mid-April, according to the frost calendar, the final frost dates for spring in St. Helena, Calistoga, and Angwin are March 4, March 26, and April 15, respectively).

You can direct sow beets, carrots, cucumbers and beans as the soil warms to 50 deg F, but be sure to protect them with row covers to avoid damage from frost during cold nights. Start warm season crops like eggplants, okra, melons, and summer squashes indoors, while your peppers and tomatoes continue to develop. You can direct sow cool season crops like leafy greens, brassicas, and radishes in succession as long as cooler weather remains. Once they mature and start to bolt (go to their flowering stage) you can replace them with warm season crops like eggplant, peppers, summer squash, etc.

It’s a fabulous time to be in the garden. Enjoy the sunshine and get your hands dirty in April!

~~~

Direct Sow into Soil 🪴🥕🥦

flowers: borage, calendula, California poppy, cosmos, lavender, lupine, nigella, scabiosa, strawflower, sunflower, sweet peas, wildflower mixes; veggies: arugula, beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celosia, chard, chives, collards, corn salad, kale, leeks, luffa, lettuce, mizuna, mustard greens, onion, pac choi, peas, potatoes, radish, spinach, tatsoi

Start Seeds Indoors 🫑🍆🍅

flowers: agastache, alyssum, columbine, delphinium, echinacea, gaillardia, hollyhock, lobelia, lovage, milkweed, nicotiana, roselle, sunflower, tithonia, viola, yarrow; herbs: bergamot, catnip, oregano, marjoram, mint, rosemary, sage, thyme; veggies: asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumber, fennel (bulb), lettuce, melons, okra, pepper, summer squash, tomato

OK to Transplant or Direct Sow Now, but Protect from Frost ❄️⚠️🌱 tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers (Be sure to have back-up seedlings ready in case of losses due to weather, soil and pest conditions!)

~~~