What to Plant In April – Your Planting Guide for Zone 5

When to Plant Zone 5 Vegetable Gardens

What to Plant in April – Your Planting Guide for Zone 5. Three questions I’m often asked are: 1) Can you start a garden in April? 2) What vegetables can I plant in early spring? and 3) Which should I start with – seeds or seedlings?

All good questions. So let me break down what can be planted in the ground here in the Pacific Northwest (Zone 5) and which ones you should hold off on. Because you know – the weather can be really fickle up here.

“Zone 5 is divided into zone 5a and zone 5b – with each varying somewhat regarding planting dates (often by a couple of weeks). Planting is dictated by the first frost free date and the last frost free date, which in the case of USDA zone 5, is May 30 and October 1” – from the USDA

My Zone 5 location is in NE Washington State, approximately 40 miles south of the Canadian Border. We’re a tad up a mountain so our elevation is at 2200 – making it a must to take necessary precautions when sowing seeds directly into the ground – and those precautions are heating up the soil first and then making sure we have row covers. And yes, some seeds and seedlings can be sown as early as April – it just all depends on the vegetable.

So if you live anywhere in the Pacific Northwest Zone 5 location and have done nothing in March, below is the planting guide/schedule to follow in April.

ZONE 5 – PLANTING GUIDE FOR APRIL
Which seeds can be PLANTED OUTSIDE in April for Zone 5

This guide is for those who didn’t do any planting in March. So as soon as the soil is dry enough to work with – AND after your soil has been amended with compost and has been warmed for a couple of weeks, these seeds or seedlings can be planted directly into the ground in April. And even though they are ALL VERY HARDY PLANTS, make sure you have a light row fabric protection around the beds to keep the bugs away, speed up germination, and help the plants flourish.

Arugula
Beets
Carrots
Lettuce
Parsnips
Peas
Radishes
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Turnips

Leeks, Onions and Potatoes also love the cool weather. So make sure you plant leek and onion seedlings or sets now, along with seed potato pieces.

Just a heads up – Potatoes are very sensitive to frost, but can still be planted in April if you protect them at night with a row cover.
Leeks
Onions
Potatoes

PERENNIALS THAT CAN BE PLANTED NOW

If you haven’t already done so, now’s the time to plant these perennials, Asparagus, Rhubarb and Salsify, as they will continue to yield for you year after year. Take note – asparagus will usually take 3 to 4 years to produce, so don’t be discouraged when you don’t get any spears this year or next.
Asparagus
Rhubarb
Salsify

ZONE 5 – PLANTING GUIDE FOR APRIL
Seedlings Started Indoors that Can be Planted Outside

If you’ve already started these indoors, you can now transplant the seedlings. Just watch for those hard frosty nights as you may need to cover them to be safe

Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Collards
Kohlrabi
Kale

And don’t forget your berries – these Blackberry, Blueberry, Raspberry and Strawberry transplants or bushes can now be planted outside.

START SEEDS NOW, BUT HOLD OFF UNTIL MAY TO PLANT OUTSIDE

Start these seeds indoors now as they’ll need a good 6 weeks to grow before setting outside. If you’ve already started them and want to plant them in the ground, you can do it now. BUT ONLY if you protect them with a “protection of walls of water” or protect them in a removable plastic framing structure.

I wait those extra couple weeks to plant them outside and never have any issues with them getting frost burnt or stunted – AND THEY ALL FLOURISH. So May 15th is when I set my tomatoes, peppers, melons and eggplant seedlings outside.

Cucumber
Egg Plant
Melons
Peppers
Tomato
Winter Squash
Zucchini

You can also wait until mid May to directly plant Cucumber, Winter Squash and Zucchini Seeds. I do – and my plants always yield great crops

And there you have it – What to Plant In April | Your Planting Guide for Zone 5. Check back and see what you can be starting and doing in May. Until then – HAPPY GARDENING 🙂