What to Plant in April Canada
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What to plant in April in Canada depends entirely on your zone — this page answers it for every band. April opens outdoor sowing across most of southern Canada. Direct sow carrots, peas, radish and spinach once soil reaches about 5-7°C, harden off transplants, and keep tender crops indoors — the last frost has not passed anywhere yet.
April planting by region
| Band | Sow outdoors | Start indoors | Plant out | Harvest now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Long season Zones 7-9 |
Carrots, beets, peas, brassicas, lettuce, chard, potatoes. | Cucurbits late month. | Brassica transplants, onion sets. | Overwintered greens, early radish, asparagus. |
|
Medium season Zones 4-6 |
Peas, spinach, radish, carrots as soil becomes workable. | Cucurbits late month. | Hardy brassica transplants late month. | Overwintered kale, rhubarb late month. |
|
Short season Zones 2-3 |
Nothing outdoors until very late month in the mildest spots. | Cucurbits; keep potting on tomatoes. | Nothing. | Nothing yet. |
April garden jobs
- Test soil temperature at seed depth before direct sowing.
- Harden off transplants over 7-10 days — Canadian spring wind is as damaging as cold.
- Prepare beds and add compost as soil becomes workable.
- Set up low tunnels or cloches to bring sowing dates forward.
- Keep an eye on frost warnings; April warm spells are routinely followed by frost.
Common April mistakes
- Planting tender crops out during an April warm spell, weeks before the last frost.
- Skipping hardening off, which is more punishing in Canada because of the wind.
- Sowing carrots into cold, wet soil where the seed rots.
- Assuming the Prairies can follow southern Ontario dates.
Turn April's jobs into a written plan. The Canada Vegetable Garden Planner (printable PDF) has frost-date planning pages, bed layouts, crop rotation, a sowing log and a harvest tracker — 70 printable pages.
More Canada planting guides
- What to plant in March Canada
- What to plant in May Canada
- Vegetable Planting Calendar Canada
- Vegetable Growing Guides for Canada
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I plant in April in Canada?
In the long-season band, carrots, beets, peas, brassicas, lettuce and potatoes. In the medium band, peas, spinach and radish as soil becomes workable. On the Prairies, still nothing outdoors.
Is April too early to plant tomatoes in Canada?
Yes, everywhere. The earliest safe transplant date is after your last frost — late April at the very earliest on the coast, and late May on the Prairies.
What soil temperature do I need in April?
About 5-7°C for peas, spinach and radish, and 7-10°C for carrots and beets. Below that, seed sits and rots rather than germinating.
Plan your April beds
Turn this month's list into a layout: sketch your plot in the free Garden Layout Planner, then follow the whole season with the Canada Vegetable Garden Planner (printable PDF, 70 pages). For the full year, see the Canada vegetable planting calendar, browse every crop in the Canada growing guides, or use the Canada site directory.
Last updated 25 August 2026
Turn This Month's Jobs Into A Plan
Month-by-month advice works best when it becomes a written sowing list, bed plan, and follow-up task list.
Keep going
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.