GreenlyWhat to plant in April in California
Worked out for 11 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in April in California, by zone: frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Los Angeles, Fresno and 5 more): zucchini, green beans, cucumber, sweet corn, basil and 8 more; frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F (San Diego, San Jose and 1 more): broad bean, peas, onion, lettuce, radish and 37 more; frost-free, highs of 50–61 °F (San Francisco): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 22 more.
In California, April is spring.
Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Los Angeles, Fresno, Sacramento, Bakersfield and 3 more
In April, on average, these cities have highs of 73 to 81 °F and lows of 48 to 53 °F, 0.6 to 2.7 in of rain on 2 to 8 days; the day lasts 13 h 01 min to 13 h 16 min (on the 15th).
No frost in April in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Peas, beet, parsley, cilantro, chamomile, dill, mustard greens | Los Angeles |
| start indoors, plant out in June | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, moringa | Los Angeles |
| start indoors, plant out in May or sow direct | Zucchini, basil | Los Angeles, Sacramento, Bakersfield and 2 more |
| sow direct | Green Beans, arugula | Los Angeles, Fresno, Sacramento and 3 more |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Cucumber | Los Angeles, Sacramento, Riverside and 1 more |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Melon, achocha | Los Angeles |
| start indoors, plant out in May or sow direct | Watermelon, pumpkin, luffa, okra, peanut | Los Angeles and Riverside |
| sow direct | Sweet Corn, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, Napa cabbage | Los Angeles, Sacramento, Riverside and 1 more |
| sow direct | Bok Choy, borage | all |
| start indoors, plant out in July | Celeriac, celery | Los Angeles |
| sow direct | Soybean | Riverside |
Compared with March: new — green beans and soybean; no longer sown — broad bean, onion, lettuce, radish, cabbage, Swiss chard, chickpea, kohlrabi and 1 more.
Not starting in April: lettuce (November, sown direct) and spinach (November, started indoors) — dates for Los Angeles.
Ready to harvest in April in Los Angeles, if sown in the right month: broad bean (January), peas (February), lettuce (February), radish (March), carrot (February), cabbage (December), broccoli (January) and Swiss chard (February).
Frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F: San Diego, San Jose and Santa Barbara
In April, on average, these cities have highs of 67 to 69 °F and lows of 46 to 54 °F, 0.8 to 1.1 in of rain on 3 to 4 days; the day lasts 12 h 58 min to 13 h 08 min (on the 15th). A dry month: whatever is sown needs watering.
No frost in April in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, lettuce, cabbage, Swiss chard, chickpea, kohlrabi | San Diego and Santa Barbara |
| sow direct | Peas, radish, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, dill, mustard greens | all |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | San Diego and Santa Barbara |
| sow direct | Carrot, broccoli, daikon, kale, parsnip | San Diego |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Cauliflower | San Diego |
| start indoors, plant out in June | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, moringa | all |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, basil, achocha, kiwano, peanut | all |
| start indoors, plant out in May or sow direct | Sweet Corn, bok choy, Napa cabbage | all |
| start indoors, plant out in July | Celeriac, celery | all |
| start indoors, plant out in July or sow direct | Chayote | all |
| start indoors, plant out in June or sow direct | Florence fennel | all |
| sow direct | Borage, corn | San Jose and Santa Barbara |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Luffa, okra | San Jose and Santa Barbara |
| start indoors, plant out in June | Brussels Sprouts | San Diego |
Compared with March: new — borage and corn; no longer sown — spinach.
Not starting in April: green beans (May, sown direct) and spinach (November, started indoors) — dates for San Diego.
Ready to harvest in April in San Diego, if sown in the right month: broad bean (January), peas (February), spinach (February), lettuce (February), radish (March), carrot (February), cabbage (December) and broccoli (January).
Frost-free, highs of 50–61 °F: San Francisco
In April, on average, San Francisco has highs of 59 °F and lows of 50 °F, 1.2 in of rain on 4 days; the day lasts 13 h 09 min (on the 15th).
No frost in April in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, Swiss chard, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, daikon, dill, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, parsnip, turnip | San Francisco |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | San Francisco |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Cauliflower, chicory | San Francisco |
| start indoors, plant out in June | Leek, Brussels sprouts | San Francisco |
The same as in March.
Not starting in April: tomato (no month outdoors by these rules), bell pepper (no month outdoors by these rules), zucchini (no month outdoors by these rules) and green beans (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for San Francisco.
Ready to harvest in April in San Francisco, if sown in the right month: broad bean (January), peas (February), spinach (February), lettuce (February), radish (March), carrot (February), cabbage (December) and broccoli (January).
How we work it out
For each city we use its average weather in April and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in April if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.
Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).
This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.
- Moon planting calendar for April 2027
- What to plant in April: all climates
- Gardening in the United States: guide by region
Other months in California
- What to plant in April in the Northeast and Midwest
- What to plant in April in the South
- What to plant in April in Texas
- What to plant in April in Florida
- What to plant in April in the Pacific Northwest
- What to plant in April in the Southwest
- What to plant in April in the Mountain West
- What to plant in April in Canada
- What to plant in April in the UK
- What to plant in April in Ireland
