GreenlyWhat to plant in April in Florida
Worked out for 9 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in April in Florida, by zone: frost-free, highs above 82 °F (Miami, Tampa and 2 more): tomato, bell pepper, zucchini, green beans, cucumber and 22 more; frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Jacksonville, Tallahassee and 3 more): tomato, bell pepper, zucchini, green beans, cucumber and 22 more.
In Florida, April is spring.
Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Fort Myers
In April, on average, these cities have highs of 83 to 86 °F and lows of 64 to 69 °F, 2.4 to 3.2 in of rain on 9 to 12 days; the day lasts 12 h 45 min to 12 h 50 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 |
|---|---|---|
| start indoors, plant out in June | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper | Tampa, Orlando and Fort Myers |
| sow direct | Zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, corn, Napa cabbage, okra | Tampa, Orlando and Fort Myers |
| sow direct | Green Beans, basil, bok choy, borage, chayote, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, peanut, soybean | all |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Cucumber, melon | Tampa, Orlando and Fort Myers |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Achocha | all |
| start indoors, plant out in July | Celeriac, celery | all |
Compared with March: no longer sown — onion, radish, mustard greens and arugula.
Not starting in April: lettuce (November, started indoors), peas (November, sown direct) and spinach (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for Orlando.
Ready to harvest in April in Orlando, if sown in the right month: broad bean (January), peas (February), cabbage (December), beet (February), zucchini (February), green beans (February), parsley (February) and cilantro (February).
Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Gainesville, Pensacola and 1 more
In April, on average, these cities have highs of 75 to 82 °F and lows of 58 to 67 °F, 2.5 to 4.6 in of rain on 7 to 11 days; the day lasts 12 h 49 min to 12 h 54 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 |
|---|---|---|
| start indoors, plant out in June | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper | all |
| sow direct | Zucchini, green beans, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, bok choy, borage, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut, soybean | all |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Cucumber, melon, achocha | all |
| start indoors, plant out in July | Celeriac, celery | all |
| sow direct or start indoors, plant out in June | Moringa | all |
| sow direct | Arugula | Tallahassee and Pensacola |
Compared with March: no longer sown — peas, lettuce, Swiss chard, beet, parsley, cilantro, chamomile, dill and 2 more.
Not starting in April: lettuce (November, sown direct), peas (November, sown direct) and spinach (November, started indoors) — dates for Jacksonville.
Ready to harvest in April in Jacksonville, if sown in the right month: broad bean (January), peas (February), cabbage (December), beet (February), green beans (February), parsley (February), cilantro (February) and arugula (March).
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).
Miami follows the UF/IFAS planting months for South Florida crop by crop (fall is the main season there); the other Florida cities follow the general rule.
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 Florida
- 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 California
- 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
