What can I plant in April in Wisconsin?
Sow cool-season annuals and edibles.
It's time to sow cool-season annuals and crops, such as this 'Merlot' lettuce (Latuca sativa), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), kale (Brassica oleracea) and peas (Pisum sativum). These cool-season edibles can be sown in containers for an earlier crop.
Yes, Yes, Yes! April is finally here meaning that your garden soil is finally warming up! April is the best time to plant most of your vegetable seeds after your last frost for all zones. It's still not too late to plant tomatoes and peppers from seeds as well!
Plant seeds of cool-season vegetables directly in the garden as soon as the soil dries enough to be worked. You can direct-sow these crops: peas, lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips, and Swiss chard. Don't forget to prep your soil before you sow your seeds or set out transplants!
Outdoors you can sow seeds directly into the garden for beets, carrots, chard, kohlrabi, late cabbage, leaf lettuce, mustard, collards, turnips, radish, spinach, onion sets, onion seeds for bunching onions, peas, and potatoes. Purchase and plant trees and shrubs now.
Plant cool-season annual flowers, such as pansies, violas, lobelia, snapdragons and more, about six to eight weeks before your region's last average frost date. They thrive in cool weather and tolerate frost well. They're especially good in pots.
No one vegetable is easier to grow than the other, but some common favorites for beginners are tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, snap peas, cucumbers, and even lettuce.
- Keep weeds under control.
- Start to feed citrus plants.
- Increase the water given to houseplants.
- Feed hungry shrubs and roses.
- Sow new lawns or repair bare patches.
- Prune fig trees.
- Divide bamboos and waterlilies.
Modular trays are useful for sowing half-hardy summer bedding plants such as marigolds (Tagetes), Lobelia, and Petunia. Label each seed tray. You will need to sow them under cover, or in a heated propagator, at the correct temperature, only putting them outside when the weather is reliably warm day and night.
Carrot seeds can also be sown, as well as beetroot, kale, leeks, broccoli, horseradish, chicory, and turnips. Spring onions are also great early vegetables to plant in March, as well as spinach (make sure the soil is enriched with organic matter), peas, shallots and parsnips.
- Perennials: Asparagus. Rhubarb. ...
- Brassicas: Broccoli. Brussels sprouts. ...
- Alliums: Chives. Leeks. ...
- Herbs: Echinacea. Sweet Alyssum.
- Fruit trees and berry bushes: Berry Bushes. Try growing aronia berries, the superfood. ...
- Lettuce.
- Potatoes.
- Swiss Chard.
Is it too late to start a garden in April?
Is it too late to start a garden? The answer is usually no, it's not too late! Generally speaking, April and May are the best time to start a vegetable garden.
Spring blooming bulbs can be planted any time as long as the ground isn't frozen. Shrubs and trees can be planted, however, earlier in fall is better as it allows for best root establishment before winter.
Daisies, delphinium, and dianthus should be started 10-12 weeks ahead and can be planted out 1-2 weeks before the frost free date. Asclepias, foxglove, heliopsis, and phlox take 10-12 weeks, but need to wait until after the last frost to be transplanted.
So usually sometime around March 15th to March 20th, March 25th even, if it's a really large type tomato.
In northern Wisconsin, potatoes can be planted about two weeks prior to the last frost date, which is typically mid to late May. Remember that this is an estimate and the date can vary depending on location and the year. The soil temperature also must be above 40 degrees to reduce the risk of the tubers rotting.
Unfortunately, here in Wisconsin, we can expect these colorful little flowers to die each winter. The silver lining here is that you can plant pansies early in the spring, even if you expect for there to be a few more frosty mornings - because these little flowers are tough!
Wisconsin May Gardening Calendar
No matter how warm it gets now, early May is still too soon to plant most annual flowers such as impatiens, begonias, coleus, marigolds and so on. Most perennials, on the other hand, can be planted immediately.
The Best Time to Plant Your Garden
For most of the United States, the best time to start spring crops is, well, now. But to get more exact planting recommendations based on your area, use this handy calendar. (As a general rule, you should plant hardy greens and cole crops a few weeks before your final frost.)
| Crop | Sow seeds indoors | Direct sow seeds |
|---|---|---|
| Radishes | n/a | Mar 18 - May 16 |
| Spinach | Feb 22 - Mar 7 | Mar 18 - Apr 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | n/a | n/a |
| Tomatoes | Feb 22 - Mar 7 | n/a |
You can transplant perennials anytime until the ground freezes in the fall, or wait to transplant them in the spring.
When can you start planting flowers in Wisconsin?
Early September is the latest time to plant spring-flowering shrubs. Aerate lawn when temperature is 60-70 degrees. Stop planting evergreens by mid-September.
When can I plant my annuals or perennials? Perennials can be planted as soon as they arrive at our garden center, normally mid April. Perennials are not as sensitive to cold weather or frost like annuals, and can be planted all season, well into fall.
