April is prime time to pack your patio with edible goodness. Cool nights, lengthening days, and spring rain help seeds pop and seedlings settle fast. You don’t need raised beds or perfect soil—just pots, sunshine, and a little hustle. Ready to grow a mini market on your doorstep?
1. Leafy Greens That Practically Grow Themselves
Leaf lovers, this is your month. These greens love cool-ish April temps and bounce back fast after harvests. Snip what you need, and they keep growing—like a salad subscription you don’t pay for.
Greens To Plant Now (Seeds Or Starts)
- Spinach – Baby leaves in 25–35 days; thrives in chill; bolts in heat.
- Arugula – Peppery, fast, and forgiving; cut-and-come-again hero.
- Leaf Lettuce (Looseleaf + Cut-and-Come-Again mixes) – Endless blends for color and crunch.
- Romaine – More heat-tolerant; great for crunchy wraps.
- Swiss Chard – Gorgeous stems, harvest all season.
Container Tips
- Pot size: 8–10 inches deep for most; chard appreciates 10–12 inches.
- Soil: Fluffy potting mix with compost for steady nutrients.
- Sun: 4–6 hours. Greens don’t need full all-day sun and even prefer afternoon shade as temps rise.
- Water: Keep consistently moist. Dry spells = bitter leaves.
Succession sow every 2 weeks for fresh salads all spring. FYI, you can tuck greens around taller plants to shade soil and reduce weeds.
2. Crunchy Pods And Quick Snacks
Want snackable plants that earn their keep fast? Peas, radishes, and baby carrots thrive in April containers and don’t need much babysitting. They’re speedy, cute, and kid-approved.
Plant These Now
- Snap Peas – Sweet, crisp pods; trellis them and they’ll climb like champs.
- Snow Peas – Flat pods for stir-fries; prolific with cool nights.
- Radishes – 25–30 days from seed to plate; perfect for tight spaces.
- Baby Carrots (Thumbelina, Parisian) – Round or short types excel in pots.
- Spring Onions/Scallions – Easy edges fillers; harvest at pencil-thick size.
Container Tips
- Depth: Peas need 10–12 inches; baby carrots 10–12; radishes and scallions 6–8.
- Spacing: Sow radishes 2 inches apart; carrots thin to 2 inches; peas 2–3 inches apart along a trellis.
- Support: Add a small obelisk or mesh for peas on day one. Don’t wait—they’ll tangle everything.
- Water: Even moisture for root crops = sweeter, uniform roots.
These crops deliver fast gratification and reset quickly for a second round. Plant peas now and you’ll still have room for summer tomatoes later—win-win.
Quick Harvest Ideas
- Radish + butter toasts with flaky salt (seriously, try it).
- Snow peas flash-sautéed with chili crisp.
- Baby carrots roasted whole with honey and thyme.
Portable snacks that look fancy with basically zero effort. IMO, this is peak container gardening joy.
3. Spring Brassica Stars With Big Flavor
Brassicas love cool weather and reward you with dense nutrients and bold flavors. In containers, they stay compact if you pick the right varieties and keep pests in check.
Plant These Now
- Kale (Lacinato, Red Russian, Dwarf Curly) – Hardy, productive, and beautiful.
- Pak Choi/Bok Choy – Tender, fast, and perfect for stir-fries.
- Baby Napa Cabbage – Mini heads that fit small pots.
- Broccoli Raab (Rapini) – Quick stems and florets with a bite.
- Mustard Greens – Spicy leaves for mixes; huge flavor, zero fuss.
Container Tips
- Depth: 10–14 inches; kale appreciates 12+ for strong roots.
- Fertilizer: Feed lightly every 2–3 weeks with a balanced organic liquid (fish/seaweed).
- Spacing: Kale 12–16 inches per plant; bok choy 6–8 inches; raab 6 inches.
- Pest watch: Use floating row cover or a mesh cloche to block cabbage moths before they show up.
Harvest Smarter
- Pick outer leaves of kale and mustard regularly to keep plants compact.
- Cut bok choy heads at soil level; many varieties resprout smaller heads.
- Broccoli raab likes frequent cutting; don’t wait for massive heads.
Brassicas build flavor in cool nights and hold well in pots. They’re ideal for April when heat lovers still sulk.
4. April Herbs That Love Containers (And Make Everything Taste Better)
Herbs turn basic meals into chef-level dishes with almost no work. Most thrive in pots, and April is perfect for planting hardy and tender types together—just pair them by water needs.
Perennial And Hardy Annual MVPs
- Chives – Snip endlessly; purple blooms are edible and adorable.
- Parsley (Flat or Curly) – Cold-tolerant, lush, and vitamin-packed.
- Cilantro – Loves cool weather; sow in waves for steady supply.
- Dill – Feathery foliage for fish, potatoes, and pickles.
- Thyme – Low-maintenance and drought-friendly.
Tender Herbs To Start Now (If Frost-Free Or With Protection)
- Basil – Plant starts late in April if nights stay above 50°F; otherwise wait or use a cloche.
- Mint – Container only unless you want a mint takeover; super forgiving.
- Oregano – Tough and aromatic; thrives in lean soils.
- Sage – Evergreen vibe, bonus for roasted veggies.
- Tarragon (French) – Subtle anise note; fantastic with chicken and eggs.
Container Tips
- Pot size: 8–12 inches for most; mint gets its own pot, always.
- Sun: 6+ hours; cilantro and parsley tolerate partial shade.
- Water: Group thirsty herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro) together and mediterranean herbs (thyme, oregano, sage) together.
- Pinching: Pinch basil tips early; let dill and cilantro self-sow by allowing a few heads to flower late-season.
Grow herbs near your kitchen door for easy snips. You’ll cook more at home because it tastes better—science probably agrees.
5. Early Warm-Season All-Stars (With A Little April Insurance)
Can’t wait for summer veggies? Same. Start these warm-season favorites in containers now with simple protection, and you’ll beat the crowd to the first harvests.
What To Plant (Depending On Your Frost Dates)
- Cherry Tomatoes – Faster and more reliable in pots than big slicers.
- Bush Beans (Container Varieties) – Quick, compact, and productive.
- Zucchini/Patty Pan (Dwarf Or Bush Types) – One plant per large pot = constant squash.
- Cucumbers (Bush/Patio Types) – Crisp and easy with a short trellis.
- Hot Peppers (Jalapeño, Cayenne) – Peppers love pots once nights warm.
Container And Protection Tips
- Timing: Plant after your last expected frost or use cloches, row cover, or a cold frame. Night temps should sit above 50°F for tomatoes and peppers.
- Pot size: Tomatoes 15–20 inches (5+ gallons), peppers 12–14 inches, cukes 12–16 inches with support, zucchini 18+ inches solo, beans 10–12 inches.
- Soil and feed: High-quality potting mix; add slow-release organic fertilizer at planting and supplement with a biweekly liquid feed once fruiting starts.
- Support: Stake or cage tomatoes on day one; add a compact trellis for cukes. Beans may not need support if bush type.
Early Harvest Strategy
- Choose early and patio varieties like ‘Maskotka’ or ‘Tiny Tim’ tomatoes, ‘Bush Pickle’ cucumber, and compact ‘Calabrese’ peppers.
- Use black nursery pots to warm soil faster in April sun.
- Mulch with straw or shredded leaves to stabilize moisture and temps.
With a little April protection, you’ll snack on cucumbers and cherry tomatoes while your neighbors still read seed packets. Trust me, that first sun-warm tomato is worth the fuss.
The Full 25 To Plant In April (At A Glance)
- Spinach
- Arugula
- Leaf Lettuce
- Romaine
- Swiss Chard
- Snap Peas
- Snow Peas
- Radishes
- Baby Carrots
- Spring Onions/Scallions
- Kale
- Pak Choi/Bok Choy
- Baby Napa Cabbage
- Broccoli Raab
- Mustard Greens
- Chives
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Thyme
- Basil
- Mint
- Oregano
- Sage
- Tarragon
Ready to turn your balcony into a bite-sized farm? Mix a few fast growers with longer-season stars and you’ll harvest nonstop from spring through summer. Grab your pots, scoop some soil, and plant now—future you (and your dinner plate) will be very, very happy.