First Half of April

EVERYWHERE

Sow: Asian greens, burdock, chard, collards/kale, kohlrabi, radishes. Also beets, carrots, nasturtiums (except in low desert); salad greens (except in deserts and interior non-fuchsia climates); marigolds, New Zealand spinach, sunflowers (except in mountains).

Plant: Artichokes, cardoon, horseradish, Jerusalem artichokes, onion family, potatoes, strawberries.

Harvest: Collards/kale, radishes, salad greens, turnips. Also chard, spinach (except in interior non-fuchsia climates); beets, cabbages, carrots (except in mountains).

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COASTAL CLIMATES

Sow for transplanting: Melons/watermelon, peppers, salsify/scorzonera, squashes/pumpkins/gourds; start sweet potato slips.

Sow in ground: Common/fava beans, broccoli, nonheading Chinese cabbage, corn, cucumbers, all herbs, all peas, spinach, tomatillos/tomatoes, turnips.

Plant: Cauliflower, celeriac/leaf celery, eggplant, rhubarb.

Harvest: Asian greens, asparagus, sprouting broccoli, cauliflower, fennel, all herbs, leeks, parsnips, all peas, potatoes, salsify/scorzonera.

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HIGH DESERT

Sow: Common beans, corn, cucumbers, fennel, melons/watermelons, mustard greens, okra, peanuts, squashes/pumpkins/gourds, tomatillos/tomatoes.

Plant: all herbs, eggplant, peppers.

Harvest: cauliflower, celeriac/leaf celery, green onions, all peas.

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LOW DESERT

Sow: Common beans, cucumbers, mustard greens, okra, peanuts, summer squash.

Plant: All of high desert plus sweet potato slips.

Harvest: Cucumbers, fennel, New Zealand spinach, green onions, all herbs, parsnips, potatoes, salsify/scorzonera, summer squash.

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INTERIOR CLIMATES

(Where fuchsias won’t grow)

Sow: Chick-peas/common/cowpeas/horticultural/ lima/soybeans/yard-long beans, carrots, celeriac/leaf celery, corn, cucumbers, all herbs, melons/watermelons, mustard greens, okra, purslane, squashes/pumpkins/gourds, tomatillos/tomatoes.

Plant: Eggplant, peppers, sweet potatoes.

Harvest: Asian greens, broccoli, fennel, green onions, all herbs, parsnips, all peas, salsify/scorzonera, shallots.

(Where fuchsias grow

fairly well)

Sow and plant: All of non-fuchsia climates.

Harvest: All of non-fuchsia climates plus cauliflower.

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MOUNTAINS

Sow for transplanting: Celeriac/leaf celery, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, fennel, leeks, melons/watermelons, okra, peppers, squashes/pumpkins; start sweet potato slips.

Sow under cover: Nonheading Chinese cabbage, all peas, salsify/scorzonera, spinach, turnips.

Plant under cover: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower.

Harvest: Hardy herbs, hardy greens, green onions.

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KEY

Asian greens: Nonheading Chinese cabbage, Chinese kale, garland chrysanthemum, komatsuna (mustard spinach), mizuna, pak choi.

Herbs: Some versatile annuals: lemon and sweet basils, chervil, coriander, dill, perilla, summer savory. Some valuable biennials/perennials: blue basil, caraway, chives/Chinese chives, lavender, lovage, marjoram, mint, Greek oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, French tarragon, thyme.

Onion family: Garlic, green onions, leeks, onions, shallots.

Salad greens: Arugula, celtuce, corn salad, cresses, dandelion, lettuce (romaine and butterhead), purslane, sorrel.

Rule of thumb: When seeds can be sown, seedlings of the same crop can be planted.

All crops can be grown in containers.