Garden Guide April
The long hush of winter is giving way to the first true signs of spring. The weather has begun to settle, and in many parts of the maritime Northwest, the last frost is only weeks away. This is a season of transition—of tending, preparing, and gently urging the garden back to life. March is a month where the gardener’s hands are often in the soil, pulling small weed seedlings before they set seed, loosening the earth between plants to allow air and water to penetrate, and pricking out seedlings to continue their journey toward the garden.
The Art of Transplanting
This month is consumed with moving seedlings—whether from sowing flats to pots or directly into the garden. Every gardener develops their own rhythm and method, but here are some time-honored techniques:
Timing Matters: A seedling is ready to be pricked out when it has two or three true leaves. For most annual vegetables and flowers, a 4-inch pot provides ample room for early growth, but long-season crops like tomatoes and eggplants may need to be potted up into gallon containers before reaching their final home.
Afternoon & Evening Transplanting: Plants lose water throughout the day and metabolize nutrients at night. Transplanting in the late afternoon or evening allows them a night of rest to recover.
Handling with Care: Seedlings should be handled by their seed leaves, as these will naturally fall off later. Disturbing the roots as little as possible ensures a smooth transition.
Water Wisely: Use lukewarm water to gently soak in new transplants. Avoid wetting the leaves, as this can trigger the stomata (the plant’s breathing pores) to open at an inopportune time.
Provide Protection: Keeping transplants out of direct sunlight for a few days minimizes stress and gives them the best chance to establish.
What to Sow This Month
The cool, gentle rains of early spring create the perfect conditions for many slow-germinating crops. March and April are times of abundance when soil temperatures rise just enough to support the emergence of hardy and half-hardy vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
Vegetables & Herbs
Sow Outdoors Throughout April:
Beet Family: Beets, Orach, Quinoa, Spinach, Swiss Chard
Carrot Family: Caraway, Carrots, Chervil, Cilantro, Dill, Fennel, Lovage, Parsley, Parsnips
Nightshades: Potatoes
Sunflower Family: Burdock (Gobo), Jerusalem Artichokes, Lettuce, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shungiku
Sow Outdoors Late April: Once the last frost has passed, slightly more tender plants can be sown:
Beet Family: Lambsquarters
Mustard Family: Cabbage
Pea Family: Runner Beans
Sow Indoors for Transplanting in Late April: Many members of the squash family do not transplant well unless started in biodegradable pots that allow for minimal root disturbance.
Mint Family: Basil
Squash Family: Pickling Cucumbers, Slicing Cucumbers, Hairy Melon, Melons, Pumpkins, Summer Squash, Winter Squash
Purslane Family: Purslane
Flowers
Sowing flowers in April ensures a vibrant, resilient summer garden:
Bedstraw Family: Blue Woodruff (Asperula azurea)
Flax Family: Scarlet Flax (Linum grandflorum var. rubrum)
Grass Family: Quaking Grass (Briza maxima)
Mallow Family: Common Mallow (Malva silvestris)
Eco-Restore Can Help
As the garden wakes, Eco-Restore is here to guide you through the transitions of spring. Whether you need help refining your planting plan, improving your soil health, or creating a garden design that supports pollinators and local wildlife, we offer site-specific guidance tailored to the rhythms of the Pacific Northwest. This is a time for deep observation and intentional action—a moment to engage with the land in a way that nurtures both the garden and the gardener. Let’s cultivate something beautiful together this spring.
Happy planting, and may your April be filled with green beginnings.
