April 2026
Hey there, fabulous gardeners of the Mid-Ohio Valley! April is when your garden finally shakes off winter’s blanket and starts stretching its legs—like it just downed a double espresso and is raring to grow. In Zones 6 and 7, we’re past most frost scares by mid-month, so it’s go-time for spring cleanup, cool-season planting, soil prep, and getting everything settled before the summer heat rolls in. We’ve pulled the best tips from our favorite local guides and the WVU Extension calendar, grouped by week for easy tackling. A little humor, a lot of dirt-under-the-fingernails know-how, and zero guesswork required. Grab your coffee, and let’s get growing! 🌱
| Moon Phase | Date | Garden Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Full Moon 🌕 | Wednesday, April 1st | Plant Root Crops |
| Last Quarter Moon🌗 | Friday, April 10th | Barren Time, Turn Compost & Work Soil |
| New Moon🌑 | Friday, April 17th | Plant Seeds and Transplants |
| Fist Quarter Moon 🌓 | Thursday, April 23rd | Plant or Harvest Aboveground Crops |
Week 14 (April 1–7, 2026)
Wednesday, April 1 – Passover Begins + Full Moon: Keep an eye out for asparagus beetles on those emerging spears—those little stripy troublemakers show up like uninvited guests at a picnic. Hand-pick ’em early!
Plant figs if the soil feels right—they’ll thank you later with sweet summer fruit.
Direct-seed onions, beets, radishes, kale, and collards outdoors (soil should crumble, not stick to your boots).
Thursday, April 2 & Friday, April 3: Plant cabbage, kohlrabi, broccoli, cauliflower, and more beets/kale. These cool-season champs are your ticket to early harvests.
Saturday, April 4: Plant potatoes—bury those seed spuds and dream of crispy home fries.
Sunday, April 5 – Easter: Seed or plant broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Ethiopian kale outdoors if you haven’t already. Bonus: hunt for eggs and early weeds!
Seed basil indoors for transplanting later, plus zinnia, cosmos, and sunflowers (they’ll be ready in about 6 weeks for those summer color pops).
Finish spring cleanup: rake leaves, cut back dead perennials, prune damaged branches on shrubs and trees. Test and amend your soil with compost—it’s basically a spa day for your dirt.
Week 15 (April 8–14, 2026)
Seed parsnips and leaf lettuce outdoors—those roots and greens will be ready before you know it.
Thursday, April 9 – Passover Ends: Plant fruit and hazelnut trees while choices are still fresh. Apply crabgrass control to keep the lawn from looking like a weed festival.
Friday, April 10 – West Virginia Arbor Day + Last Quarter Moon: Celebrate by planting a tree (or two)! Seed carrots, order sweet potato slips, and start celery transplants. Perfect time to turn that compost pile and work the soil.
Transplant strawberry plants—they’re tough little survivors that’ll reward you with sweet berries later.
Tuesday, April 14: Plant turmeric and ginger in high tunnels or protected spots for that exotic homegrown flair.
Refresh mulch (2–3 inches) around beds to lock in moisture and boss back the weeds. Set up trellises and supports now so peas and future climbers have a place to party.
Week 16 (April 15–21, 2026)
Wednesday, April 15 – Tax Day: Seed tatsoi, lettuce, spinach, and leeks outdoors. Start a new compost pile—it’s free garden gold, no store run needed.
Friday, April 17 – New Moon: Remove row covers from strawberries, plant more perennials, and refresh mulch in landscape beds. Seed or transplant peas outdoors (they don’t mind a little chill south of U.S. Rt. 60).
Seed chives and chamomile outdoors, transplant leeks, and start annual flowers in pots for instant porch pizzazz.
Continue hardening off any indoor seedlings—gradual outdoor time keeps those tender babies from throwing a fit.
Week 17 (April 22–28, 2026)
Wednesday, April 22 – Earth Day: Plant blackberry and raspberry plants. Future pies are calling your name!
Begin spraying fruit trees after petals fall (pest control done right). Seed carrots, Swiss chard, sweet corn, and Asian greens.
Friday, April 24 – National Arbor Day + First Quarter Moon: More tree-planting vibes and apply pre-emergent landscape weed control if you’re using it.
Plant summer-flowering bulbs and seed edible flowers such as nasturtiums and calendula—pretty and tasty.
Saturday, April 25: Buy herb cuttings/plugs and start grafting tomato plants if you’re feeling like a mad scientist (in a good way).
Seed tomatillo for transplants and seed or transplant lemon balm outdoors.
Week 18 (April 29–30, 2026 – wrapping into May)
Finish any lingering pruning, propagation, or soil prep.
Seed or transplant more lemon balm and edible flowers.
Watch the forecast like a hawk—late frosts can still sneak in, so keep milk jugs or row covers handy for protection.
Divide overcrowded perennials if needed and give everything a good once-over. Succession-sow cool crops every couple of weeks for nonstop salads.
April is all about building that strong foundation so your garden powers through the heat and humidity ahead. Succession planting, good mulch, and daily walks to spot pests early will pay off big time. In Zone 6 you might hold off on the super-tender stuff a tad longer; Zone 7 folks get a little extra wiggle room.
This is the exciting push toward summer bounty—enjoy every muddy-boot moment! Swing by Bob’s Market and Greenhouses for seeds, starts, mulch, tools, and expert advice (plus a friendly chat). What’s your first April garden win going to be? Drop us a line or stop in—we’re rooting for you! 🌞🥕
