[ garden ] :: what to plant in april { southeast }

Spring has arrived!  Can you believe it? That means that here in the Southeast, it's time to start planting your garden. If you live outside of the Southeast, or aren't sure of your growing zone, then check out this resource from The Farmer's Almanac.

Can you believe an iPhone took this picture? Amazing!

If you are starting seeds outdoors, you will need four things: good quality soil, moisture, warm soil, and plenty of sunshine. If you are transplanting seeds you started indoors, you will need to harden off your seedlings (post coming soon!) and transplant according to the directions on the seed packet. Alternatively, plants from the garden center are super easy to grow and are less finicky about being moved outdoors into the garden.

Regardless, here is what you should start from seed or transplant outdoors this month:

Early/Mid April:
Beans - bush beans, lima beans, pole beans :: plant seeds every 2 weeks starting April 5th
Beets :: plant seeds
Celery :: grow from seed or transplant
Corn :: plant seeds
Potatoes :: plant seed potatoes

Mid/Late April: 
Cucumbers :: grow from seed or transplant
Eggplant :: transplant
Melons :: grow from seed or transplant
Okra :: grow from seed or transplant
Peppers :: transplant
Pumpkins :: grow from seed or transplant
Squash :: grow from seed or transplant
Sweet Potatoes :: grow from seed or transplant
Tomatoes :: transplant

In mid-April, when the weather settles down and the hot/cold snaps simmer down, then you can safely plant annuals and spring perinneals! I made the mistake of planting citronella in  planters by my pool, forgetting about them when I was sick last week, and a cold snap caused half of the leaves to curl up and turn brown. Thankfully those plants are resilient because it's coming back (with a vengeance!), but the poor marigolds I planted with them didn't make it. :( Sorry, marigolds.

Coreopsis (shown), salvia, and speedwell love to be planted in April so they have time to establish their roots before hot weather hits. They are gorgeous perennials and bloom all summer - plus they enjoy hot, Georgia summers and don't mind amended red clay.

You may be tempted to buy all of the things from the garden center (they look so pretty!) but wait a few weeks until you are sure that the plants you invest in will make it. Anything that is spring/summer blooming will be outside for sale and is generally safe to plant mid-April.

I started eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes indoors this year and have them happily growing under my indoor grow lights. To play it safe, I will begin hardening them off (a fancy term for getting them used to the outdoors) the week of April 14th, and will transplant them the week of April 21st. This way, they will have lots of time to grow good, strong roots and stems before heading outside.

These plant babies will be ready to go outside in a few weeks. That tall tomato plant in the back has doubled in size and needs to be transplanted again. They are growing like weeds, but at least they are happy plants!

So, I'm curious - what are you most excited about planting this spring? I need ideas, people! I have a whole bunch of containers that need filling, and lots of empty space. Post in the comment section below. :)

Happy gardening!

- Maggie White