What to plant in April - vegetable crops for an early harvest
Kyiv • UNN
In April, it is recommended to sow radishes, greens, peas, and early cabbage for a quick harvest. It is important to consider the soil condition and use agrotextile.
April is the best time to start planting vegetables. During this period, a number of cold-resistant crops can already be sown in open ground, which quickly sprout and yield the first greens and vegetables by the end of spring or early summer.
UNN tells what exactly should be sown in April to have a fresh harvest from your garden in June.
Details
According to the forecast of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, the average temperature in April 2026 in Ukraine is expected to be within the norm, and at the beginning of the month, forecasters predicted 11-18 degrees Celsius during the day. At the same time, short cold snaps are still possible in April, so it is worth focusing not only on the calendar but also on the condition of the soil and night temperature.
To get results already at the beginning of summer, in April it is worth betting on crops with a short growing season. The most generous harvest will be given by:
- radish;
- leafy greens;
- arugula;
- cress salad;
- onions for greens;
- early peas.
Some crops can be sown directly into open ground, and some can be planted and covered. This approach allows for not just one single harvest, but several waves of early harvest.
Radish
If you need a truly quick result, radish should be sown first in April. Early varieties can be ready for harvest in 20-25 days, and many popular varieties ripen in about 28-30 days. This means that if sown in early or mid-April, the first harvest can be obtained before the beginning of summer or in the first days of June. For an even harvest, it is convenient to sow radishes not all at once, but with an interval of 7-10 days.
Lettuce, spinach, and dill
For an early table in April, leafy lettuce, spinach, and dill are also suitable. Such crops do not require complex care and yield results faster than most vegetables.
Spinach, depending on the variety and weather, can be cut 40-50 days after sowing.
Dill belongs to fast-ripening greens, and some varieties ripen in about 40-45 days.
Lettuce also yields the first greens quickly, especially if you don't wait for a large head, but gradually cut young leaves. If sown in April, such greens can actually be on the kitchen table by the end of May or in June.
These crops are also convenient because they can be sown in small portions. If you make one sowing in early April and the second 10-14 days later, the greens will not overgrow simultaneously. For a family, this is more practical than sowing everything on one day and then trying to quickly use a large volume of leaves.
Arugula and cress salad
Two more convenient options for those who want a quick result are arugula and cress salad (garden cress). Early varieties of arugula can yield the first harvest in about 20-25 days, and some varieties are harvested around the 35th day. Cress salad is even faster: some varieties have a growing season of 18-20 days. This is a good option even for a small garden bed or a container near the house. If such crops are sown in batches, you won't have to wait long for fresh greens, and they will always be on the table.
Onions for greens and peas
In April, you can also plant onions for greens. For this, it is convenient to use sets or small bulbs. This option does not require a long wait, and greens for salads and hot dishes can be cut quite early.
If the goal is a rich harvest in early summer, then you should pay attention to early vegetable peas. Early varieties can yield a harvest 60-75 days after germination, so an April sowing gives a chance to get the first pods already in June. Peas tolerate a cool spring well, so there is no need to delay sowing.
Early cabbage for those who want more than just greens
In April, you can also plant early cabbage seedlings. Early-ripening varieties are ready for harvest 45-60 days after planting in a permanent place. April planting of seedlings in favorable weather allows you to get the first heads already at the beginning or in the first half of summer. This option is suitable for those who are willing to work a little more but want to have not only greens but also full-fledged vegetables for the summer table.
What else can be sown in April to get an early harvest
In April, carrots, table beets, parsley, sorrel, and other cold-resistant crops are also often sown in open ground. But here it is important to correctly assess the timing.
For example, early beets usually have a growing season of about 90-110 days, so a full harvest of root crops will be later, not at the very beginning of summer. At the same time, young produce for the summer table can be obtained early from such beds if you don't wait for large root crops. That is, these crops should be sown in April not for an immediate result, but to have an early seasonal harvest in June and July.
Early potatoes and zucchini
If there is agro-fiber, a greenhouse, or at least the possibility of temporarily covering the garden bed, the list of crops can be expanded. Early varieties of potatoes ripen on average 60-70 days after planting, and ultra-early zucchini can yield fruits in 40-50 days. But these crops are already more dependent on the weather, so without cover and without sufficiently warmed soil, the result will not be as grand as gardeners might have expected.
What to consider before sowing in April
First of all, it is worth not rushing to plant heat-loving crops in open ground if the nights are still cold. For an early harvest, it is better to choose cold-resistant greens, radishes, peas, and onions for greens.
It is better to sow seeds in loose, moist soil, not to thicken the rows, and if necessary, cover the crops with agro-fiber. If night cold snaps persist in your region, it often depends on the quality of the cover whether there will be an early harvest in June or whether the sowing will have to be re-sown.
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