April is peak spring planting season in Santa Cruz County. The weather is gorgeous, the soil is warm, and it's finally time to get serious about warm-season crops. This is the month when your garden transforms from cool-season greens to summer vegetables.

If you started seeds indoors in February and March, your transplants are ready. If you didn't, nurseries are fully stocked. Either way, April is your moment.

Why April Is Prime Planting Time

April offers ideal growing conditions across all microclimates:

Sunny mountain areas (Boulder Creek ridges, Ben Lomond chaparral, Scotts Valley hills): 70s-80s, warm and dry, perfect for planting
Under redwoods (Felton canyons, shaded areas): 60s-70s, mild and pleasant
Inland valleys (Scotts Valley, Soquel): 60s-70s, excellent spring weather
Coastal (Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz): 60s, marine layer lifting, warming up
Watsonville/Pajaro Valley: 70s-80s, ideal conditions

Frost risk is essentially zero by April (even in coldest areas). Rain is tapering off. Soil temperatures are climbing above 60°F. Everything is ready to grow.

Direct Seed These in April

Warm-Season Crops (all month)

Beans (bush and pole)
Corn
Cucumbers (mid-to-late April)
Squash (summer and winter)
Zucchini
Sunflowers

Still Good for Cool-Season

Lettuce (will bolt in late May, but you'll get 6-8 weeks)
Arugula
Spinach
Chard
Radishes
Carrots (for summer harvest)
Beets (for summer harvest)

Herbs

Basil (mid-to-late April)
Cilantro (will bolt in June, but good for 6-8 weeks)
Dill
Parsley

Transplant These in April

THE BIG ONE - Warm-Season Crops:

Tomatoes (all varieties, all microclimates!)
Peppers (hot and sweet)
Eggplant
Tomatillos
Ground cherries
Basil (late April)

Also Good:

Cucumbers (if started indoors)
Squash and zucchini (if started indoors)
Melons (if started indoors, warm areas)

Last Call for Cool-Season:

Lettuce
Broccoli (for late spring harvest)
Cabbage

Start Seeds Indoors in April

You can still catch up on late plantings:

Tomatoes (early April for late summer harvest in warm microclimates)
Basil (mid-April)
Cucumbers (early April)
Squash (early April)

But honestly, most of your indoor seed starting should have happened in February/March.

What to Harvest in April

Spring abundance!

Peas (peak harvest)
Fava beans
Artichokes (peak season!)
Strawberries (ramping up!)
Lettuce and salad greens
Arugula
Spinach
Chard
Radishes
Carrots
Beets
Broccoli (from fall/winter planting)
Kale and collards

April Garden Tasks

TRANSPLANT TOMATOES AND PEPPERS - this is the month!
Direct seed beans, corn, squash, cucumbers
Install supports for tomatoes, beans, cucumbers NOW (before they're huge)
Mulch everything as dry season approaches
Set up irrigation if you haven't already - drip is best
Side-dress heavy feeders with compost
Harvest regularly to keep plants producing
Pull bolting cool-season crops
Start planning fall garden

Microclimate-Specific Advice

Coastal (Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz beaches, Live Oak): 60s, warming up, marine layer lifting. April is your MAIN tomato transplanting month. Choose fog-tolerant varieties like 'Early Girl', 'Stupice', 'San Francisco Fog'. All warm-season crops can go in now. Direct seed beans, squash, cucumbers. Your spring is perfect for planting.

San Lorenzo Valley & Scotts Valley - Sunny Ridges/Chaparral (Boulder Creek mountains, Ben Lomond sunny exposures, Scotts Valley hills): 70s-80s, warm and dry. Perfect conditions for all warm-season crops. You can plant tomatoes, peppers, everything. Consider early April for first round of tomatoes, then succession plant in May/June for extended harvest. Excellent conditions for beans, corn, squash. You're in the sweet spot!

San Lorenzo Valley & Scotts Valley - Under Redwoods (Felton canyons, Ben Lomond shaded areas): 60s-70s, mild. You can plant tomatoes in any sunny clearing (6+ hours sun), but expect slower growth than sunny areas. Better for greens, chard, herbs, and shade-tolerant crops. Beans work well in partial shade. Your cooler temps extend cool-season harvest.

Inland Valleys (Scotts Valley, Soquel): 60s-70s, excellent conditions. Plant everything. This is your main planting month for warm-season crops. You're similar to sunny mountain areas - great conditions!

Watsonville/Pajaro Valley: 70s-80s, warm and ideal. You're in perfect agricultural conditions. Plant everything. Your season started early (March) and will run late (October/November). Succession plant for continuous harvests.

Common April Questions

When exactly should I plant tomatoes? April! Specific timing by microclimate:

Coastal: Mid-to-late April
Sunny mountains/Watsonville: Early April (or even late March if you did)
Under redwoods: Late April in sunny clearings only
General rule: Any time in April works for most areas

Can I still plant cool-season crops? Yes, but they'll bolt (flower) in late May or June when heat arrives. You'll get 6-8 weeks of harvest. Lettuce, arugula, spinach all work in April.

Should I harden off my seedlings? YES! Critical step. Indoor-grown seedlings need to be gradually introduced to outdoor sun and wind. Start with 1-2 hours outside, increase daily over 7-10 days before transplanting.

How far apart should I plant tomatoes? 24-36 inches for determinate varieties, 36-48 inches for indeterminate. They need space for air circulation (helps prevent disease) and you need space to harvest.

Can I direct seed tomatoes and peppers? You CAN, but they'll produce much later than transplants (late summer instead of mid-summer). Transplants are strongly recommended.

The April Rush

April can feel overwhelming - there's SO MUCH to plant! Prioritize:

Week 1-2 of April:

Transplant tomatoes and peppers
Direct seed beans
Install supports

Week 3-4 of April:

Direct seed corn, squash, cucumbers
Transplant basil
Succession plant beans
Get irrigation running

Don't try to do everything in one weekend. Spread it out.

Succession Planting Strategy for April

April is when you should START thinking about succession planting:

Plant now, plant again later:

Beans: Plant every 2-3 weeks through July
Corn: Plant every 2-3 weeks through June
Zucchini: Plant every 3-4 weeks (trust me, you don't need it all at once)
Lettuce: Plant every 2 weeks through May
Basil: Plant every few weeks for constant fresh supply

Staggered planting = continuous harvests instead of everything at once.

April Mindset

April is exciting - everything is possible! But don't:

Rush - Better to plant a week late than plant poorly
Overcrowd - Give plants space
Skip supports - Install them now, not when plants are falling over
Forget to water - April can be dry, especially late month

DO:

Take your time - Planting well is better than planting fast
Label everything - You'll forget which tomato is which
Enjoy it - This is the fun month!

Make April Count

April is when your summer garden is born. The transplants you put in now, the seeds you sow now - they'll feed you from June through October.

This is the moment. Get planting!

What to Plant in Santa Cruz & the Bay Area in April