Impatient Gardeners: What to Plant in April in Central Ohio

Although April in central Ohio can be iffy when it comes to gardening weather, there are some people who can’t wait to get out and garden. We understand, because we are also impatient gardeners. With Ohio’s cold winter beginning to fade away, who could blame us for wanting to do spring planting right now?

But what do you plant in central Ohio in April? What plants will survive a cold spring? What flowers are frost resistant? What vegetables thrive in cold weather? Let us tell you the answers to these questions, our dear central Ohio gardeners.

Flowers to Plant in April in Central Ohio

Central Ohio’s last spring frost date is April 25th. So, if you want to plant flowers in Ohio during early spring, then you’ll need something that is cold tolerant. Here are some early spring flower ideas.

Pansy and Viola

Pansies and violas are cold-tolerant flowers. You can plant pansies and violas as early as February or March in Ohio. These flowers do well in temperatures between 40° and 60°F.

To help your pansies and violas thrive, plant them in an area with full sunlight or slight shade. The sunlight will help the flowers survive any Ohio cold front, and the slight shade will protect them during Ohio’s hot summers.

Marsh Marigold

Marsh marigolds are actually buttercup flowers. These bright yellow flowers are native to Ohio and are beneficial plants for pollinators. Their flowering period is from April to May, so they are perfect, native Ohio flowers to plant in early spring.

Sweet Alyssum

If you want a blanket of tiny flowers, then look no further than sweet alyssum. These ground-covering flowers are adorably small and are cool-season flowers. They also make for beautiful container flowers and “spiller” flowers for hanging baskets.

Sweet alyssum has a light honey fragrance and can easily self-sow when planted in the ground. If you’re looking to fill in any spaces in your spring garden, then consider planting sweet alyssum.

Petunia

Petunias are known for their wide range of colors. In addition to white, you can find them in various shades of blue, yellow, orange, pink, red, and purple. These flowers require little maintenance, and while you can grow them from seed, it may be easier to buy them from a local Ohio garden center. 

Petunias make for great hanging basket flowers and window box flowers. Also, if your petunias are in containers, then you can easily bring them inside should a surprise cold front come through.

Some petunias can survive in temperatures as low as 35°F. In general, though, you don’t want your petunias to be exposed to temperatures lower than 40°F, although they can survive light frosts. They thrive when the nighttime temperatures are from 55° to 65°F and when the daytime temperatures range from 61° to 80°F.

Geranium

Geraniums have kidney-shaped leaves that can look ruffled. They also have flowers with a sweet scent, fragrant leaves, and come in solid colors or bi-color. Some of the most popular geranium colors are white, lilac, purple, pink, and red. Geraniums are good for window boxes and hanging baskets, and they add color to early spring gardens.

Vegetables to Plant in April in Central Ohio

As with flowers, any vegetables you plant during early spring in Ohio need to grow well in cool weather. However, remember you can start your seedlings inside and then transplant them outside after Ohio’s last frost date. Without further ado, here are some ideas for your early spring vegetable garden.

Leafy Vegetables

Bok choy, cabbage, collard greens, kale, lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard are largely cold tolerant. They are also some of the healthiest vegetables with their soluble fiber and vitamin K.

Peas

Peas are veggies that love Ohio’s cool spring weather. Plant peas in early spring in Ohio so they can grow in cool weather and avoid the hot summer temperatures.

Peas can be harvested in about 60 to 90 days depending on the pea variety.  

Carrots

You can plant carrots as soon as the Ohio ground is soft enough for you to dig. This usually occurs 2-4 weeks before Ohio’s last spring frost date. For central Ohio gardening, that means around the last week of March or the second week in April.

Carrots aren’t great for transplanting because of their large tap roots. So, sow them directly into the ground or into containers. Carrots are perfect for early spring gardening in Ohio because they like cool weather and don’t thrive in hot temperatures.

Turnips and Radishes

Turnips and radishes are akin to carrots–if the soil is warm enough for you to dig in, then you can plant these veggies. Turnips and radishes grow quickly with radishes maturing around 6 weeks and turnips maturing in 3-4 weeks. So, not only do you get to do spring planting in central Ohio with these cold-tolerant vegetables, but you get a quick harvest from them too!

Garlic

Garlic takes a while to grow (about 6 months), so planting it in the early spring means harvesting the garlic in the fall in Ohio. By planting garlic in your early spring garden, you’ll reap the benefits of garlic repelling insect pests all summer and fall.

Make sure to pick a sunny spot to grow your garlic and water it regularly. Plant garlic cloves with the pointy end towards the sky, and plant them about 2 inches deep.  

Need Help, Gardening Supplies, or Plants?

If you’re unsure about what flowers or vegetables you should plant in your Ohio garden this spring or would like some help, then feel free to stop by Timbuk Farm’s Garden Center or send us a message. We’re a family-owned business and we grow everything locally right here in Ohio. We know Ohio gardening, and our garden experts are happy to answer any questions you have about your garden and how to make the most out of your early spring garden.