Mid-South: April 2017

Hi all. Welcome to April. I know for many of us, it's coming in like a lion. Wasn't that supposed to be March?

In my area of the mid-south, we're getting 70's & 80's for highs already, the pollen clouds are in full bloom, & the bees are very busy. But I also see that they're calling for lows in the low 40's by the end of the week...

But at least the end of winter-like weather is in sight! Lots to do this month in the garden!

From Gardenate.com:

Planting now in April for the USA - Zone 7b zone
Amaranth (also Love-lies-bleeding) Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Artichokes (Globe) Plant out (transplant) seedlings. Harvest from January.
Asparagus Pea (also Winged bean) Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Basil Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Beans - dwarf (also French beans, Bush beans) Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Borage (also Burrage, Bugloss) Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Cardoon Plant in garden. Harvest from January.
Cauliflower Plant in garden. Harvest from September.
Celeriac Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Celery Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Chicory (also Witloof, Belgian endive) Plant out (transplant) seedlings. Harvest from September.
Chives (also Garden chives) Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Collards (also Collard greens, Borekale) Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Coriander (also Cilantro, Chinese parsley) Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
Cowpeas (also Black eye peas, Southern peas) Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Cucumber Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Daikon (also Japanese radish, Lo Bok) Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Dill Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Eggplant (also Aubergine) Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Endive Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Fennel (also Bronze fennel) Plant out (transplant) seedlings. Harvest from July.
Florence Fennel (also Finocchio) Plant out (transplant) seedlings. Harvest from July.
French tarragon Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) Plant in garden. Harvest from September.
Kale (also Borecole) Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Kohlrabi Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Leeks Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Lemon Balm (also Sweet balm, ) Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
Lettuce Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from August.
Marrow Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Mint (also Garden mint) Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
Mustard greens (also gai choy) Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
NZ Spinach (also Warrigal greens) Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Okra (also Ladyfinger, gumbo) Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Oregano (also Pot Marjoram) Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
Parsley (also curly leaf parsley or flat leaf (Italian) parsley) Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
Parsnip Plant in garden. Harvest from September.
Peas Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Pumpkin Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Radish Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from July.
Rosemary Plant in garden. Harvest from 12 months.
Sage (also Common Sage) Plant in garden. Harvest from 18 months.
Salsify (also Vegetable oyster) Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Savory - summer savory
(also 'Bean Herb') Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
Savory - winter savory
(also Savory) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from June.
Silverbeet (also Swiss Chard or Mangold) Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
Snow Peas (also Sugar Peas, Mangetout, Chinese Peas) Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Spinach (also English spinach) Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
Squash (also Crookneck, Pattypan, Summer squash) Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Strawberry Plants Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Sunflower Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Sweet corn (also maize) Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Sweet Marjoram (also Knotted marjoram) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from July.
Sweet Potato (also Kumara) Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Thyme (also Common thyme) Plant in garden. Harvest from March.
Tomatillo Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Tomato Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
Watermelon Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Yacon (also Sunroot) Plant in garden. Harvest from November.
Yam/Oka (also Oca) Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) Plant in garden. Harvest from June.

I have to confess that I don't agree with the strawberry info. I'd pinch the flowers off & just let the plants get settled & grow this year.

And there is a short article on growing strawberries from Garden.org. Here's the link:

https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/1231/

So let's get out there & enjoy the sun. If you have allergies, a surgical mask will be a good friend... And let's see some photos on YOUR garden!