Spring has sprung! While March is the time when the plants slowly wake up from their slumber, April is the time when they truly flourish! After the intense, icy winter we’ve had, warm temperatures, rich soil, and healthy plants are welcomed with open arms. Mitchell’s Nursery & Greenhouse has lots of beautiful and healthy vegetable plants, perennials, annuals, herbs, and much more to share with you all!

Edible Plants: 

• Vegetable Plants– Right now at the nursery, we have broccoli, spinach, lettuce, collards, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, mustard, and kale available to plant. Leafy greens like full sun and moist, well-draining soil. Be willing to give summer vegetables, that are just getting ready, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers, and other warm-season vegetables protection from cold if you want to plant now. It is also a good time to sow tomato, eggplant, and pepper seeds indoors to grow until it is warm enough to plant outside. You can also sow the seeds of carrots, kohlrabi, beets, peas, radishes, squash, cucumbers, beans, and corn directly into the soil. We suggest using Daddy Pete’s Raised Bed Mix, Manure, or Lawn and Garden Soil to enrich your garden beds! 

• Herbs– We have thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary, mint, and lavender available that can be planted now. Warm-weather herbs like basil, cilantro, dill, citronella, and lemon grass should be planted after the last frost. 

• Fruiting Trees & Shrubs– April is probably the last month until cooler temperatures arrive around September to plant trees & shrubs, unless you can be diligent about thorough watering during the summer. Berry-bearing plants like blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries should be planted in full sun with well-draining, nutrient-rich soil, along with grapevines. They need loose, well-draining soil. The soil itself needs to be deep.  The vines should be trained to climb a support system. Fertilize them lightly when planting. Be wary of where you plant grape vines; both grapes and raisins may be toxic for dogs and cats. 

Perennials: Perennials such as daylilies, dianthus, coreopsis, heuchera, daisies, coneflowers, hostas, blanket flowers, and verbena can be planted now. 

Annuals: Annuals that may be planted are snapdragons, dianthus, and petunias. Wait until later, around May, to plant vinca, begonias, ageratum, coleus, ornamental sweet potatoes, and impatiens, as these do not like temps that go below 40 degrees.

Boston Ferns: We’ve got a massive crop of 12” Boston Ferns available in sturdy hanging baskets to share in our fern house! They can be transferred indoors easily should a cold spell rear its head. They thrive in both full sun, partial shade, and bright, indirect sunlight; the key is to gradually expose your ferns to more sunlight so that they can become adjusted to the change. Water your Boston ferns well. They adore water, humidity, and warmth. During the summer outdoors, they may even require twice-daily watering!

Trees & Shrubs: Trees and shrubs should be planted by this month to allow them time to adjust to the soil without the stress of summer heat. Make sure your soil is enriched before planting, and water them deeply when you plant them. Laying mulch on top of your soil will help retain moisture throughout the summer. Plant at ground level or slightly above. Never pile soil on top of the root ball.

Containers: Containers may be planted with a single type or mixture now if you plant hardy plants or if they can be moved inside if necessary.

Here are some things to think of when you plan your summer flowers; lemongrass, catnip, catmint, basil, mint, lavender, rosemary, and citronella all help repel mosquitoes. Plant pollinators! Help our bee and butterfly population. Without pollinators, no fruit will form on vegetable plants, only flowers. We hope this guide helps you plant throughout April so that you can have a beautiful garden and a beautiful harvest! However, let’s not be hasty and rush to plant. April 15 is the average last frost date in our area and we can have frost until May. So with that in mind, we wish you the best of luck planting!

Happy Planting!-