Epic Gardening

16 Crops You NEED To Start In April

The Epic Homestead video outlines sixteen crops ideal for planting in April, ranging from staple grains to heat‑loving vegetables, with region‑specific tips for temperate, subtropical, and desert gardens. The host stresses corn’s pollination timing, recommending varieties with differing days‑to‑maturity—Buttergold (63 days), Honey & Cream (84 days), Ambrosia (75 days)—so they can be planted together without cross‑pollination. Snap peas are highlighted as an early‑season legume, direct‑seeded four to six weeks before the last frost when soil reaches 40 °F. Okra thrives in 65‑95 °F soils, needs 6‑8 in spacing, and deep taproots make raised beds unsuitable. Melon choices include the compact “Minnesota” (60‑70 days, 3‑ft spread) for short seasons and drought‑resistant “Hail’s Best” for hot springs. The rat’s‑tail radish is presented as a heat‑tolerant, edible‑pod alternative to traditional radishes, thinned to 8‑12 in. Cucumber varieties—Persian “Muncher” and classic “Marketmore”—are recommended for vertical trellising, noting that transplanting should be minimized. By aligning planting schedules with climate‑specific maturity windows, gardeners can maximize yields, diversify harvests, and efficiently use limited garden space, boosting home‑grown food security and reducing reliance on grocery stores for staples like corn and okra.