Spring is here, and the garden is calling. This time of year always feels like a deep breath after a long winter—messy, exciting, full of possibility. I’m getting into the rhythm of the season, starting seeds, foraging wild foods, and prepping the garden beds for another year of fresh food and connection with the land.
(I’m in zone 6b/7a, check the timing for your growing zone)
The photo above is a favorite: me holding baby Remi (my Labrador) from two springs ago. He was just a tiny garden helper back then, greedily waiting for more than his fair share of strawberries. Now he’s a full-grown bean-thieving professional gardening supervisor.
Here’s what I’m focusing on this month:
Indoor Seed Starting
In April, here are the things to focus on:
- Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Basil (If you haven’t started already or had some seeds not sprout, it’s not too late to begin or restart these)
- Early Flowers like Snapdragons and Petunias
- Succession Planting: Keep sowing lettuce and leafy greens to stagger your harvest.
- Other indoor starts: Zucchini, cucumbers, and melons (get them strong before the transplant!)
My heirloom tomatoes and hot peppers are doing well! I have had less success with my eggplants, so I need to restart one of those and another tomatillo. Remember that tomatillos need to cross pollinate, they need a buddy! So if you have one, be sure to have two!
Check out how strong and healthy my tomato seedlings are! These were started in January.
Outdoor Planting (as soil warms)
- Direct-sow: Peas, spinach, lettuce, kale, and radishes
- Plant: Onion sets and Potatoes
Keep an extra close eye on the weather. Seedlings are very sensitive to frost, even if they can take the cold! Keep your frost cloth accessible. In my zone, we still get frost until Mother’s Day, so that’s how long I sit to take out more sensitive crops. More on that next month!
What’s Ready for Harvest (if you’ve got a greenhouse or early start)
- Spinach
- Baby greens
In these pictures, I have lettuces, kales, radishes, and fava beans.
Wild Foraging in April
Nature’s pantry is also waking up! Here’s what I’m sustainably harvesting:
- Wild violets (perfect for syrups and teas)
- Wild garlic or ramps (gather responsibly!)
- Dandelion greens (so good in fresh salads)
- Magnolia flowers (yes, they’re edible and taste like ginger!)
Garden Prep Checklist
Before the frenzy of planting begins, here’s how I get my garden beds ready:
- Clear debris & tidy beds (wait until overnight temps are consistently about 50f so you don’t disturb sleeping pollinators)
- Add compost, amendments, or top off with fresh soil
- Sharpen garden tools
- Set up watering system
- Install trellises or supports
- Sketch your garden layout
- Journal your progress
This season, I’m gardening not just for food, but for joy, healing, and connection. Each step in the garden is a practice in patience, movement, and grounding. I hope you’ll join me and share your journey too.
Leave a comment or tag me in your gardening posts @movemint.and.yoga on instagram, I’d love to see what’s growing in your garden!
Living Wildly Well 