Too Cold to Garden? Not for These Plants
What to Sow Outdoors Now—and What to Start Inside
Every year, right around early April, I start getting that itch.
Not an allergy itch (although I get those too!). A gardening itch. The one where you stand outside in a hoodie, breathing in barely-warm air, eyeing your raised beds like, "Is it time yet?"
Spoiler: it kind of is. Even if you're still dodging surprise flurries and your soil feels more like a fridge than a warm hug, there are plants that absolutely thrive in chilly spring temps.
And for the summer lovers? It's time to start your indoor setups. Because those heat-loving veggies aren't going to plant themselves.
This post is your full guide to what you can sow right now outdoors, what to start indoors, and what to avoid until the frost is truly behind us. Plus, I’ll drop in some affiliate links for tools and gadgets I love.
The Frost Isn’t Gone, But These Plants Don’t Care
Let’s kick things off with the garden badasses: cold-hardy plants.
These are the tough guys that laugh in the face of 40-degree nights and don't blink when the soil's still waking up. Here’s what you can direct sow outdoors right now:
1. Peas
Snap peas, snow peas, shelling peas—all of them love cool weather.
Direct sow as soon as the soil is workable.
Bonus: they’re one of the first plants to sprout, so you feel like a spring gardening god.
2. Spinach
Cold doesn’t faze spinach. It actually prefers it.
Sow seeds directly in the ground and you’ll have baby leaves in just a few weeks.
3. Lettuce
Leaf lettuce, romaine, butterhead—all do well in the chill.
Sow every two weeks for a continuous harvest (a.k.a. no grocery store lettuce for months).
👉 Row cover to protect from surprise frosts (I use a gym towel and sticks, works fine!)
4. Radishes
The impatient gardener’s best friend. You can go seed to harvest in 30 days.
Plant now, snack later.
👉 Multi-pack heirloom radish seed kit
5. Kale
Kale is the drama-free friend of spring gardening.
It just... grows. Cold? Shade? Meh.
👉 I used these vinyl raised garden beds
6. Arugula
Spicy, fast-growing, and frost-hardy.
Direct sow in partial shade and harvest often to prevent bolting.
7. Carrots
They like cool soil and germinate best when it’s not blazing hot.
Just be patient—they take a little while to grow.
8. Beets
Bonus: you can eat the greens and the root.
Sow now for a two-for-one edible situation.
Not Yet, My Friend: Plants to Avoid Direct Sowing Right Now
These guys are the divas of the garden. They need heat, sunshine, and a warm bed (don’t we all?). Hold off on these until your soil temps hit 60°F+.
Tomatoes
Peppers
Cucumbers
Squash
Melons
Basil
But that doesn’t mean they can’t start growing.
Cool Crops to Start Indoors (and How Not to Kill Them)
If you’re getting antsy for your summer garden, now’s the perfect time to start seeds indoors.
Here’s what to start right now (April-ish), especially if you’re in a northern zone:
1. Tomatoes
Start seeds 6–8 weeks before your last frost date.
Keep them warm and under a grow light.
👉 Adjustable grow light with timer
2. Peppers
These need warmth and time. Start ASAP if you haven’t.
Bonus tip: a heat mat can speed up germination.
👉 Seedling heat mat ($10 and totally worth it!!)
3. Basil
It grows fast, smells amazing, and does great in a sunny window.
Transplant outside once nights stay above 50°F.
4. Cabbage & Broccoli
You can direct sow these later, but starting indoors gives you a head start.
Great for spring or fall gardens.
5. Marigolds
Yes, flowers! They repel pests and look cute while doing it.
Start inside now, transplant later around tomatoes.
Timing Is Everything: Know Your Zone
Planting too early can mean soggy, frost-nipped sadness. Too late? Stunted plants and missed harvests.
Do yourself a favor and check your USDA hardiness zone and last frost date. It makes planning so much easier.
Example:
Zone 5? Your last frost is usually around May 15.
Zone 7? More like April 15–20.
Adjust your sowing schedule accordingly.
Starter Garden Timeline (aka: Your New Best Friend)
Here’s a simple breakdown you can tweak for your zone:
Early April
Sow outdoors: peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, kale
Start indoors: tomatoes, peppers, herbs, cabbage
Late April
Sow outdoors: carrots, beets, arugula
Start indoors: cucumbers, marigolds, melons
May
Sow outdoors: squash, corn, beans, basil
Transplant hardened-off seedlings (after last frost)
Pro Tip: Keep a garden journal. Nothing fancy. Just scribble what you planted, when, and how it did. Future you will thank you.
Are Raised Beds Better in Cold Weather?
Actually, yes!
Raised beds warm up faster than in-ground soil, drain better, and are easier to work with when the weather is still on the fence.
They’re especially helpful for early spring crops like peas and lettuce.
If you’ve been thinking of building one, now is a great time to get started.
Protecting Your Tender Sprouts
Early spring weather is a mood. One day it's sunny and 60°F, the next it snows.
A few tools I swear by to help seedlings survive:
Row covers: keep plants warm and shielded from frost
Cold frames: mini greenhouses that trap heat
Cloches: cute glass domes (or DIY milk jug versions) that protect baby plants
Spring is messy. It’s cold, it’s muddy, and it can be totally unpredictable. But it’s also one of the best times to get your garden going.
Start with cold-hardy greens. Sprinkle in some root veggies. Tuck your summer babies into seed trays indoors. And don’t forget to check the forecast (and your zone).
You don’t need a perfect plan. Just a packet of seeds and a little faith in the sun.
And if your arugula bolts early or your tomatoes get leggy? Welcome to gardening. We all mess it up sometimes.
Now go plant something. Even if it’s just in a yogurt container on your windowsill.
