April garden tasks: Northeast and Long Island
April is when the Northeast garden shifts from anticipation to execution. At my Long Island house, April 7 is the average last frost date -- which means the first two weeks of April are still frost territory and the last two weeks are planting territory. The distinction matters. A warm April spell.
April is when the Northeast garden shifts from anticipation to execution. At my Long Island house, April 7 is the average last frost date — which means the first two weeks of April are still frost territory and the last two weeks are planting territory. The distinction matters. A warm April spell in the first week doesn't mean frost is behind us.
Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, zone 5 (inland New England, upstate NY) still averages its last frost on May 10—15. April in those areas is mostly cool-season planting, not warm-season transplanting.
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Hardening off transplants
Any indoor-started transplant needs 7—10 days of hardening off before going into the ground. Per Penn State Extension, hardening off process:
- Days 1—3: set plants outside in shade, protected from wind, 1—2 hours; bring in before evening
- Days 4—6: increase to 4—6 hours, including some direct sun
- Days 7—10: full sun exposure, outdoors all day; bring in if frost threatens
- After 10 days: transplant into prepared beds
Skip this step and transplants suffer sunscald, wind damage, and transplant shock that sets growth back by 2—3 weeks.