These unique vegetables are best for planting in April if you want more flavor and something different on your platter this summer!
If you are tired of growing the same old tomatoes and boring beans every summer, April is the perfect time to plant some heat-loving vegetables. These will easily thrive in containers and make your patios and balconies into a veggie wonderland.
Unique Vegetables to Plant In April For Summer
1. Malabar Spinach
Botanical Name: Basella alba
If your regular spinach wilts faster in summer, Malabar spinach is your new best friend as it has a temperature tolerance of up to 95 F (35 C).
This vining green vegetable thrives in heat and humidity, making it perfect for planting in April. And yes, it’s a climber, so give it a trellis or a tomato cage in a deep container and watch it grow huge.
It loves being watered consistently, so keep the soil moist, without drowning it. Place the container in a location that receives full sun to part shade, and you will have glossy, fleshy leaves in no time. You can use it in stir-fries, soups, fritters, and summer salads. Here’s the full growing guide!
Pro Tip: Pinch off the growing tips regularly to keep it bushier and tastier, and harvest young leaves for the best flavor.
2. Sweet Potato
Botanical Name: Ipomoea batatas
You can grow sweet potatoes in containers, and you don’t need a farm to do it! Use a 10–15 gallon grow bag or bucket, fill it with well-draining, sandy soil. Do it via slips in April when the soil has warmed up sufficiently.
The next step is to keep the container in a sunny spot and water it regularly—these vines thrive in consistent moisture and warmth. While the tubers will develop underground, the vine itself is both ornamental and edible, so you’ll also get bonus salad greens.
It will take about 90–120 days, at which point you will be ready to dig up sweet, creamy roots perfect for baking or turning into guilt-free fries.
Here’s a tip: Add a little wood ash to the potting mix to boost potassium levels, which sweetens the harvest. But use it sparingly—too much can alter the pH and harm tuber development.
3. Armenian Cucumber
Botanical Name: Cucumis melo var. flexuosus
This isn’t your average cucumber! It is cooler, curlier, and technically a melon masquerading as a cucumber. Armenian cucumber is heat-tolerant, quick-growing, and surprisingly happy in large containers with vertical support.
You can start seeds in April and keep the pot in a sun-drenched corner with well-draining soil for the best results.
The vines of this plant are vigorous, so give them a trellis and let them climb like pros. When the fruits are about 10–14 inches long, tender, and almost seedless, it is time to harvest. Allowing them to grow too long can make them seedy and bitter, so check them daily.
Pro Tip: Mulch the surface of your container to keep the roots cool and fruits tasting sweet later.
4. Cucamelons
Botanical Name: Melothria scabra
Tiny and tart, these are the quirky underdogs of summer veggies. Cucamelons are grape-sized fruits that resemble baby watermelons and offer a unique blend of cucumber and lime flavors.
You can grow them surprisingly well in containers, as long as you provide a tall trellis and keep the soil moist but well-drained. Start seeds indoors or plant directly in April if the weather is warm enough. Here’s a detailed guide on growing them!
They love sunshine, and once they take off, you will see them produce prolifically until fall.
Well, what’s the wait? Time to grow these vegetables and relish them throughout the summer. Don’t forget to do these things in your garden in April, along with planting your veggies!
