Read by Matilda Longbottom

 
Dear Gardeners,

Welcome to the April 2026 issue of Food Gardening Magazine!

April arrives like a long-awaited exhale here at Food Gardening Network—softening the edges of winter and filling every corner of the garden (and our imaginations) with color, motion, and possibility. After months of muted landscapes and seed catalogs spread across the kitchen table, the world outside is finally catching up to everything we’ve been dreaming about. Fresh green shoots push through the soil, tulips and dandelions dot the yard in cheerful bursts of color, and the air hums with the songs of returning birds. Even the herbs seem eager—thyme, sage, and chives already stretching toward the light as if they’ve been waiting for their cue.

There’s an unmistakable energy to April gardening in the Northeast. The soil, at last, is workable. Garden beds are cleared and refreshed. Cool-season crops are going in, row by hopeful row, while seed trays crowd sunny windowsills indoors. It’s a time of both anticipation and action—when every small task feels like a promise of something delicious to come. I find myself already thinking ahead to those first harvests: tender asparagus, crisp greens, and the early flavors that remind us exactly why we garden in the first place.

In this issue, we’re celebrating both the joy and the know-how that make April such a pivotal month in the garden. You’ll find practical guidance on building strong seasonal foundations—from soil preparation and smart planting techniques to time-tested methods that lead to healthier, more productive crops. We’re digging into the details that matter, like how to give root vegetables the space they need to thrive, how to support early growers like asparagus, and how small adjustments now can lead to bigger, better harvests later.

Fresh Takes

No matter your growing zone, April offers critical planting opportunities that will define your gardening year, and we have articles about each of the major planting zones to help you see what’s available to you this month:

• Power from the Garden: Learn how fruits and vegetables can be a big source of protein.
• Top 25 Protein-Rich Fruits and Vegetables You Can Grow at Home: Plant proteins are full of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that animal proteins don’t provide.
• What to Plant in April in USDA Zones 4-6: Making the most of lengthening days while protecting against unpredictable spring frosts.
• What to Plant in April in USDA Zones 7-8: Transitioning to direct sowing while timing warm-season crop introduction.
• What to Plant in April in USDA Zones 9-10: Maximizing productivity before summer heat sets in.

Plant Close-Ups
This month, we’re diving deep into the early season plants that help us kick off the spring growing season—from growing and harvesting asparagus and dividing rhubarb to everything you need to know about growing potatoes:

• 10 Tips for Growing and Harvesting Asparagus: Plant these perennial spring vegetables and you could enjoy harvesting asparagus for decades.
• Dividing Rhubarb: Splitting, Transplanting, and Methods for Moving: Dividing rhubarb is the key to healthy new plant growth.
• The Easiest Mushrooms to Grow for Beginners: Start with foolproof mushroom varieties that require minimal effort and yield great results
• How to Know When Carrots are Ready to Harvest: 5 Signs to Look For: Want to learn the secret of how to know when carrots are ready to harvest? Here are the 5 telltale signs of perfect carrots.
• How to Grow Potatoes—Everything About Growing and Enjoying Spuds: You get all the tips, techniques, and advice about how to start and maintain an awesome potato garden.

Get Your Vegetable Garden Planning Calendar Kit
I’m also thrilled to announce our Vegetable Garden Planning Kit. This comprehensive guide will help you plan, plant, and maintain a thriving herb garden throughout the year. Whether you’re growing herbs indoors or out, this kit is an essential tool for any food gardener looking to add fresh flavors to their meals year-round.

Featured Videos
This month, our videos focus on things to plant in April, making natural dyes from vegetables, and creating an inexpensive DIY drip irrigation system for raised beds:

• 5 Things to Plant in April: These five fruits and vegetables thrive in colder temperatures for planting and need to establish well before summer in order to thrive.
• How to Make Natural Dyes from Vegetables: Have you ever made natural dyes from vegetables? Try these easy recipes from beets, spinach, red cabbage, and more!
• Regrowing Green Onions, Carrot Greens and Celery in Water: Is there more to regrowing green onions and other vegetables in a shallow plate of water? Not much, but here’s what you need to know.
• How to Create a Custom DIY Drip Irrigation System for Raised Beds for Under $100: For under $100, you can create a simple DIY drip irrigation system that will water your raised beds on a timer at regular intervals and while away.
• Grilled Rosemary Asparagus with Candied Garlic Kumquats: Sweet candied garlic kumquats dress this savory grilled asparagus finished in a rosemary butter.

Easy French Toast Recipes
We’ve put together a collection of five creative recipes that show how a few clever twists can transform ordinary French toast into something that’ll make everyone at your table sit up and take notice:

• Overnight French Toast Bake: A gloriously hands-off breakfast that transforms day-old challah into a crowd-pleasing feast, complete with pockets of cream cheese surprise and a crumbly streusel crown that’ll make you the hero of holiday mornings.
• Citrus-Cranberry French Toast Bake: A cozy citrus-cranberry French toast bake that combines the bright flavors of fresh oranges with tart cranberries, all wrapped up in a custardy breakfast casserole that’s perfect for lazy weekend mornings.
• London Fog French Toast: This London Fog French Toast is a cozy weekend breakfast upgrade featuring thick slices of bread soaked in Earl Grey-infused custard, with hints of honey and vanilla – simple ingredients that come together to make something special.
• French Toast Eggs Benedict: This French Toast Eggs Benedict creates the perfect sweet-and-savory weekend breakfast masterpiece, swapping english muffins for french toast!
• 20-Minute Monte Cristo Sandwich: A decadent marriage of french toast and the classic ham and cheese that transforms breakfast into an unforgettable sweet and salty culinary adventure, complete with a golden-brown crust and melty interior that will make you question everything you thought

Let Garden Planning Inspire You
Don’t forget to download your Vegetable Garden Planning Calendar Kit. Gold Members can also explore our Gardening Kits tab for additional resources:

• Garden Calendars
• Garden Plans
• Recipe Cards
• Greeting Cards
• ArtPrints

Check them out now and download your favorites!

As you step into your garden this month—whether you’re sowing your first seeds, tending to early sprouts, or simply soaking in that long-awaited spring sunshine—I hope this issue brings you both inspiration and confidence for the season ahead. April is a beginning in every sense of the word, and every row you plant, every bed you prepare, and every small success you celebrate is part of a much larger, more rewarding journey. From all of us here at Food Gardening Network, thank you for growing alongside us. Here’s to fresh starts, abundant harvests, and all the delicious moments waiting just around the corner.

Editor & Publisher

P.S. How do you approach the gardening season? Do you have a carefully thought out plan, or are you making it up as you go along? I’d love to hear how you get ready for the gardening season! Share your garden planting ideas in the comments below!