April in My Garden: Harvests, Challenges, and What’s Growing Now (Zone 7 – Maryland)

April always feels like a turning point in the garden—and this year was no different. After months of waiting, protecting, and hoping, everything starts to wake up. The beds fill in, the harvest basket gets heavier, and the rhythm of the garden begins to pick up again.

If you’re gardening in a small space or in Zone 7 like I do here in Maryland, April is that in-between month where you’re still watching the weather closely… but also finally enjoying the rewards of your patience.

Here’s a look at what’s been happening in my garden this April—from harvests to challenges, and everything in between.

🥬 What I Harvested in April

I enjoyed harvesting lettuce again for salads.

April gave me one of my favorite things as a gardener: abundance from cool-season crops.

Sassy Brassies (Bok Choy Season!)

I’ve been harvesting a lot of what my hubby like to call my “Sassy Brassies”—especially bok choy. This is one of those crops that really thrives in the cooler temperatures of spring, and this year it did not disappoint.

I planted a lot of bok choy in a couple of my Vego Garden raised beds this season—and I planted them densely. That’s one of the ways I push the limits of a small space garden. Sometimes we have to break the “rules” when it comes to spacing… and honestly, it works more often than you’d think. So if you’ve been hesitant, this is your sign to try it. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Because I grow in small spaces, having vertical systems like my GreenStalk planter made a huge difference. I was able to grow more without taking up more ground space—which is always the goal in a small backyard garden.

At this point, I already know… I’ll probably have more bok choy than I can keep up with. 😅 But that’s a good problem to have. In the past, I didn’t grow much bok choy because I knew I wouldn’t be able to eat it all. I would usually give extras away to friends, but this year, I decided to plan for abundance.

After a big harvest, I cleaned and prepped the bok choy, blanched it, and then used my Souper Cubes trays to freeze everything. It made storing so much easier and helped me maximize my freezer space.

This way, nothing from the harvest goes to waste—and I get to enjoy it even beyond the season.

Overwintered Spinach

One of the biggest wins this season has been my overwintered spinach. Protected under cover during the colder months, it bounced back beautifully in early spring.

There’s something so rewarding about harvesting food that technically started growing months ago. It’s a reminder that gardening isn’t just about what you plant now—it’s also about what you prepare for ahead of time.

One of the most exciting (and honestly surprising) parts of my April harvest has been my citrus.

Calamansi & Calamondin

My calamansi and variegated calamondin trees have been incredibly productive—this is already my third harvest this year.

For such small trees, they produce so much. And compared to my lemon tree (which has only given me one harvest so far), these have been so much more consistent.

My cue to harvest?
➡️ When the fruits turn fully yellow and ripe

It’s such a special experience for me because this is one of the fruits I grew up with in the Philippines. Being able to grow and harvest it here—on a small deck, in containers—just makes it even more meaningful.

Why I Love Growing Citrus in Containers

I can move them indoors during winter
They continue producing even in a small space
Frequent harvests (instead of waiting all season)

If you’re a small-space gardener, citrus like this is definitely worth trying.

🌿 Garden Progress & What’s Growing

April is also when things start transitioning fast.

Hardening Off Seedlings (The Real Work Begins)

Right now, I’ve started hardening off my warm-season plants—things like ginger, turmeric and peppers that I started earlier indoors.

Instead of bringing them in and out every day, I’ve been using a simple trick that’s been working so well for me:
➡️ A clear storage tote as a mini greenhouse

It helps protect my seedlings when nighttime temps drop into the 40s°F, which still happens here in Maryland during April. But I also make sure to vent it during the day because heat can build up quickly.

It’s a simple, affordable solution that makes the transition so much easier.

You might’ve noticed I didn’t mention tomatoes—and that’s because I didn’t start them until the end of this month. That’s actually pretty unusual for me. I normally sow tomatoes much earlier, but… that’s life sometimes. Honestly, I didn’t feel the need to rush it this year. I still have plenty stored in my freezer, so there wasn’t that same urgency to get them started right away.

⚠️ Challenges I’m Seeing This Month

Of course, April isn’t all smooth sailing.

Pest Pressure Is Starting

I’m already seeing the early signs of pests, especially on my brassicas.

Those tiny yellow eggs?
They may look harmless… but they turn into cabbage worms that can quickly destroy your plants.

I’ve learned the hard way that waiting too long can mean going from a few holes… to losing the entire crop.

That’s why this year, I’ve been more proactive with:

Insect netting
Regular checks under leaves
Removing eggs early

Prevention really does save time and frustration later.

Temperature Swings

April weather can be unpredictable.

Cool nights in the 40s°F
Warm, sunny days that can overheat seedlings

That’s why I’m constantly adjusting—opening covers during the day and closing them at night depending on the forecast.

It’s a bit of work, but it makes a huge difference in plant health.

🌼 Lessons from the April Garden

April continues to remind me of a few important things:

Preparation pays off (especially with overwintered crops)
Small spaces can still produce abundance
Prevention is easier than fixing problems later
And most importantly… progress over perfection

Gardening this time of year is a balance between protecting what you’ve grown and preparing for what’s next.

🌱 What I’m Looking Forward To

As we move into May, I’m getting ready for:

Transplanting warm-season crops into my raised beds
Watching my peppers, ginger, turmeric and eventually tomatoes take off.
Harvesting more cool season crops like garlic, elephant garlic, peas, strawberries and more!

It’s one of the most exciting shifts in the garden.