Warm Season Vegetables
Beginning in mid-April warm season vegetables can be planted once all danger of frost is past. Below are nine warm season vegetables that can be planted starting in mid-April along with suggested varieties:
Vegetable | Varieties |
| Cantaloupe | Classic, PMR 45, Burpee Hybrid, Ambrosia |
| Pickling cukes | Carolina, Calypso, Liberty, County Fair 83 |
| Slicing cukes | Poinsett, Sweet Slice, Marketmore, County Fair83, Salad Bush |
| Pole beans | Kentucky Wonder, Blue Lake, Romano, Kentucky Blue |
| Snap beans | Tenderette, Harvester, Astro, Roma, Derby |
| Sweet corn | Silver Queen, Seneca Chief, Honey 'n Pearl |
| Squash | Seneca Prolific, Zucchini Elite, Sun Drops |
| Pumpkins | Autumn Gold, Howden's Field, Spookie |
| Tomatoes | Whopper, Mt. Pride, Celebrity, Better Boy |
| Watermelons | Congo, Sweet Princess, Sugar Baby, Golden Crown |
Lawn Establishment
Warm season grasses like Bermudagrass, Centipedegrass, and Zoysiagrass can all be seeded beginning in April. Soil temperatures have warmed enough to allow germination to occur. Make sure to remove existing unwanted vegetation and debris, ensure proper drainage, soil test and apply what is recommended, and till the area before seeding. Spread seed and lightly cover by hand raking or dragging a mat or section of chain link fence. Roll the area to firm the surface and get good seed to soil contact. Mulch grass seed with straw at the rate of one bale per 1000 square feet. Keep the area moist until seed germinates.
Tree and Shrub Diseases
Many tree and shrubs diseases become active in April once temperature warm and young, tender foliage is available. Inspect plants weekly to catch disease problems early. If you are not sure what the problem is, have it identified. Plant problems can be identified by bringing samples to the Pitt County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension located in the Agricultural Center at the Pitt County office Park. Complete samples are needed which includes stems with leaves showing symptoms as well as healthy leaves, fine roots taken from near the edge of the plant, and soil which should be left around roots to prevent drying.