General Growing Tips

Well, we’re all itching to get started. BUT WAIT!!

What’s the date? And what does the weatherman say? Did you consult the Farmers Almanac and read the tea leaves?? Ok, ok… you don’t have to do all that but here’s what you need to know.

You are in Planting Zone 5B! this means that your ‘safe’ frost-free date is May 24.

So what does that mean??

It means that to be safe you should’t plant any of your non-hardy seedlings before that date.

For instance, Tomatoes, Peppers, Cukes, Eggplants, Zuches are tropical and therefore they must not be planted out in your garden too early. Some in our area feel comfortable setting the transplants out in mid-May but we prefer to wait until the May long weekend just to be safe. There is nothing more heart wrenching than pushing the season and getting just one night of frost that kills all of your tender seedlings on the spot. Ugh!

Having said that, Some plant don’t mind the cool weather and can tolerate some light frost. Spinach, Broccoli, Kale, and even lettuce with a bit of covering, can get a jump on the season if the soil is warmed up enough and workable.

Once you get your seedlings from us you should start slowly getting them used to the outdoors. This is called Hardening Off.

For the first few days set them in a sheltered spot outdoors in shade or partial shade for the day. Make sure they don’t dry out too much and bring them indoors again at night in case of late frosts. After a few days you can begin to increase the amount of sunlight they get while still watching closely to make sure the leaves are not burning. If you do see some light spots on the leaves don’t fret, just watch them closely and perhaps back off a little on the time spent in full sun each day.

As we all know, Ontario springs can offer anything from ice storms to heat waves so you will have to use your intuition for this process and roll with the local weather. By the time the May long weekend arrives your little plants should be used to a full day’s sun.

Your seedlings will need to be planted in a bright sunny spot in your garden as they require both sun and heat to grow well
Most plants prefer well drained soil, preferably rich in nutrients so it is a good idea to dig some finished compost or manure into your garden before you plant. We also recommend adding some good organic fertilizer into each planting hole before you plant each seedling.