Once you taste the fresh produce of your garden, there is no going back.
With a planting calendar and consistent effort, you can save money and create a decent vegetable garden.
As the rough days of winter come to an end, you can plot out when to plant vegetables in Ontario.
Before you start, decide on the vegetables you need and the space they will need to grow.
In this planting calendar in Ontario, we will cover everything that will help you accomplish your goal.
So, let’s start productive planning!
Learn More: Perennials That Bloom All Summer in Ontario
Gardening in Ontario for Beginners: What to Know Before Planning the Calendar
While it is great to know when to plant vegetables in Ontario, there are still some things to consider before you begin outlining your calendar. Our planting experts in Ontario have provided these steps to help you understand how you can plan the calendar.
1. Create an Initial Plan For Growing Vegetables
Before you work on a planting calendar, you need to consider the following:
- Location that receives five to six hours of direct sunlight
- Vegetables you wish to grow in your garden
- Amount of vegetables depending on your needs
- Local frost dates and temperature
- The space you can dedicate to growing vegetables
Apart from these, you need to add the following steps to your planting calendar.
2. Prepare the Soil
Dig a deep hole in the earth. You can apply 1 kilogram of garden fertilizer for every ten square meters. Repeatedly turn over the soil and rake gently.
If you want more information on fertilizers, read our blog on Lawn Fertilizer Numbers Meaning for Every Season in Canada.
3. Do Some Pre-Planting Maintenance
If vegetables cannot be planted the same day as purchase, they should be kept in the shade and thoroughly watered. The optimum times to plant are in the evenings and on cloudy days.
This is an important step that will help you with the planting calendar.
4. Organize the Space
First, write down every vegetable you would use. Some vegetables will occupy more space in your lawn than others. So, make sure you don’t miss that.
Next, label each variety with a number corresponding to the number of plants you require.
Learn More: Grass Seed Germination: Tips & Techniques For the Best Results
5. Figure Out Your Methods for Planting
Before planting, wet the soil and let it dry a little so that it becomes workable.
Use vermiculite, dirt, or finely sifted compost to cover tiny seeds. Plants that are not in individual containers should be carefully divided to keep as much soil surrounding the roots as possible.
6. Make Watering a Priority
Adequate water will give them a head start, so it should be a priority in your planting calendar. Water the soil after that if it starts to dry out. Soak the soil in water early in the day.
7. Ensure Upkeep After Planting
Having a perfect planting calendar is not enough. You also have to check regularly for weeds if you don’t want miserable results.
Wet the soil an hour before cultivating for easier weed management. Avoid disturbing the plant roots when pulling weeds. Your vegetables may have an insect or disease problem.
If you notice a pest problem, you can use effective organic pest control methods.
Planting Differences in Various Ontario Regions
Your planting calendar will vary according to the different zones in Ontario. To know when to plant, you need to have information about these regions.
Let’s take a look at the characteristics of these regions.
1. Southern Ontario
If you live in this part, your planting calendar must have measures for droughts, strong winds, and thunderstorms.
The adjacent Great Lakes have an impact on the province’s lower regions, which typically have humid summers that range from warm to hot and mild to cold winters.
It’s essential to monitor weather variations and cover your garden with a protective covering to prevent damage.
2. Eastern and Central Ontario
In your planting calendar, you should include solutions for a shorter growth season, significant snowfall, and spring flooding. Typically, elevated garden beds and a protective covering will keep your vegetables protected.
3. Northern Ontario
Residents of this region will have the hardest time planning a planting calendar due to the subarctic climate, extreme temperature shifts, and long winters.
Summers are often moderate, with temperatures ranging from cool to warm.
The region’s frost-free season typically lasts from the middle to end of May till the end of October.
However, you can make things work by keeping the vegetables mostly indoors as they grow and covering them as needed.
When to Plant Vegetables in Ontario
Here is how you can make a planting calendar with respect to months in Ontario:
1. February
This is the ideal moment to compile your list of essentials, acquire your supplies, and prepare for spring.
2. March
Peppers can be started indoors as early as March; remember to keep them warm while germinating by placing them close to a light window.
When it comes to tomatoes, most of them prefer to begin in late February or early March, but be sure to follow the plan specific to their type.
You can plant spinach, broccoli, cabbage, and lettuce indoors in mid-March or early April to prepare them for transplanting in the early spring.
Towards the end of March, you can sow the seeds of onions, potatoes, and peas as they grow once the ground comes out of the frozen state.
3. April
You can transplant your celery, cauliflower, and broccoli in April.
For your broccoli and cauliflower to sprout, you’ll need good soil and enough light.
For celery, gently insert the seeds into the ground, being sure to keep them shallow and near the surface. Place a piece of plastic on top and leave it alone to retain the moisture.
The weather will be ideal for you to plant them in the ground outside around the middle of June.
Zucchini and cucumbers can be planted as early as mid-April. To ensure proper germination, they should be maintained in a warm, sunny area.
Salad greens, such as lettuce, spinach, and kale, can be planted directly in the ground sooner than other vegetables since they thrive in chilly weather.
However, if you want to start them indoors, this month is the perfect time in planting calendar for them. Just give them rich, moist soil and maintain the temperature down below 15°C until they are about 3 inches tall, at which point move them to the garden.
You can also grow broad beans as they tolerate chilly temperatures well. Plant them straight into the ground outside so you can pick them up during the warm summer months.
April showers offer a good opportunity for root vegetables such as potatoes, onions, radishes, turnips, carrots, and beetroots to grow.
4. June to September
Even if you are over the sowing part from your planting calendar, you can reap the rewards of another crop later in the summer if you plant cauliflower for a second round around the middle of June.
If you are looking for when to plant in August in Ontario, plant more carrots and onions this month.
The final planting season of the year occurs in September, so you can sow your late fall crops. Direct-seed cold-loving vegetables such as kale and spinach are ideal.
5. October
In mid-October, garlic bulbs can be planted underground, where they will remain until the following summer when they are ready to be harvested.
Kale will only keep growing until the first frost. Frost adds a slight sweetness to the leaves but will also freeze your kale supply for the entire year.
If you consume kale, consider planting it sooner in the spring to have it all summer and into the fall.
FAQ
Can you extend the growing season in Ontario?
Using techniques like row coverings or greenhouses can prolong the growing season. By protecting plants from frost, you can plant them earlier in the spring and harvest them later in the fall.
When is it safe to plant outside in Ontario?
In Ontario’s diverse environment, many vegetables do well, but cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach, peas, and broccoli usually do best, especially in the spring and fall. In southern Ontario, in particular, warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and beans thrive in the warmer summer months.
What effects do Ontario’s climate zones have on the planting schedule?
The climate zones of Ontario vary from Zone 3 in the north to Zone 7 in the south. These zones establish average temperatures and dates of frost, which directly affect when to sow different types of crops.
What are the frost dates, and how to make planting decisions depend on them?
The average dates of the last spring frost and the first fall frost are referred to as frost dates. These dates are essential for a planting calendar since they show when the growing season will end and when it’s safe to sow frost-sensitive vegetables outside.
The Bottom Line
Knowing your exact zone will help you adjust your planting calendar to the climate where you live.
Since the province’s climate differs, it is integral to know the precise dates of your zone’s and region’s frost.
Learning to grow vegetables is going to be a giant learning curve. Ther will always be a chance of failure even after you are certain about when to plant vegetables in Ontario.
If you don’t have the time and patience for it, feel free to get help from professionals like Falcons Landscaping.