When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden

By: Amy Bradley, Horticulture Technician, EM Pd

Starting and planting a vegetable garden can be exciting, it can also be stressful and disappointing if it does not go well.  Knowing what to plant when can be the deciding factor between a garden succeeding or failing.  So, let’s take a look at planting times for a successful garden in Brant County, Ontario, Zone 5B edging into 6A.

Gardening or planting zones are made using the average number of frost-free days and the highest as well as the lowest temperatures that area can expect.  For Brant County we typically experience the last frost towards the end of May and the first frost in late September or October.  This leaves us with a four to four and a half month growing season. Late or early frosts can happen, so it is a good idea to check local forecasts before planting tender plants outside.

There are of course many tricks or hacks that can be used to extend the growing season, but for basic gardening here is a month-by-month guide to sowing and planting in Brant County.

Early Spring (March, Early April)

If you are starting seeds inside your house, mid March is the time to start leeks, artichokes and peppers. The end of March is a great time to seed spinach and beets directly into a cold frame if you have one.

April

Brussel sprouts, melon, squash and tomato seeds can all be started inside your house in early April. If you are itching to get into the garden, kale, mustard, beets, parsnips and peas can all be direct seeded at the end of the month into the garden.  If you are using a cold frame April is the month to seed broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce.

May

If you do not use a cold frame or have not started seeds inside, early May is a good time to sow cold crop seeds directly into the soil. Cold crops include any cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beets, kale, kohlrabi, carrots, radishes, leeks and spinach.  It is also time to plant out onion sets and any purchased started cold crop plants.

By the middle of May there is still a chance of frost, but if you are using a garden cloche you can set out melons, squash and pumpkins, just remember to prop the cloche “open” on sunny days to prevent young plants from getting too hot.  At this time lettuce and other leafy greens can be planted out or seeded directly into the soil.  If you are growing them potatoes can also be planted in trenches or hills by mid May.

Late May is when it is usually safe to plant out all tender crops.  Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, squashes, corn can all be planted after the last frost.  Seeds for sweet-corn, beans and additional greens can also be planted now.  It is a good idea to check local frost forecasts as occasionally the last frost can extend into June.

June

This is the month that any extra plants from your spring planting need to get into the soil. It is also time to seed another row of beans or beets if you have the space.  If you are planning for Autumn crops, then late June is the time to seed broccoli or cauliflower for a September harvest.

July

It may seem odd, but the heat of the summer is when you need to start planning for a longer Autumn harvest. Beets, carrots, kohlrabi can all go in so that you can pick them in September or October.

August

At the end of August, it is time to start planning your winter harvest.  If you are using a cold frame then kale, carrots, beets and chard can all be direct sown into the soil.  It is important to leave the lid open so that the young plants do not get baked by the sun.  As Autumn first frost approaches the lid can be closed.

September

This is the last of the traditional growing months for our zone. Short term crops like radish, lettuce and spinach can all be planted and harvested in the few weeks left before the temperature drops.

October

Early October is the best time to plant garlic cloves for the following year.  Plant them in a place that you won’t be digging up in the Spring.  Garlic should be planted about 15 cm deep and 20 cm apart in a well drained soil.

Ways to extend the growing season include the use of cold frames (a wooden box set directly into the soil with glass or plexiglass for a lid, this acts as a mini greenhouse), a cloche (traditionally a glass bell that acts a green house), row covers (small portable poly tunnels that act as a greenhouse) or an actual greenhouse.  The growing season can also be extended by carefully picking the location of your garden and creating a microclimate – an area that is warmer and more sheltered than the rest of the property.  A southern facing slope will heat up faster in the Spring.  Planting against a southern or western facing wall will also be warmer for longer than along a northern or eastern wall.  Sheltering plants from cold or strong winds can also create a microclimate.  Hedges or fences often can help to extend the growing season.

By looking at local forecasts, reading labels to know the days until harvest and planting at the correct time you will be starting on the path to a great vegetable garden and a bountiful harvest!