The weather in Southern Ontario this spring has been a bit of a rollercoaster, we’ve had some extreme heat, but are also still experiencing some very cool nights. This has made things a bit challenging to determine when to plant those cold-sensitive plants, like tomatoes and peppers. The long weekend here is often the unofficial start of summer and the signal to many gardeners that it’s time to plant. Here’s a late May garden update of what’s growing in my garden.
Perennials
These plants are additions that I’ve made slowly over time as my garden has become established. They are a great treat in the spring as they are often the first to emerge.
- Asparagus
- Strawberries
- Herbs – Oregano, Sage, Chives
Annuals
As you can see in this list these plants are less sensitive to cold temperatures or even frost hardy.
- Garlic – planted in the fall
- Potatoes
- Peas
- Radishes & Turnips
- Arugula & Spinach
- Onions
- Beets
- Carrots
- Kale, Cabbage, Kohlrabi
- Cilantro
- Lettuce
- Beans & Squash – planted but not germinated
Coming Soon
These plants I started indoors weeks ago, and I have been closely watching the weather to determine when it’s best to plant them outside. Where my garden is located is often cooler than the weather forecast, which means if there is a low temperature of fewer than 3 degrees there is a high likelihood I may get frost. This is why I tend to wait to plant my cold-sensitive plants, as I’d rather be safe than sorry. There is nothing more discouraging than a plant being killed by frost after you have just carefully grown it indoors for 10 weeks. It’s important to learn these things about your specific location.
- Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Basil
- Peppers
- Sweet Corn
I hope you enjoyed this May garden update of what’s currently growing in my garden. Over the next month, the garden will really come alive and there will be significant growth as both the temperatures warm up and the days continue to get longer. If you are interested to read more about some of the specific varieties I’m growing this year, check out this post.
Let me know in the comments below what’s growing in your garden.
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