Much like the unassuming cherry tomato, the gardening season in Ancastor is both small and sweet. However, a well-organized gardener will find plenty of opportunity to grow abundant vegetables.
So, which are the best vegetables to grow in Ancaster and other places that have cold climates?
These are the best insights.
Ontario Vegetable Garden Planting Schedule
The growing season in Ancaster is relatively short, so it’s a good idea to have a plan in place. When the ground thaws (usually in April), it’s time to think about cool-seasonal crops. When the ground thaws and the risk of snow has passed, you can plant cold-hardly crops such as:
- Arugula
- Broad Beans
- Chard
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Onions
- Peas
- Potatoes
- Radish
- Spinach
These plants listed are likely to survive a light frost without any difficulty. Many can even tolerate snow as well. Their tolerance to wintry climates makes them ideal crops for early spring, when the weather is still unpredictable.
Best Vegetables to Grow in Ancaster
Ontario’s climate can allow many kinds of vegetables to thrive, but you may be wondering which ones are the easiest to grow in Ancaster. Here are some of the easiest you can grow in Ancaster:
Salad Greens
Lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, spinach, and arugula are all examples of salad greens that are easy to grow – plus, they’re delicious and versatile.
Garlic
Garlic is the perfect set-it-and-forget-it crop. It’s simple: plant them in October, and harvest them in the summer. It’s quite literally that easy.
Asparagus
Admittedly, asparagus may not be the easiest perennial to grow. But asparagus happens to be native to Ontario, so give it a try and know that your climate is giving you a natural advantage to grow this high-end treat.
Carrot
Once carrots have germinated, they’ll take whatever the weather throws at them – they’re tough cookies (figuratively, of course). Frost, snow, rain, drought – carrots aren’t fussed by any of it. Some gardeners use a wooden plank to assist in the long germination process.
Potatoes
Potatoes are another easy tuber to grow. If you have limited access to water or anticipate a drier summer, potatoes are relatively no-fuss and will survive inconsistent watering. More water tends to mean more consistent shapes or larger potatoes, generally. Growing your own provides you a chance to steal new potatoes with tender skins.
What vegetables should I grow in my very first garden?
It’s easy to produce large and productive cherry tomato plants in Ancastor, Ontario – as long as you choose a cultivar that matures quickly. You can also buy tomato transplants from a local plant nursery to give yourself an early growing advantage. More than anything else, you should grow foods that you love to eat. The following veggies are great for beginners. They tend to be pretty easy to grow.
Tomato
Nothing beats the flavour of homegrown tomatoes. There are also many different varieties, many of which aren’t available in grocery stores. Barry’s Crazy Cherry is quite prolific, and Sunrise Bumblebee is a rather charming striped variety.
Zucchini
Speaking of warm seasonal crops, everyone should plant zucchini. Even two plants can provide a good supply of zucchini for the kitchen. You haven’t lived until you’ve made cheesy zucchini bread.
Peas
Excellent for small spaces, peas are climbing plants that you can sow after the ground thaws out. The tips of vines are super tasty in salads. Gardeners can choose between snow peas, snap peas, and shelling peas.
Lettuce
Lettuce is easy to grow and is cold tolerant, plus there are many different varieties. It’s also one of my favourite vegetables to harvest and eat. Garden salads are the best!
Every climate has its challenges, but with careful attention and timing, it’s possible to grow a significant amount of food, even in a short period of time. Ontario’s climate provides an opportunity to grow and harvest a wide variety of crops. Give it a try!
