As warmer weather begins to return across Ontario, many residents are eager to get back into their gardens—but timing and patience remain key.
Horticulturist and garden expert Kris Morettie says gardening in the province can be unpredictable due to changing weather patterns.
Morettie explains it’s important in southern Ontario, to pay attention to the last frost date and use that as your guiding star for planting.
Warm-weather crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers should wait until after that point, while cold-tolerant plants such as lettuce, cabbage, and broccoli can be seeded outdoors as early as mid-April.
In the meantime, Morettie says gardeners can start planning and preparing, or tackle light yard work like gently raking the lawn and clearing debris—but when it comes to garden beds, it’s best to hold off on major cleanup for now.
For beginners getting into gardening this year, she says the best approach is to keep things simple and don’t fear mistakes.
She added that a few mistakes are all part of the journey and shouldn’t stop anyone from getting started this spring.
