Mastering your vegetable garden in Quebec is all about the art of timing. Whether you choose to start your own seeds for rare varieties or for the pure joy of watching life spring from the soil, success depends on a perfect schedule.
Remember, your local garden centers also offer a fantastic selection of robust, ready-to-plant seedlings grown by local producers—perfect for those who prefer to skip a step!
Consult our magazines to become a pro:
• The Seedling Adventure
• Seedling Season
Prepare your season: 3 golden rules
Before you get your seeds into the dirt, maximize your chances of success with these steps:
- Identify the last frost date for your specific municipality.
- Decode your seed packets: To fully understand the symbols and instructions, check out our beginner's guide to choosing seeds.
- Respect your zone: The advice below is tailored to the Quebec climate. For more precision, explore our detailed planting calendar.
Your indoor seedling calendar by month
February: The enthusiast's wake-up call
Start the varieties that require a long growth period in a warm environment.
- Vegetables: Onions, leeks, celery, celeriac, hot peppers, bell peppers, and eggplants.
- Herbs: Rosemary, lavender, and sage.
- Flowers: Begonias, geraniums, pansies, violas, and petunias.
March: Buzzing under the lights
This is the strategic month for your summer stars.
- Vegetables: Tomatoes (cherry and field), ground cherries, lettuce, and cabbage family (kale, red cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli).
- Herbs: Chives, mint, parsley (flat and curly), green onions, oregano, and thym.
- Flowers: Zinnias, cosmos, and marigolds.
April: The final sprint
Sow fast-growing plants now to prevent them from becoming "leggy" before they can go outside.
- Vegetables: Cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins, winter squash, melons, and cantaloupes.
- Herbs: Basil (all varieties), marjoram, lemon balm, and summer savory.
- Flowers: Nasturtiums and calendula.
May: Transitioning to the garden
In May, the work doubles. Finish your last indoor seeds while starting to prep the soil outside.
Final indoor seedlings
- Herbs: Dill, chervil, cilantro, basil, savory, and marjoram.
- Flowers: Sunflowers, nasturtiums, and zinnias.
- Vegetables: Cucumbers and zucchinis (for an extra-early harvest).
The garden wakes up (Direct outdoor sowing)
- Early May: Sow peas, radishes, and spinach.
- Mid-May: Sow carrots, beets, parsnips, turnips, and bok choy.
- Transplanting: Move your onions and lettuce outside (after a hardening-off period).
June: Planting the heat-lovers
Once the soil is warm and nighttime temperatures no longer dip below 10-12°C:
- Early June: Transplant or direct-sow cucumbers, squash, melons, beans, and zucchinis.
Save time: Garden center essentials
Prioritize organic quality
Choose organic, untreated seeds for a healthy harvest: free from synthetic chemicals and incredibly flavorful.
Ready-to-garden plants
For certain plants, buying vigorous store-bought seedlings is the secret to guaranteed success, especially for perennials. It’s the ultimate EZ Scape™ solution!
- Small fruits: Blueberries, haskap berries, blackcurrants, strawberries, raspberries, and gooseberries.
- Herbs: Mint, oregano, and rosemary.
Need specialized soil or expert advice for your setup? Come see us to kick off your season with confidence!
