8 flowers and vegetables to plant this spring

Canada’s erratic and unpredictable spring weather can be a gardener’s nightmare. If you wonder what to plant in spring this year, these 8 flowers and vegetable varieties are good to go as soon as the frost warnings subside. Get these bulbs and seeds in the ground now, and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful blooms and delicious harvests all summer long.

[Photo Credit: chaiyon021]

1. Hydrangeas: With beautiful bulbous flowers in sweet blue, purple, pink and white hues, hydrangeas are one of the best perennials to plant in Canada, no matter what part of the country you live in. These hardy plants are easy to grow and reach their optimal colour in mid- to late-summer.

2. Pansies: A spring gardener’s delight, pansies are a versatile annual that will flourish in full sun to partial shade. Seedlings can tolerate lower nighttime temperatures, so get these pretty petals in the ground in early spring to brighten up flower beds and urns with pops of vibrant colour come summer.

3. Gladiolus: Gladiolus are among the best perennials to plant in Canada and are known for their bold blooms and tall stems – with some varieties reaching up to five feet. Sun-loving glads take anywhere from 60 to 90 days to grow once planted and are long-lasting when cut if you want to bring them inside for a dramatic tabletop arrangement.

4. Peonies: A timeless classic, peonies will flower reliably year after year if properly maintained. Plant these fragrant perennials in an area with plenty of sun and well-drained soil. And don’t worry if you see ants crawling on the plants – they help keep the petals safe by attacking other pests.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Ready to start your springtime planting?
Let YP help find a Garden Centre near you for seeds, soil and all your outdoor supplies.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Lettuces: Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and arugula are best to plant during the cooler wet weather of early spring. Lettuce is ideal for succession planting and many varieties yield multiple harvests, so you can enjoy a veritable salad bar right in your backyard throughout the summer. Try growing these tasty veggies in raised beds; the seeds respond well to an open soil structure, and you’ll keep them out of reach of pesky garden animals.

6. Carrots: Perfect for soups, salads, and sweet treats, carrots are a kitchen staple. These hardy root veggies are a favourite spring vegetable to plant in Canada. Carrots should be established in deep, cool soil and will take about 12 to 18 weeks to harvest from planting.

7. Snap Peas: If you’re considering what spring vegetables to plant this year, snap peas (sometimes called sweet peas) are a great choice as they make a lovely addition to summery salads and pasta dishes. Peas are slow to germinate so should be started early in the season. Plant your peas in rich, well-drained soil and use a supportive trellis to grow the vines vertically to make picking easier.

8. Tomatoes: There’s nothing like vine-ripened tomatoes fresh from the garden, but these tricky plants need the right growing conditions to survive. Tomatoes like it hot! Plant them in late spring in an area with at least eight hours of sun exposure and be sure to keep the soil consistently moist.