Planting Dates for Zone 3

So you want to know when to start your seeds. I'm here to help with that!

First let's start with some basic information. There isn't a "one size fits all" answer, but with a little time and a paper and pencil it's easy to figure out. This information will work for all growing zones.

Find out your last and first frost dates for your specific area. You will need both to figure out how many actual growing days you have. I use the Almanac site. Just drop in your postal code or town and there you have it.

Now look at the seed packet information. You want to know the following:

• How many weeks prior to last frost date to start them.

• How long to germinate.

• How long they take to grow to maturity.

Now we do the math. First, do you have enough days to actually grow them? I have a little over 90 days on average. I can also extend the season by using my greenhouses and poly tunnels to add on at least another month for a lot of veggies and flowers. I can also keep them longer inside the seedling rooms if needed and if I have the available space. So that can give me 150 days or more to grow in. Look for seeds that fit your number of growing days for your area for the best chance of success.

Now we add the weeks prior number to the germination days. I personally use the max number of germination days in case of a cold spring like we have had the last few years.

Example: 8 weeks + 2 weeks = 10 weeks

Now add a week at least for hardening off your seedlings. It is never ideal to move them straight from indoors to outside. 8+2+1=11 weeks

So if my last frost date is June 9 and I backtrack 11 weeks that means I would plant those particular seeds by Mar 23rd. One additional thing to think of is WHEN the specific type of plant prefers to be sown. Some can be sown well before the last frost date straight into the garden like sweet peas, carrots etc.

A LOT of seeds do not require starting early and prefer to be sown straight into the garden or pots. I never prestart beans, carrots, radish, beets, corn, dill and many more. If the seed packet says that the plant will produce well within your timeline there is no need to waste the time and effort to do so.

Tips:

When I grow my hottest peppers, Brussels sprouts or flowers that require 100-130 days I start very early and pot them up a couple times as needed to ensure they do not become root-bound from too small of a container.

Transplanting seedlings before last frost: Some veggies and flowers like brassicas, lettuce, snapdragons can take some cold and even a light frost. Just toss a frost cloth on top for colder nights and they will be just fine. Look up what the lowest temperature the plants can handle without damage to figure out when to transplant to the garden.

I hope this helps you on your own green thumb journey. If you'd like these posts to come straight to your email just visit the website https://www.fouracrefarmno.ca and sign up for the newsletter. You will get a variety of topics like gardening tips, recipes, harvesting and preserving as well as our sale dates and events!

My eater of peas, chaser of squirrels and best little buddy Arthur Fonzerelli for scale.

Because Brussels do not like excessive heat I place tripods around them and wrap in shade cloth during the hottest part of summer.

Time to harvest!