For the last several years I’ve experienced the fun that is growing vegetables indoors from seed. In Ontario (and most of Canada, really), this is one of the best ways to extend the growing season, since our last frost date here isn’t until May 24. Seedlings and young vegetable plants are widely available for purchasing in the spring, but the idea of having something green and growing and filled with hope for the coming season is so appealing that I usually grow plants indoors, starting right around this time of year, or earlier.
While the thought of having vegetable and annual plants in the house tucked away under their lights in the basement is certainly appealing, this past year has been so unbelievably busy and personally challenging that my heart is just not into it this time around. Graham and I both work two jobs right now, and we have a couple of home renovation projects on the go, as well, which means I just don’t think I can handle another area of the house that needs tending to, and this unfortunately means the basement seedling setup is going to go on hiatus for this year.
This doesn’t mean I won’t be growing from seed at all this year. I’m planning to concentrate my efforts on vegetables that can be sown directly into warm soil come spring. This includes radishes, greens, beans and squash. I’ll look for interesting heirloom varieties of tomatoes and eggplants, grown organically, for planting directly, benefiting from the work and care of other gardeners this spring.
Even though my growing process will be a little bit different this season, I expect my vegetable garden will be no less productive or beautiful this summer. I can’t wait to get planting.
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Make a trip east out to Foxboro, Ontario (just north of Belleville) in May to Terra Edibles. Karyn Wright, an heirloom seed seller, also sells a huge selection of Heirloom tomato plants which are growing in her greenhouse now. She can probably put the varieties you want on reserve for you. http://www.terraedibles.ca