Best things to plant right now in Toronto

August 17, 2023 11:54 AM

You live in Toronto and are great at gardening. Lucky you! You're going to plant some veggies and herbs and leafy greens tomorrow. What are you going to plant? Also, if you happen to live in the west end (Roncesvalles area) where are you going to buy the seeds? Thanks!
posted by dobbs to Home & Garden (10 answers total)

Radishes are super fast and easy, you can sow heavily and eat the greens that you thin out within a week or so!
posted by SaltySalticid at 12:02 PM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

Bok choy grows fast.
posted by zadcat at 12:44 PM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

Garden centres are probably doing all they can to sell their plants so you can probably buy some for a song and have a plant right now instead of buying seeds. I usually buy seeds online because there's more variety than what I can find in a shop. The last time was from Rainbow Seeds, and I was happy with them.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 12:56 PM on August 17, 2023

Hardy greens! Swiss chard, kale, yu choi if you can find it. You should be able to grow and harvest well into October.
posted by maudlin at 12:56 PM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

It's too late for seeds. Go to a garden centre and buy whatever starters they have left in pots. You got maybe two months of good light left. For next year remember, get your seeds started inside in late april and get your seedlings out only after the two-four weekend.
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:57 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

It is too late for *spring sowing*, plenty of gardeners sow 3-4 times per growing season, even in Toronto. There are several crops that you still have time for sowing. Some time frames from what's mentioned above: radishes will be ready in 30 days, bok choy is a little longer at 40 days. The kale and chard are around 50 days, but they will do fine all the way until and even through the first frosts (kale improves in flavor after frost).
posted by SaltySalticid at 1:43 PM on August 17, 2023 [5 favorites]

Also if you want some small lavender seedlings and are willing to travel north of the 401 I can hook you up.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:20 PM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

You probably could get quite a good crop of bush or pole beans and/or peas at this point, plus the crops that are cranky about heat like lettuce and cilantro and grow pretty quickly.
posted by urbanlenny at 3:06 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

Peas, lettuces, arugula. and plant seeds for next spring.
posted by theora55 at 5:42 PM on August 17, 2023

You could probably get some small but harvestable basil. Note that the first hint of frost will kill basil dead, so keep an eye on the forecast and be prepared to harvest it *all*.
posted by heatherlogan at 7:08 PM on August 17, 2023