Planting Guide
Plant-by-Plant Guide
You've got some seeds from our Seed Library to get your garden started - now what? It's time to get planting!
Follow the guidelines below to get that garden growing with specific instructions for some of the more common types of seed we offer.*
Learn how to test your seeds for viability.
* Subject to availability
Beans
Method | Direct sow in the late spring to mid-summer. |
Growing Conditions | Soil that drains well. Find a sunny spot for beans. |
Days to Sprout | 7-14 |
Seed Depth | 1 inch |
Plant Spacing | 3-5 inches |
Row Spacing | 12-24 inches |
Other | Be prepared to stake climbing varieties of beans - these will grow like vines and need something to cling to. |
BPL's Top Picks |
Beets
Method | Direct sow in the spring. |
Growing Conditions | Soil that drains well. Find a sunny spot for beets. |
Days to Sprout | 10-12 |
Seed Depth | 1/2 inch |
Plant Spacing | Once beets come up, you’ll need to thin them so that there is one plant every three inches. |
Row Spacing | 12 inches |
BPL's Top Picks |
Carrot
Method | Direct sow in the spring. |
Growing Conditions | While carrots may tolerate less than ideal conditions, aim for well drained soil – free from rocks so your carrots don’t grow curvy – and an area that gets as much sun as possible. |
Days to Sprout | 14-21 |
Seed Depth | 1/4 inch |
Plant Spacing | Thin to 2 inches |
Row Spacing | 12 inches |
Other | Try succession planting your carrots so that you can harvest a bunch each week later on in the season. |
BPL's Top Picks |
Cucumber
Method | Start cucumbers indoors 2-4 weeks before the last frost or direct sow them two weeks after last frost. |
Growing Conditions | Cucumbers will tolerate less than ideal conditions, but aim for well drained, fertile soil and an area that gets as much sun as possible. |
Days to Sprout | 5-7 |
Seed Depth | 1 inch |
Plant Spacing | 18 inches |
Row Spacing | 18-36 inches |
Other | Some plants do very well when planted next to my cucumbers – possibly because the cuc vines provide a lot of shade, keeping the roots of neighbouring plants cooler. |
BPL's Top Picks |
Kale
Method | Sow kale directly in garden once the last frost date has passed. |
Growing Conditions | Kale can tolerate a fair bit of cold and some even say it tastes better if the leaves have gone through a fall frost. Plant kale in a sunny or partly shady part of your garden. |
Days to Sprout | 5-8 |
Seed Depth | 1/2 inch |
Plant Spacing | 16 inches |
Row Spacing | 36 inches |
Other | Cover your kale to protect your plants from insects. Kale freezes well, so extra leaves can be harvested and frozen for winter smoothies! |
BPL's Top Picks |
Lettuce
Method | Sow lettuce directly in garden once the last frost date has passed. |
Growing Conditions | Plant your lettuce in a sunny or partly shady location. |
Days to Sprout | 7-14 |
Seed Depth | 1/4 inch |
Plant Spacing | 12 inches |
Row Spacing | 24 inches |
Other | Try succession planting for a constant harvest of fresh leaves. |
BPL's Top Picks |
Parsley
Method | Start indoors at least 8-10 weeks before the last frost. Parsley can get off to a slow start – be patient! |
Growing Conditions | Parsley thrives in a sunny location. |
Days to Sprout | 21 |
Seed Depth | 1/4 inch |
Plant Spacing | Thin to 6 inches |
Row Spacing | 12 inches |
BPL's Top Picks |
Peas
Method | Sow directly into the soil in the spring. |
Growing Conditions | Soil that drains well. Find a sunny spot for peas. |
Days to Sprout | 7-14 |
Seed Depth | 1 inch |
Plant Spacing | 3 inches |
Row Spacing | 12 inches |
Other | Peas are climbers – they will need some kind of support as they grow. Peas tolerate lower temperatures well, so in Barrie in early August, it’s not too late to plant a few last peas. |
BPL's Top Picks |
Peppers
Method | Start peppers inside 8-10 weeks before the last frost. |
Growing Conditions | Peppers need a lot of sun and fertile soil. |
Days to Sprout | 7-21 |
Seed Depth | 1/4 inch |
Plant Spacing | 18-24 inches |
Row Spacing | 24 inches |
Other | Don’t transplant peppers outside until the soil has warmed up – often, in Barrie, this isn’t until early June. |
BPL's Top Picks |
Radishes
Method | Direct sow radishes in the early spring or late summer. |
Growing Conditions | Plant radishes in a sunny place. |
Days to Sprout | 5-7 |
Seed Depth | 1/4 inch |
Plant Spacing | Thin to 4 inches |
Row Spacing | 12-18 inches |
Other | Some say smaller radishes are sweeter, and radishes left in the ground too long become a bit bitter. |
BPL's Top Picks |
Rutabaga
Method | Sow directly in your garden in early to mid summer. |
Growing Conditions | Plant in a sunny location. |
Days to Sprout | 4-7 |
Seed Depth | 1/2 inch |
Plant Spacing | Thin to 8 inches |
Row Spacing | 14-18 inches |
Other | Like Kale, rutabaga can be left in the garden when the occasional frost hits in the fall – this is said to improve the flavour. |
BPL's Top Picks |
Spinach
Method | Sow directly in your garden during the spring. |
Growing Conditions | Spinach will grow in full sun or part shade. |
Days to Sprout | 7-14 |
Seed Depth | 1/2 inch |
Plant Spacing | Thin to 3 inches |
Row Spacing | 12-18 inches |
Other | When the weather heats up, you’ll notice your spinach doesn’t do as well; spinach thrives when it’s cooler. |
BPL's Top Picks |
Squash
Method | Start indoors 2-4 weeks before last frost or plant directly in the garden once the last frost date has passed. |
Growing Conditions | Plant in a sunny spot. Squash plants spread out – make sure you give them space! |
Days to Sprout | 7-14 |
Seed Depth | 1 inch |
Plant Spacing | 24 inches |
Row Spacing | 36-48 inches |
BPL's Top Picks |
Swiss Chard
Method | Sow Swiss chard directly in the garden once the last frost date has passed |
Growing Conditions | Plant in a sunny spot. |
Days to Sprout | 7-14 |
Seed Depth | 1/2 inch |
Plant Spacing | Thin to 6-8 inches |
Row Spacing | 18 inches |
BPL's Top Picks |
Tomatoes
Method | Start your tomatoes inside 6-8 weeks before last frost. Resist the urge to begin earlier as this will lead to leggy plants prone to snapping and breaking. |
Growing Conditions | Tomatoes are a heavy feeder – amend your soil with compost or manure, or fertilize plants once a week. Make sure your tomatoes are planted in a location that gets lots of sun, with well drained soil. |
Days to Sprout | 5-10 |
Seed Depth | 1/4 inch |
Plant Spacing | 24-36 inches |
Row Spacing | 36 inches |
Average Days to Harvest | 50-80 or more |
Other | Protect young tomato plants by placing inverted yogurt cups around the stems. Learn to “sucker” your plants to prevent unwanted growth that drains energy that should go into growing fruit. If you find it hard to grow full-sized tomatoes, try a variety of cherry tomato! |