April’s cold weather hasn’t stopped garden lovers in London, Ontario from thinking about spring. Even with some snow still on the ground, many are heading to greenhouses or starting plants indoors to get a jump on the season.
“I came here just to get the greenhouse feel,” said a visitor at Heeman’s, near pansies and pots. “It’s a little down because of the snow and the weather, but you make do, right? That’s why I come to the greenhouse because I get to see all the flowers and the plants and dream about it.”
Some are waiting to plant but still getting things ready. “My husband already started as far as cleanup in the yard. We had topsoil delivered yesterday,” said another visitor. “He’s already spread it out all ready for the season.”
A visitor at Heeman’s
Others are taking a more careful approach, choosing pots and indoor plants as they wait for the weather to warm up. “Just get the pots as soon as I can,” said one woman. “I might get a couple of these puppies and then have them indoors, just like weeding, because these can stand a little bit of cold.”
While gardeners are excited, experts warn the ground isn’t suitable for most plants yet. A worker at VanLuyk Garden Centre mentioned that pansies are the best choice for outdoor colour at this time.
“They’re kind of known for being the early ones,” they said. “There are also certain species like dianthus and alyssum that are a little more acclimated to cool temperatures, but even those need to be hardened off before going outside.”
A worker at VanLuyk Garden Centre
They also suggested early-blooming bulb flowers, like crocuses and snowdrops, as great choices for future planting. “If you want really early plants while it’s still snowing out, you should plant bulbs like crocuses the previous year. They’re the ones you see coming up under the snow and people stop to admire them. It’s really cheerful.”
For now, they suggest it’s best to wait. “I honestly cannot recommend planting anything outdoors right now,” the worker added. “If you have flowers that are already blooming, bring them inside. Or at least cover them with burlap to protect them from frost.”
Experts say mid to late May, around Victoria Day weekend, is the best time to start planting flowers and vegetables.
In the meantime, garden centres are suggesting indoor gardening to keep people connected to nature. “We have lots of herbs, topicals, and indoor plants. Even a little greenery in your kitchen can help brighten your mood while you wait for spring to really kick in,” the worker said.
Even with the snow, people are still coming in, hoping to bring some spring home. “Come on down and get out of the blizzard,” they said.
