Hi everyone! I'm looking to kick off a mini garden in my backyard about two months from now since it's still freezing here in Canada. I've heard that tomatoes and peppers are great options to start with, but I'm curious if anyone has other suggestions or tips to help these plants thrive. Any advice would be super appreciated!
3 Answers
If you’re thinking about starting with peppers, go ahead and plant them in small containers now! They thrive with good drainage, so ensure your soil has that. For tomatoes, it’s better to wait another month—opt for determinate types, which stop growing after reaching a specific height. Honestly, tomatoes are really easy; they’ll probably even grow in your sidewalk cracks! Start with a few plants this year and see how they do. Just remember to take it slow and adjust for next year.
I usually start my peppers around early February with a heat mat underneath and some plastic covers. Once they sprout, I remove the covers and water them every couple of days. Grow lights are a must since they help prevent leggy plants—just keep the lights a couple of inches above them. Don’t forget to harden them off before planting outside, and using a fan indoors can really strengthen them! Lots of good YouTube vids can guide you, too. Good luck!
Starting seeds indoors is a great idea! You’ll need a heat mat, seed tray, grow light with a timer, and some seed starting medium. A little tip—soak your pepper seeds overnight because they have hard shells, but you don't need to do that for tomatoes. Just make sure you follow watering instructions and acclimatize your seedlings gradually to outdoor conditions. If it seems overwhelming, you can always buy live plants after the last frost!