When the robins start bopping and the tulips start popping, spring has made its return. The soft soil underfoot reminds us of the giant water table on which Windsor-Essex County sits. Blessed we are to live here, amongst the paw-paw and Kentucky coffee trees. Singing swallows and swooping seagulls.
Windsor-Essex County gifts us with world-renowned growing conditions. Short, mild(ish) winters, and long hot summers, surrounded by Lake Erie and Lake St Clair create a gardener’s heavenly microclimate.
Spring reminds us to get our feet wet and our hands dirty. To play outdoors and connect with nature. For many, the Spring Garden is a place of excitement and pure potential.
The garden represents abundance and gives us the opportunity to directly interact and co-create abundance. We sow the seeds we wish to see sprout, grow, flower, fruit and decay. Yes, even amongst the new life and growth of spring, there is death and decay. Fish caught by winter’s nip wash ashore. Old animal companions pass on. Bid them farewell and wish them well.
For the gardener, spring is a time of possibility—a time of imagination and action. Seeds to sow, so many plants to grow! Where does this journey begin? And does it ever end?
The novice gardener may find themselves overwhelmed with the number of resources and options available to them today. So many words to learn! Heirloom, F1, indeterminate, determinate, semi-vining, single blooms, semi-double blooms.
When did the humble veggie patch become so technical? Can it really be as simple as putting seeds in soil?
Simplicity is the gardener’s teacher.
A multitude of choices and lessons shape our paths. For better or worse, the garden beckons us to express ourselves through it—to show our true colours, to blossom beautifully in divine timing, and to provide and nourish ourselves with its bounty.
Getting Started with Seeds
Growing from seed is a particularly rewarding experience, as well as cost-effective. As we take care of the plants, we are simultaneously being taken care of by the plants. Gardening is great for mental health, physical well-being, and promotes peace and tranquility.
With the rising costs of food, many people are looking to grow their own. Seeds are an economical way to do this. A $5 seed pack can grow pounds of food that can be consumed fresh or preserved for the winter months. Some packs contain 400+ seeds!
Whatever your reason for growing from seed, remember that a seed’s only purpose is to sprout and grow—so trust that process. Your role is to create the best possible environment for this to occur, and the seed does the rest. When getting started, it helps to visualize your dream garden:
- What do you see?
- How much space do you have?
- What do you like to eat? Grow those things!
Plants come in all shapes and sizes. Some are great for trellising and can double as privacy fences. Some thrive in containers, making them ideal for balconies. Certain flowers are best for bouquets, while others attract beneficial insects.
Choosing Your Seeds
Do your research and find a seed source that you trust. Many seeds can be grown across Canada, provided the region has enough frost-free days for the plant to reach full maturity. Windsor-Essex County certainly does—with an average last frost date in mid-April and the first frost typically not arriving until mid-October, gardeners enjoy nearly six months of frost-free growing!
Understanding a Seed Packet
A seed packet provides essential details for growing success. Look for:
- Name, variety & description
- Growing profile: shape of plant (bush or vine) and height
- Days to Maturity: how long it takes to mature from transplant
- Age of seeds, germination rate, and quantity
- Canada #1 seed: meets or exceeds Canada No. 1 standards for quality, performance, and vigour
- Planting instructions: date of planting, seed depth, spacing, light requirements, moisture levels, nutrients, and seed life
Soil Selection for Seed Starting
The foundation of a successful garden begins with healthy soil. When starting seeds, it’s best to use a light, well-draining, and nutrient-rich organic soil mix whenever possible. Organic soil supports soil biodiversity and ensures plants receive essential nutrients, naturally.
Avoid using garden soil for seed starting, as it may be too dense and contain pathogens. Instead, opt for a seed-starting mix, which is specifically designed for germination. This mix is usually fine-textured, holds moisture well, and allows for good aeration—giving seeds the best chance at strong, healthy roots.
Open-Pollinated vs. Hybrid Seeds
Most seeds are open-pollinated, meaning their flowers are pollinated naturally by bees, birds, insects, bats, wind, and rain. These seeds are easy to collect and save, and they grow true to type each year.
F1 Hybrid seeds are the result of two specific parent plants being deliberately bred to produce a third variety with dominant desirable characteristics. This practice, used for centuries, enhances food productivity and disease resistance, especially against common garden pathogens like blight. F1 hybrids are not the same as GMOs, which involve genetic modification at the DNA level.
Heirloom seeds have been passed down through generations without cross-breeding or genetic modification. All heirlooms are open-pollinated and are often prized for their rich history and flavour.
Certified Organic Seeds are grown naturally, without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. They are harvested from organically cultivated plants. Choosing certified organic seeds is a great way to support sustainable agriculture.
Gardening Resources
There are many free resources available to new gardeners: books, magazines, seed catalogues, blog posts and YouTube videos. Some seed companies, such as West Coast Seeds, offer free gardening courses on their website and chalk their annual catalogue full of gardening tips & tricks.
Find a source you understand and enjoy learning from and get your hands dirty. The best way to learn how to garden is to simply start. You won’t have perfect germination, you will lose plants to bugs and disease, you will question whether it was worth it or not. This is completely normal.
Every gardener experiences successes and failures each season. It is the pursuit and the lessons that keep us sowing season into season.
Whether there’s a beginning or an end to the gardener’s journey, one can’t be sure. All we know for certain is that the smell of soil has the power to connect us with all those who have sown and grown before. We all come from ancestral lines of gardeners and farmers. Connect with your roots, trust the process and enjoy the journey of growing from seed!
Jess / West Coast Seeds
