I wish to plant a pollinator garden in my front yard with native flowers. What will be the right month to plant the seedlings?
Thank you
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners.
To respond to your question, it would be great to know more about the seedlings you will be planting. I am assuming by seedlings you are referring to already sprouted seeds. Your seeds may have been started outdoors in which case the seedlings will germinate once the weather warms or you are planning to start them indoors. Note that for most native seedlings started indoors you will need to mimic the winter conditions our native plants experience in the wild through a process called stratification. For details on stratification, click here to access an article from our Halton Master Gardener colleagues on the process.
Regardless of the method you have used to start your seedlings, you’ll want to ensure your plants are at least 3 inches tall before planting them. Also, if your seedlings have been started indoors, you’ll need to harden them off by gradually introducing them to the outdoors. I’ve included a link below to an earlier response on our web site on the steps involved in the hardening off process.
To determine the best time to plant your seedlings, you need to know the date your area is typically frost free. An entry on the web site of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and Rural Affairs, identifies Toronto as having an average date of last spring frost as April 30. As this is an average date, 50% of the time there will be no frost after this date. By waiting another 14 days, the risk is reduced to 10%. So mid-May is a safe time to be planting your seedlings. A link to the government site is provided below.
Enjoy creating your pollinator garden. I’m also including a link to our Gardening Guide on Pollinator Gardening which covers the importance of pollinator gardens as well as the many considerations involved and includes a list of other resources for the gardener.
Toronto Master Gardeners: Hardening off.
Climate Zones and Planting Dates
Toronto Master Gardeners Guide: Pollinator Garden