When to Pick Apples in Ontario, and How Long They Keep
Most Ontario apples come off the tree between late August and mid-October, with the exact date set by variety and by how close the season is to the…
Gardening in Ontario
Everything we have worked out for Ontario: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Toronto, the last spring freeze falls around April 30 and the first fall freeze falls around October 16, 2,297 growing degree days in the year.
That is enough for early varieties, tight for anything late. Garlic does well: 30.4 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Ontario: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from Environment and Climate Change Canada. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
Does Insulation Keep a Home in Ontario Cool?
Yes, but in Ontario the payoff leans toward winter, not summer. The reference station at Toronto logs an average of zero days a year above 90°F, while…
Does a Wall in Ontario Need a Vapour Barrier?
Yes. Under the National Building Code of Canada, Part 9, an insulated wall assembly needs a vapour barrier, and the requirement carries no climate-zone…
Heating With Pellets in Ontario: What a Winter Takes
In the Toronto area, winters run cold enough that a pellet stove earns its keep as real heat, not just ambiance.
How Much Insulation Does a Home in Ontario Need?
The recommended minimums for climate zone 6, the zone that covers the Toronto area, run RSI 10.6 (R 60) for the roof or ceiling, RSI 4.8 (R 27) for…
When Can You Turn the Heat Off in Ontario?
The straightforward answer: June is when the heat can safely go off for the year in Ontario.
When to Sow Beets in Ontario
In most of southern Ontario, that means sowing beets two to three weeks ahead of the average last spring frost of April 30, so roughly mid-to-late April…
Will Sweet Corn Ripen in Ontario?
Yes, sweet corn ripens reliably in Ontario, but not on the same calendar most gardeners assume. The corn clock doesn’t start at the last frost.
When to Sow Sweet Corn in Ontario
Sweet corn in Ontario goes into the ground only once the soil itself, not the calendar, holds steady above 60°F, a threshold that lands well after the…
When to Sow Autumn Spinach in Ontario
Sow spinach for a spring harvest in early-to-mid April, roughly two to three weeks before Ontario’s average last frost.