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For Toronto homeowners who have been itching to get back into the garden, winter’s drawn-out last gasp in April can seem especially tedious. However, there are certain vegetables that prefer cooler soil and which you could already plant outside. 

Choosing the right plants

Great options for planting outside directly into your garden bed in April include:

• Green peas
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Beets
• Radishes and carrots
• Cucumbers
• Corn
• Cabbage

If vegetables don’t inspire you and you prefer the sweet sight and smell of flowers, then these are your best bets for an April start:

• Rudbeckia
• Nemesia
• Cosmos 
• Marigolds

Weather permitting

Regardless of when it should be okay to sow the seed for these plants outside, it is always best to check the long range weather forecast to make sure no last frost days are predicted. While the listed plants are hardy and prefer cooler soils, they are not immune to frost and can get damaged or die if there is a true cold spell.  

Garden bed prep

If you haven’t already, now is the time to prep your Toronto garden beds for the growing season. Be sure to clear off the leaf mulch from perennials and cut back their dead stems. Remove protective plant coverings and top-up your beds with new earth. Once your beds are ready – you can go ahead and plant your seeds.  

After your seeds are planted, you do have to watch for any cold weather. Be prepared with frost cloth or burlap to cover your seedlings at night if the temperature is about to dip so you can trap the day’s heat in the solid overnight. But, aside from being vigilant about the weather, once your seeds are planted, you can enjoy watching them grow for the rest of the season.