How to Know the Best Gardens in Canada

I don't know why the impression that most people have of Canada is of polite people and frozen, wintry vistas as far as the eye could see. You would think that they play hockey with penguins and polar bears every single day. (Canada actually has a summer season, you know.) Although some of the country does have a shorter growing season, it does not stop Canadians from growing beautiful, lush gardens in their own backyards or from having some of the most beautiful national gardens in all the world.

Several plant varieties that grow well in Canada are native to the area, making them hardy and resilient to the fairly short growing season. Chives (the very tasty oniony flavored herb, prized by chefs) is one of these, and can be grown in the garden or kept in containers no matter what part of Canada (or the US for that matter) that you live in.

Of course, not every plant will be appropriate for growing in Canada- some plants have a longer growing season than what is available here, but there are still plenty of others. As with every garden no matter where it is being grown, the first thing to take care of is the soil. It does not matter how long a growing season is, or how hardy a plant is, good soil can help a struggling plant get established, bad soil can starve out a strong plant. A quick check of your soil can reveal what nutrients it is lacking- this can be done by taking a soil sample to a provincial agriculture agent or by self testing with a kit ( you can find them at most garden supply stores). A very quick and free test for soil health is to count the earthworms- the more earthworms that you find in your soil, the more nutrients will be there.

As with planning any garden, Canadian growers must know their hardiness zone and the corresponding dates for first and last frosts. This will give them an idea of exactly how long the growing season is for their area and will narrow down their plant choices. (Plants that need really long growing seasons will obviously be a poor choice in short season areas.) Some Canadian gardeners prefer to have very small back yard plots and grow the majority of their plants in containers. The huge advantage to container gardening is that they can be brought into a warmer, sheltered area if the temperature dips below what is safe. This trick is not just good for Canadian growers, it can be adapted for virtually everybody- including urbanites who miss getting their hands dirty.