r/OntarioGardeners

It’s time, the Japanese beetles have returned and this year they have chosen to feast not only on my roses and hydrangeas but my hollyhock too.

Last year I hand picked them off, this year I’ve placed a hanging beetle trap in my front yard - about 50ft from my flowering garden. But I’m reading such mixed reviews about the traps. If they aren’t recommended why are they sold? Is there another purpose they have I’m missing? Is neem oil a better strategy?

Looking for any tips or tricks for Japanese beetle mitigation you’ve been successful with. TIA and god speed fellow gardeners!🫡

Is it just me, or have there been way more wildflowers blooming along the highways across the GTA this year?

I'm talking about the 401 through Mississauga, Milton, and Oakville. My daily commute has been completely transformed with all the flowers along the roadside. I don't remember seeing this much colour in previous years.

Has anyone else noticed it? Did they plant more wildflowers, or have the growing conditions just been especially good this year?

I have been meaning to take pics but I don't want to be too distracted while driving 😅. And it feels like each week is a different flower in bloom. Right now it's these beautiful light purple and wispy sand coloured flowers 😍

Our grocery store has had a wonderful variety of melons and I've been drying and saving seeds, but I'm wondering what realistically will grow well for me in Ontario next year?

I'm in 6A with well augmented clay soil and sunny dry bed space and/or trelises.

Hami melon? Galia melon? Santa klaus? Canary?

Honeydew? Cataloupe? Watermelon? Montreal melon?

Would love to hear experiences.

Hey there everyone. I know this may be taken down or not work but i am desperate and am willing to take a shot in the dark.

I am a young creative person in Toronto (early 20's) who recently moved here who is currently food insecure. Please before you mention resources i am currently connected to a food bank and use two community fridges, and i have supports outside of those however i am still down to pinching pennies and I am able to make it by with food for myself and my cat by the very least but I struggle with health issues concerning my Lipids/basically i have to be very sensitive with what i eat, and i need to eat more vegetables and fruit with the other things i have. I have tried many things but have run out of chances to get whole, fresh veggies regularly without spending so much money. This seriously affects my health and my recent screening and checkup at the doctors was pretty terrible.

I am truthfully and honestly asking as my last thought, if anybody is compassionate / willing to help me out with sparing the extra vegetables or any greens/fruits that they have grown in their gardens here in midtown/downtown Toronto for the next few weeks i would be forever grateful and will repay you once i am in a better place, i swear. I am a religious person so repaying my debts is important to me, i promise. I have been eating lots of prepared foods and i am okay however i still dont have much to keep me full/ havent eaten veggies in a while. Im sorry if this is a lot. I am trying my best, i promise. I would like to of course meet publicly to ensure my respect for both your and my comfort and security. A park/station works , or whatever other option.

Please let me know if anything is possible. Thank you so much in advance. My apologies again. And Apologies to mods if this breaks a rule/has to be taken down, i understand if so. All the best 🙏🏽

For the first time since I started gardening a decade ago, it’s looking like I’m going to have a terrible bean year. I usually do a 15 foot a row of pole beans, which I’ve direct sowed twice so far without success (first time just didn’t come up, must’ve been bad seeds, and second time have been munched down as soon as they sprouted their first true leaves).

I just sowed a bunch of bush bean seeds into trays. The plan is to let them grow a bit before transplanting and hope plants that are a bit more mature will fare a better, in addition to putting them in a completely different area of the garden.

Has anyone had success with starting bush beans in July and having a good harvest by the end of summer? For context, I’m in the east GTA region.

Beans are usually the section of the garden that gives and gives with minimal effort from me so this is throwing me for a loop!

What is the best kill all weed killer in Ontario. Our home was vacant for a few years before we bought it and I have spent the last few summers trying to use natural solutions for our patio with no luck. The patio is decently far from my two gardens but I can’t sit out and enjoy them with the state of the patio.

i am interested in dyeing my own clothing with plants that i can grow or forage. i have a deck garden and already growing lots of stuff, and i also live near a ravine which has lots of abundant plant life.

i would likely be dyeing cotton or wool. the colour doesn’t matter to me - i would just like to learn about what plants i can use for this, especially stuff that is either local to southern ontario or that is easy to grow well here. i figure lots of types of flowers would be good for this, but what else? i am also interested in the process, if anyone has tried this before.

What's growing in your garden this week? Weekly scheduled post to chat about what's growing, blooming, fruiting, or needs maintenance in your garden this week.