Canadians kick-off gardening season on May long weekend as food prices soar

Gardening has seen a hike in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic, experts say, as Canadians look for ways to combat the rising cost of food. 

The May long weekend is traditionally the most popular time of year for gardening in Canada, and experts say this time around was likely no exception.

Gardening has seen a hike in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic, experts say, as Canadians look for ways to combat the rising cost of food.

Bill Hardy, chair of the Canadian Nursery and Landscaping Association, said the Victoria Day weekend is considered the start of the gardening season because of traditionally warmer temperatures in most regions.

“Because it’s the long weekend, you’ve got some extra time, you’re in the frost-free period. I think that’s why people usually pick up the gardening habits for the long weekend,” Hardy told Global News on Sunday.

“Even if you get cold rain, … you’re plenty safe pretty much anywhere across the country to start May 24, because that gives you lots of time to still get good harvest out of your veggie crops,” he said.

Hardy said planting vegetable seeds when temperatures are still too cold doesn’t bode well for a fruitful harvest.

“If you put stuff in too early, it just sits there being annoyed at you for sitting in cold ground and rainy weather. That doesn’t really work that well,” he said.

As grocery prices continue to rise, more people are testing their green thumbs to access food. Hardy said food security is definitely a topic of concern for many people.