🌱 Seed Starting Season – COMING SOON!
What to Start Indoors in March
March in Ontario always feels like the unofficial start of gardening season. The snow is melting, the sun sticks around a little longer, and every gardener starts thinking: “What can I plant right now?”
While it’s still too cold to plant outdoors, March is PERFECT for starting seeds indoors using trays and grow lights. Starting early gives you stronger plants, earlier harvests, and way more variety than anything you’ll find pre-grown. And honestly? Watching those first sprouts pop up might be the best part of spring.
🌿 Why Start Seeds Indoors?
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Earlier harvests
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Stronger root systems
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More plant variety (heirloom & specialty seeds)
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Budget-friendly gardening
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A head start on Ontario’s short growing season
March seeds = June bragging rights.
🥕 Vegetables to Start Indoors in March
Early March (slow growers – start first)
These need extra time to mature:
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Peppers (sweet & hot)
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Eggplant
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Leeks
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Onions (from seed)
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Celery
If you wait until April, they’ll be playing catch-up all summer.
Mid–Late March
These grow quickly but still benefit from an indoor head start:
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Tomatoes
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Broccoli
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Cauliflower
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Cabbage
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Kale
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Swiss chard
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Lettuce
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Herbs (basil, parsley, thyme, oregano)
Tomatoes especially love an early start — you’ll get thicker stems and earlier fruit.
🌸 Flowers to Start Indoors in March
Want colour earlier in the season? Start your annuals indoors now.
Top picks:
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Zinnias
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Cosmos
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Snapdragons
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Petunias
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Marigolds
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Dusty Miller
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Salvia
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Coleus
Starting flowers inside means blooms weeks earlier, instead of waiting until midsummer.
🌱 How to Start Seeds Like a Pro
Step 1 — Use proper trays
Choose cell trays or plug trays with drainage + a bottom watering tray.
Step 2 — Use seed starting mix
Not garden soil. A light, sterile mix prevents disease and improves germination.
Step 3 — Plant shallow
Most seeds only need to be planted 2–3× their size deep. Tiny seeds? Just press onto the surface.
Step 4 — Water from below
Let roots soak up moisture from the bottom to prevent fungus and weak stems.
Step 5 — Give LOTS of light
14–16 hours per day. A sunny window helps, but grow lights work best.
Step 6 — Add airflow
A small fan keeps stems sturdy and prevents mould.
📅 Ontario Planting Timeline
Niagara & Southern Ontario gardeners:
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Cold crops → late April / early May
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Tomatoes & peppers → after Victoria Day (frost risk is real!)
Count back 6–10 weeks from planting outside — that’s your indoor seed starting window.
👉 March is right on time.
🌼 Visit Ridgeview & Get Growing
At Ridgeview Garden Centre, we’ve stocked everything you need:
✔ Seed trays & humidity domes
✔ Premium seed starting mix
✔ Heat mats & grow lights
✔ Heirloom and speciality seeds
✔ Friendly, expert advice
Whether it’s your first tomato plant or your fiftieth season gardening, we’re here to help you grow with confidence.