Tips for a successful gardening season

Montréal’s Public Markets bring together some 20 horticulturists, all experts in their field. Visit your public market now and meet passionate producers and merchants who will be pleased to help you and give you advice so you can have a successful gardening season. Find all the horticulturalists here.

The arrival of bedding-out plants, be they flowers, herbs or vegetables, is always eagerly awaited at the public markets. It announces the beginning of the summer season, with its heady scents, bright colours and wide range of local products.

Pansy, rosemary, coriander, tomato and cucumber plants, and lots more! These locally grown products have one thing in common: from May on, they are available in our markets thanks to the dedication of passionate producers. In this article, allow us to introduce you to two of our producers and discover what they have to offer.

serres R. & F. Lacroix at the Jean-talon Market

On a lovely sunny day at the end of April, Mr. Lacroix welcomed us to his family’s greenhouses, an intergenerational enterprise situated in Laval for the past 40 years. After several days of rain, the sun was finally shining and the greenhouses were overflowing with flowers almost ready to leave for Jean Talon Market. The quantity of flowers available is amazing: over 100 different varieties, in 70,00 4 ½ inch pots and 35,000 flats. And that isn’t even counting the mixed-flower hanging baskets, always highly appreciated by customers. No doubt about it, it’s already summer in the greenhouses!

To get this far, the Lacroix family has been hard at work since January, starting production from seeds and cuttings, in order to provide you with magnificent flowers for your gardens right from the first warm days in May. From demure to flamboyant, there’s something for every taste!

We took advantage of our visit to gather a few tips and tricks to help you get a successful gardening season:

• Every year, there is one key date to remember for the start of gardening season: Mother’s Day, when temperatures are finally warming up in Montréal. If you buy flowers before then, it’s better to keep them indoors when it’s colder, or cover them with a sheet if they must remain outdoors.

• There are two very important aspects to take into account when choosing your flowers and your plants: the wind and light available in the space where they will be planted. Ensure that you select plants that are adapted to their future environment.
• For a flower-filled balcony, it is essential to repot the bedding-out flowers you purchased into larger (and especially deeper) pots, to give the roots enough space to grow and the plants to develop and flower optimally.
• Do you want a scented garden? Add herbs such as basil, and highly scented flowers such as heliotropes, which have a delicate vanilla fragrance.
• Some flowers, such as nasturtiums, begonias and pansies, are edible. Add them as a final touch to salads or cook them into colourful and fragrant jellies. You can also freeze them into ice cubes to add some panache to your summer cocktails! Success guaranteed!

serres J.C. Lauzon At Jean-Talon market

Next, we visited the J.C. Lauzon greenhouses, where Madame Lauzon awaited us as she organized products to take to Jean Talon Market early the next morning. The intergenerational family business, which began slightly more than 60 years ago in Saint-Eustache, is renowned for its wide variety of vegetable and herb bedding-out plants. Every year, on March 1, the passionate team begins working in the greenhouses to grow over 200 varieties of vegetables, herbs and flowers: lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, climbing beans, eggplant, cucumbers, parsley and basil, to name just a few.

From year to year, new varieties are added, based on requests from market clientele. So go ahead, talk with your producer about what you’d like to find in the market next year! This year, Serres J.C. Lauzon has some new products: lemony-flavoured thao, Malabar spinach, miniature okra and bitter melon—visit their stand to discover them.

Production methods change every year. This year, they are transitioning towards using recyclable plastic pots instead of the traditional Styrofoam containers—a great initiative to lower the environmental impact of greenhouse production. In addition, the only pesticide used is insecticidal soap, which is only applied as needed.

Here are a few tips and tricks from your producer for a successful gardening season:

• Would you like to garden on your urban balcony, but have limited space? Then try growing various herbs to liven up your dishes all summer. Potted cherry tomatoes and cucumbers are great examples of plants that take up little space and that will add freshness to your summer recipes.

• The most frequent gardening mistake is overwatering! Ask your producer for advice specific to each plant and how water your vegetable garden properly.
• To optimize your herb production, it’s best to bring the plants inside when the weather is bad and put them back outside when it’s nice for a good dose of sun and heat!
• Every year, add new plants to your garden. It’s always a pleasure to discover, pick and cook new vegetables!

Pure horticulture at Atwater Market

Located in the Montérégie region, this organic farm embodies a return to our roots, where healthy eating is not just a trend, but a way of life. The couple, who are present at the Atwater Market from May to October, are committed to working in a safe environment, while keeping in mind the importance of leaving our children a greener planet as their legacy.

Organic vegetable and herb plants grown on their organic farm have been on offer since 2012. Consumers can also buy them directly from the market stall. Around fifty varieties of organic herb plants are produced all year round, while around fifty organic vegetable plants for the kitchen garden are available in May and June. From Lebanese cucumbers and chives to beetroot, yellow beans and lamb's lettuce, there's something for everyone. What's more, since 2021, they have been growing squash, pumpkins and Swiss chard on their certified organic land.

From July to October, they plan pretty bouquets of flowers with sunflowers, Asiatic lilies, dahlias and lavender. Visit them to find out more about what they grow, and take home a beautiful bouquet with lots of tips!

Montréal’s Public Markets bring together some 20 horticulturists, all experts in their field. Visit your public market now and meet passionate producers and merchants who will be pleased to help you and give you advice. 

Find all the horticulturalists here.