Gardening in Newfoundland

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Acid soil, cold, wet winters, short summers, wind and ice-chilled ocean air all make gardening in Newfoundland a real challenge. Gardening in on the Avalon Peninsula, the challenges are doubled.

Pouch Cove is located 23 kms northeast of St. John's, the capital city of Newfoundland, on the Avalon Peninsula. The Avalon Peninsula can have an entirely different climate to that of the rest of Newfoundland. The winters are wetter with more freezing and thawing taking place which is very detrimental to plants, as the continual action of the frost can lift plants roots out of the ground, where they are further exposed to freezing temperature which may kill the plant.

Spring comes late to the Avalon Peninsula, with very little planting outdoors taking place before the first week of June or later, when the chance of a killing frost occuring is slight. However, you must closely listen to weather forecasts during those few weeks and be prepared to cover plants if the temperature threatens to dip to or below the freezing point.

Most plants which are started from seed need the protection of a greenhouse or coldframe in this area to assure a healthy, strong plant which can be safely planted out, allowing sufficient time for maturity before the end of the summer.