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6 Hardy Fruits You Can Grow From Seed

January 15, 2019

When you live in a colder climate, it’s easy to think that your fruit growing options are limited. Not so! These six hardy fruits can be grown from seed in Canada or any colder zone. You can start these fruits indoors, then set them outside in your garden or in pots and containers once all risk of frost has passed.

Looking for hardy fruit trees instead? I’ve compiled a list of 28 hardy fruit trees that you can grow in zone 2 and zone 3.

Just because you live in a cold climate doesn't mean your options for growing fruit are limited!  Here's a list of six easy fruits you can grow from seed in your garden or in pots and containers in your backyard. #growingfruit #melons #gardening #hardyfruit #Canada #zone3

Cantaloupe (Muskmelon)

Nothing compares to the taste of a garden fresh cantaloupe. They’re so good you’ll have trouble sharing!! I personally look for varieties with the shortest date to maturity possible, as my growing season is short.

If you want muskmelon all summer, try planting Minnesota Midget (65 days), Halona (75 days) and Sugar Cube (80 days).

Cucamelon

Cucamelons are making a comeback in popularity and are a fun must-try fruit for the home gardener. You can eat them raw, or use them in stir fries, pickling, and salsas. Grow them on a trellis for easy picking.

Ground Cherries

Ground cherries look like tomatillos, but taste like tropical fruit. Use them in baking, jams, or even salsa.

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Honeydew

Honeydew seeds can be a little trickier to find in the seed catalogues, but they are well worth the effort. Try the Honey Mass Hybrid if you’re in a short season area.

Strawberries

Strawberries are usually sold as a root stock or started plant, but you can buy them from seed and start them yourself. Just don’t expect a lot of berries (if any) the year you start them.

If possible, choose a couple of different varieties so you’ll have an abundance of strawberries all summer. I like to have 3 varieties–an ever bearing variety that produces fruit all summer, and early one that produces sometime in June, and a later variety that produces in August.

Need some help starting your seeds from your window? Here’s how.

Watermelon

Watermelons are fun for kids (or those who like to overwater plants) to grow and are super delicious! Quetzali is a good almost seedless variety for small spaces, Sweet Beauty Hybrid will produce all summer, and Cream of Saskatchewan is a unique yellow heirloom variety that looks unique and tastes delicious.

That’s it! Know of any fruits from seed that grow in colder climates that I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments.

Kristen Raney

Kristen is a former farm kid turned urban gardener who owns the popular gardening website, Shifting Roots.  She is obsessed with growing flowers and pushing the limits of what can be grown in her zone 3b garden.  She also loves to grow tomatoes, but oddly enough, dislikes eating them raw.

www.shiftingroots.com

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Filed Under: Fruit Season, Gardening, Simple & Easy Tagged: cantaloupe, cucamelon, ground cherry, growing fruit, hardy fruits, honeydew, melons, seeds, strawberry, watermelon

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Welcome!

Hi, I'm Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

P.S. First time gardener? You'll want to download the quick start gardening guide below!

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Welcome!

Hi, I’m Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

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In conclusion, this is a fun project to pass the winter, and not a truly sustainable source of lettuce.

Thoughts?

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Part of the mystery of seed starting is knowing ex Part of the mystery of seed starting is knowing exactly what to start when.  Every two weeks, I'll be posting these handy guides so you have enough time to order your seeds and be ready to plant when it's time for your area.  To find out when these veggies, herbs, and flowers need to be started where you live. . . ⁠
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1. Search out your area's last frost date.  There are plenty of calculators on the Internet.⁠
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2. Count backwards 8 weeks from that date.⁠
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3. Start these seeds when that date hits.⁠
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If you follow me because we're in similar zones--don't panic, it's not time yet!! I won't be starting my 10 week seeds for another two weeks, and even that is slightly on the early side. (I'm starting everything a bit early so I can hopefully plant it out before baby gets here--I won't be physically able to do it after.) I like posting the info early for followers in warmer zones and so you can save it and still have time to order/buy seeds & supplies.⁠
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Which one of these are you most excited to start?⁠
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It can handle you forgetting to water it, low light, or bright light.  It is somewhat forgiving if you are an over-waterer. ⁠
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