Moving Container Garden Indoors for Toronto Winter: What Survives?

First snow forces balcony containers inside. Most summer crops won’t produce meaningfully indoors—here’s the triage.

Worth Keeping (Herbs Only)

• Parsley, chives, dill: Pot up in 6″ containers; southeast window (4–5 hrs sun) or 12-hr LED.
• Green onions: Regrow from root ends in water or soil.
• Lavender: Dormant; keep cool (45–50 °F), barely water.

Compost & Save Soil

• Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, carrots, beets, lettuce: Harvest any edible parts; dump plants.
• Soil: Spread on tarp, remove roots, amend with compost, store in bins for spring.
• Mystery trees: Likely weed seeds (maple, ash); discard.

Why Indoor Veg Fails

• Insufficient light intensity (window = 10–20% of outdoor PAR).
• No pollinators; hand-pollinating is tedious.
• Pests (aphids, spider mites) explode without predators.

Spring Restart

Early April: refill pots with refreshed mix, direct-sow peas/spinach, transplant tomatoes/peppers after Victoria Day. You’ll be ahead of the game.