May Long Weekend is the unofficial kickoff to gardening season in the Pembina Valley — few people are as prepared as John Froese, the man behind Post Road Vegetables in Hochfeld. For nearly 30 years, John and his family have run a market garden, growing everything from cabbage to his personal favourite: gourmet sweet corn.
Rooted in passion: A lifelong love for gardening
For Froese, gardening isn’t just a business — it’s a family tradition. “I was introduced to gardening quite young,” he says. “My dad was an avid gardener, and I guess it must be in the genes because I just picked it up.”
He joked that he once had dreams of becoming rich from vegetables, but he quickly realized the real reward was elsewhere.
“We’ve always had lots to eat, and a little extra cash didn’t hurt.”
Now, alongside his wife Amanda and their seven sons (two still at home), Froese continues the legacy, with the adult children occasionally pitching in. “There were probably some complaints in the teenage years… but at a certain point, it turned around. Now some of my adult children are starting to garden too.”
May long madness: When the rush begins
For most Pembina Valley residents, May Long Weekend is the green light for getting plants in the ground — and for Froese, it’s a hectic time.
“It is a crazy weekend,” he says. “This year, we’re actually only starting on Monday because of the weather. The plants are better off staying in the greenhouse.”
Post Road sells many of its plants outdoors in a shaded area to help them “harden off” before hitting people’s gardens.
“It’s just like anything else,” Froese explains. “If I came out after a long winter and went straight into the sun, I’d get sunburned. But if I transitioned a little bit, then it’s fine.”
Cold weather gardening: What can you plant now?
While this year’s May Long forecast looks cool and rainy, John says that doesn’t mean gardeners should wait on everything.
“There’s no reason why you can’t plant your potatoes, carrots, lettuce transplants, cabbage, or cauliflower. They’re not going to be hurt one bit by this kind of thing.”
As for seeds, go ahead — they won’t mind the cold.
“You can seed anything you want really, even your beans and your corn. It'll take a week to 10 days to come up anyway, and hopefully by then, we'll leave the weather behind.”
But beware of rushing tropical plants like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. “They don’t particularly like it when it gets down to 3°C. It’s not good for them. At a certain point in Manitoba, you just have to take your chances.”
Tips & tricks from a market garden pro
After decades in the business, Froese has developed some favourite tools and techniques for successful planting:
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Use alfalfa pellets as fertilizer. “They’re easy to broadcast, and they don’t take much water. They turn back to their original meal form quickly.”
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Invest in bottom heat for germination. “Electric bottom heat pads have been the biggest game-changer in the greenhouse. They help start seeds consistently and evenly.”
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Protect from frost the right way. “Old sheets are better than plastic. If plastic touches the plant, it’ll freeze anyway. Always try to leave some air space.”
And if a late frost is in the forecast — like it was back in 2003 — having a greenhouse or holding off can save your crop.
“I recall one year we had a hard frost on June 7th — almost -10°C. I was lucky. I’d been too busy selling plants to put mine out, so they were safe in the greenhouse.”
Visit Post Road Vegetables this spring
Post Road Vegetables officially opens its doors on Monday, May 20th, and while Froese will be busy working in the garden, his wife Amanda will be out front to greet customers.
“Our Facebook page is the best place to check for updates,” he adds. “People can ask questions there, and sometimes they even order their plants ahead of time so we have them ready.”
Whether you’re a beginner or a green-thumbed pro, John Froese’s wisdom is worth taking to heart this planting season.
As he puts it: “In Manitoba, you’re either going to lose it in spring or lose it before harvest — at a certain point, you just have to pull the trigger and hope for the best.”
Follow Post Road Vegetables on Facebook for plant updates, gardening tips, and official opening day announcements. Happy planting, Pembina Valley!