Some herb plants are not ture species like the time I bought supposed French Tarragon. It was bland and tasteless. I wish I had found a more reputable source. Basil has many varieties, and some can grow as tall as 5 foot. You may want to choose a small bush type. Usually starting from seeds is done in your assumed planing zone of 4-5, in about the end of February. Mint needs a lot of time to mature and can spread. Rosemary is another option as it grows well in sunlight, as does thyme. Its your choice and starting from seeds is a bit more reliable if you want to really grow a specific herb. Quite frankly, unless i cant start from seeds, I don't usually buy plants. Even for that, most herb plants are not sold until late spring when weather is mostly above freezing. Aside from nt knowing anything about Canadian plants, you can always find many seed companies that ship to Canada

THanks. Do you know any reputable seed companies that ship to Canada by any chance?

Also, I didn't get the answer to my question: can i start growing them now indoors if i have enough sunlight? And what's a good amount of sunlight?

I'm not sure how to take what you said about mint. Are you trying to say that growing mint is difficult and I should probably avoid it?

I'm not really sure what to grow. My space is small, really small. I can't dedicate more than a window box more than a meter long. I know i love mint, basil, thyme, and tarragon.

Mint tends to spread close to the ground. I don't really care for it, and found it was quite difficult to get rid on in my garden. Seeing as how your planting in a pot or container, it may not be as invasive. Many seed companies will ship to Canada, and I seem to recall that there was one I even ordered from that was based in Canada and I am here in the US. A web search for seed companies in Canada can be easily done. Do you know how to do a web search? In your internet browser, type in the words "Canada seed", and you will get MANY hits, the one I know of is Stokes.

There are oodles of places that sell herb seeds on-line. You can order from them year round. One place that sells both plants and seeds and get this - is in Ontario Canada with you, is Richters. I've ordered from them for years and have been quite happy. As far as plants from them, you may be able to visit and buy some directly. But they don't ship this time of the year as far as I know. I believe the ship starting when the weather warms (i.e. spring) so the plants won't freeze during shipping. According to their website they are 30 minutes northeast of Toronto.

One last thing, get yourself some grow lights to augment the feeble, sporadic sunlight we get this time of year. (I live just south of you in Western NY.) I wouldn't try starting seed without augmenting the lighting else you will get weak, spindly seedlings. Good Luck!

FataMorgana

Here is a link that might be useful: Richters

One thing to keep in mind, true French Tarragon can not be grown from seed, it has to be propogated from a cutting. It is best to buy a plant from a local supplier so you can pinch a leaf to smell and taste.

Yes, I agree about the Tarragon. Some years ago, I got a plant for free and it was tarragon that looked a bit damaged. It did grow quite well and had the distictive flavor and smell. Last year, I bout two 'supposed' Frech Tarragon plants from Gurney and they were bland and tasteless. I think that they were the poor substitute of Russian tarragon, which is not a good herb by any means. LOckally here, it very hard to fnd trie tarragon and I always look at the herbs from every source. If I do find some again, even with a poor smeller (nose), I can smell tarragon if I pluck and crush a leaf in my fingers. The Russian type, gives me no smell at all.

Sheridan Nurseries in Toronto should have seeds and seed-starting supplies by now (or very shortly), and I've seen small herb plants there in the cold weather, mixed in with the tropicals. Sheridan has several locations in Toronto and Markham.

I have ordered herb and other seeds from Stokes Seeds and Dominion Seed House (both in Canada) and from Park Seeds (in the U.S.). They are all very reputable.

I have bought herb plants from Richters, but not recently. I can't remember the time of year. The other place worth trying is Humber Nurseries (far north-west corner of the city, north of the airport). They had herbs in their greenhouses in summer, and I wouldn't be surprised if they had some this time of year, too. I would definitely call before driving all the way to either store.