Canadian Frost Dates by Province & City
Find your last spring frost, first fall frost, frost-free days, and hardiness zone for 27 cities across Canada.
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What Are Frost Dates?
Frost dates are the average dates of the last frost in spring and the first frost in fall for a given location. These dates define your frost-free growing season — the window when it is safe to grow tender vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers outdoors without risk of frost damage.
Knowing your local frost dates is the single most important piece of information for planning your Canadian garden. All planting schedules — when to start seeds indoors, when to transplant, and when to direct sow — are calculated relative to your last spring frost date.
Frost Dates by Province
Based on Environment Canada 30-year Climate Normals. Dates represent average probability.
| City | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Frost-Free Days | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | Mar 28 | Nov 2 | 219 | 8a |
| Victoria | Mar 5 | Nov 15 | 255 | 8b |
| Kelowna | Apr 25 | Oct 8 | 166 | 6b |
| City | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Frost-Free Days | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary | May 23 | Sep 15 | 115 | 4a |
| Edmonton | May 7 | Sep 23 | 139 | 4a |
| Lethbridge | May 17 | Sep 20 | 126 | 4b |
| Red Deer | May 25 | Sep 9 | 107 | 3b |
| City | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Frost-Free Days | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regina | May 18 | Sep 15 | 120 | 3b |
| Saskatoon | May 22 | Sep 13 | 114 | 3a |
| Prince Albert | May 27 | Sep 10 | 106 | 2b |
| Swift Current | May 12 | Sep 21 | 132 | 4a |
| City | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Frost-Free Days | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg | May 25 | Sep 22 | 120 | 3b |
| Brandon | May 27 | Sep 14 | 110 | 3a |
| Portage La Prairie | May 24 | Sep 23 | 122 | 3b |
| City | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Frost-Free Days | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | Apr 20 | Oct 30 | 193 | 6b |
| Ottawa | May 6 | Oct 1 | 148 | 5a |
| Hamilton | Apr 22 | Oct 22 | 183 | 6b |
| London | May 5 | Oct 6 | 154 | 6a |
| City | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Frost-Free Days | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal | May 3 | Oct 7 | 157 | 5b |
| Quebec City | May 13 | Sep 28 | 138 | 4b |
| City | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Frost-Free Days | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericton | May 14 | Sep 27 | 136 | 5a |
| Moncton | May 16 | Sep 30 | 137 | 5a |
| City | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Frost-Free Days | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax | Apr 25 | Oct 18 | 176 | 6a |
| City | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Frost-Free Days | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottetown | May 11 | Oct 14 | 156 | 5b |
| Summerside | May 21 | Oct 8 | 140 | 6a |
| City | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Frost-Free Days | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's | May 26 | Oct 12 | 139 | 5b |
Yukon (YT)
| City | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Frost-Free Days | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitehorse | Jun 3 | Aug 30 | 88 | 1a |
Northwest Territories (NT)
| City | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Frost-Free Days | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowknife | May 28 | Sep 7 | 102 | 1a |
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How to Use Frost Dates for Garden Planning
Start Seeds Indoors
Count backwards from your last frost date to determine when to start tomatoes, peppers, and other transplants indoors. Most crops need 6-10 weeks of indoor growing time.
Seed starting guide →Plan Transplanting
Tender crops like tomatoes and cucumbers go outdoors 1-2 weeks after last frost. Hardy crops like kale and peas can go out 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Get your transplant dates →Plan Fall Crops
Use your first fall frost date to count backwards and determine when to plant fall crops like kale, carrots, and beets for a late-season harvest.
Succession planting guide →Use our free planting date calculator to get exact seed starting, transplanting, and harvest dates based on your frost date and crop selection.
Frost Dates FAQ
What are frost dates and why do they matter for gardening?
Frost dates are the average dates of the last spring frost and first fall frost in your area. They define your growing season and determine when it is safe to plant tender crops outdoors. Planting too early risks frost damage, while planting too late shortens your harvest window.
How accurate are average frost dates?
Average frost dates are based on 30-year climate normals and represent a roughly 50% probability. Actual frost dates can vary by 2-3 weeks in any given year. For tender crops, many gardeners wait 1-2 weeks after the average last frost date to be safe.
What is a hardiness zone?
Plant hardiness zones indicate the average minimum winter temperature for an area. Canada uses a hardiness zone system ranging from 0 (coldest) to 9 (mildest). Your zone determines which perennial plants, trees, and shrubs can survive winter in your garden.
How can I extend my growing season beyond frost dates?
You can extend your season using row covers, cold frames, greenhouses, and mulching. Starting seeds indoors before last frost also gives plants a head start. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and carrots can tolerate light frosts and be harvested well past the first fall frost date.
Now that you know your frost dates, put them to work. Use the planting date calculator to build a full sowing schedule, or read our seed starting guide for crop-by-crop indoor timing. Planning successive harvests? Our succession planting guide covers intervals and last sowing dates by zone. Not sure which zone you're in? Check our Canadian hardiness zone lookup.
Cite This Data
You're welcome to reference this frost date data. Please link back to this page:
<a href="https://mygardenplanner.ca/frost-dates-canada">Canadian Frost Dates by Province & City</a> — MyGardenPlannerGet seasonal planting tips in your inbox
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