Toronto Planting Calendar 2026 — When to Plant Vegetables in Zone 6b

Toronto sits in Hardiness Zone 6b, one of the most favourable growing zones in Canada. With a last spring frost around April 20 and a first fall frost around November 1, Toronto gardeners enjoy roughly 197 growing days — longer than almost anywhere else in the country.

That growing window is generous, but timing still matters. Plant tomatoes too early and a late frost will kill your seedlings. Wait too long and you sacrifice yield. This guide gives you exact 2026 planting dates for Toronto's most popular vegetables, based on Zone 6b frost data.

For a complete personalized schedule, use the MyGardenPlanner.ca planting calculator — enter "Toronto" or your postal code for crop-by-crop dates with seed-starting countdowns.

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Toronto Frost Dates 2026

Important: These are averages. In any given year, Toronto can see frost as late as May 5 or as early as October 15. Watch the forecast before moving tender seedlings outdoors.

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Toronto Planting Calendar — At a Glance

Cool-Season Crops (tolerate light frost)

Warm-Season Crops (frost-sensitive — plant after last frost)

Fall Planting

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Month-by-Month Toronto Garden Tasks

February

• Order seeds (tomatoes, peppers, and unusual varieties sell out)
• Start onions, leeks, and celery indoors (they need 10–12 weeks)
• Set up grow lights: 14–16 hours/day, 2–4 inches above seedlings

March

• Early March: Start peppers and eggplant indoors (8–10 weeks before transplant)
• Mid-March: Start tomatoes indoors (6–8 weeks before transplant)
• Late March: Start brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale)
• Direct sow spinach and arugula outdoors under row cover or in a cold frame

April

• Early April: Direct sow peas, radishes, and spinach outdoors — they tolerate frost
• April 5–15: Transplant brassica starts and onion sets outdoors
• Mid-April: Direct sow beets, carrots, and chard
• Plant potatoes once soil reaches 7°C
• Begin hardening off tomato and pepper starts (move outdoors for progressively longer periods)

May

• May 1–5: Last frost has typically passed. Transplant cucumbers and squash starts
• May 5–10: Transplant tomatoes — but check the 10-day forecast first
• May 10–15: Direct sow beans, corn, zucchini, and basil after all frost risk passes
• Transplant peppers and eggplant last — they stall in cold soil

June

• Stake tomatoes, erect bean trellises
• Succession sow lettuce, radishes, and green onions every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest
• Watch for aphids on brassicas, cucumber beetles on cucumbers and squash
• Side-dress tomatoes and peppers with compost tea or balanced fertilizer

July

• Harvest early crops: peas, lettuce, radishes, green onions
• Direct sow fall crops: beets, carrots, beans, and kale for October harvest
• Water consistently — Toronto summers can be dry and inconsistent watering causes blossom end rot

August

• Begin fall planting in earnest: direct sow spinach, arugula, mâche, Asian greens
• Start fall broccoli and kale transplants indoors early August
• Order seed garlic (plant in October)
• Main harvest season: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini

September

• Harvest summer crops before first frost (October 15 is possible in cold years)
• Plant garlic mid-to-late September if soil is cooling (below 10°C at 4-inch depth)
• Direct sow winter spinach and mâche for cold frame harvest

October

• Plant garlic: October 1–20 is prime Toronto garlic-planting window
• Harvest remaining summer crops before first frost (Nov 1 average, but can come earlier)
• Cure storage crops: winter squash, onions, garlic
• Add compost to empty beds; cover with mulch for winter

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Toronto-Specific Growing Tips

Tomatoes are king. Toronto's Zone 6b status means you can grow long-season tomatoes that struggle in most of Canada. Varieties like San Marzano, Brandywine, and Black Krim have time to ripen. Start seeds indoors March 5–15 and you'll have plants ready for outdoor transplanting in early May.

Watch out for late May cold snaps. Despite the April 20 average last frost, Toronto gardeners regularly report frost events in the first week of May. The safe rule: don't transplant tomatoes or peppers until after May 5, and keep row cover handy until May 20.

Garlic is a Toronto highlight. The long frost-free fall (October often stays above freezing) gives garlic time to establish roots before winter. Plant hardneck varieties (Music, German Red, Chesnok Red) in October and harvest the following July.

The fall season is underused. Toronto's mild October means a second wave of greens is entirely possible. Kale planted in July, spinach sown in August, and arugula seeded in September will all produce through October and into November under row cover.

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Get Your Personalized Toronto Planting Dates

The dates in this guide are based on Toronto's Zone 6b average last frost of April 20. Your specific neighbourhood, microclimate, and crop variety can shift these dates.

Use the MyGardenPlanner.ca calculator for a personalized 2026 planting schedule. Enter your Toronto postal code and select your crops — you'll get exact seed-starting dates, transplant windows, and expected harvest times for your specific situation.

Start planning your Toronto garden at mygardenplanner.ca →