When to Plant Vegetables in North America
Planting dates, frost dates, hardiness zones, and growing tips for all 10 Canadian provinces and 50 US states.
Get Exact Dates with Free CalculatorCanada — Planting Dates by Province
Select your province for detailed planting dates, frost date tables, and regional growing tips.
Ontario
Zones 2a-7a
115-200 frost-free days depending on location
4 cities with frost date data
British Columbia
Zones 4a-9a
150-260 frost-free days depending on location
3 cities with frost date data
Alberta
Zones 1a-4b
90-130 frost-free days depending on location
4 cities with frost date data
Quebec
Zones 1a-5b
100-160 frost-free days depending on location
2 cities with frost date data
Saskatchewan
Zones 1a-3b
90-120 frost-free days depending on location
3 cities with frost date data
Manitoba
Zones 1a-3b
100-125 frost-free days depending on location
3 cities with frost date data
Nova Scotia
Zones 5a-6b
140-180 frost-free days depending on location
1 city with frost date data
New Brunswick
Zones 3b-5b
120-140 frost-free days depending on location
2 cities with frost date data
Newfoundland and Labrador
Zones 1a-5b
85-140 frost-free days depending on location
1 city with frost date data
Prince Edward Island
Zones 5a-5b
140-160 frost-free days
1 city with frost date data
United States — Planting Dates by State
Select your state for detailed planting dates, USDA zones, frost date tables, and growing tips.
California
USDA Zones 5a-11a
150-365 frost-free days depending on location
4 cities with frost date data
Texas
USDA Zones 6b-10a
180-330 frost-free days depending on location
4 cities with frost date data
Florida
USDA Zones 8b-11a
240-365 frost-free days depending on location
3 cities with frost date data
New York
USDA Zones 3b-7b
100-220 frost-free days depending on location
4 cities with frost date data
Pennsylvania
USDA Zones 5b-7b
140-210 frost-free days depending on location
3 cities with frost date data
Illinois
USDA Zones 5a-7a
155-210 frost-free days depending on location
3 cities with frost date data
Ohio
USDA Zones 5b-6b
155-200 frost-free days depending on location
3 cities with frost date data
Georgia
USDA Zones 7a-9a
200-290 frost-free days depending on location
3 cities with frost date data
North Carolina
USDA Zones 5b-8b
150-250 frost-free days depending on location
3 cities with frost date data
Michigan
USDA Zones 4a-6b
110-180 frost-free days depending on location
3 cities with frost date data
Washington
USDA Zones 4b-9a
100-250 frost-free days depending on location
3 cities with frost date data
Colorado
USDA Zones 3a-7a
60-165 frost-free days depending on location
3 cities with frost date data
How to Use Planting Dates
Find Your Frost Dates
Look up the average last spring frost and first fall frost dates for your city. These define your growing season.
Count Backwards
Each crop has specific timing relative to your frost date. Count backwards from your target harvest or forwards from last frost to find planting windows.
Start Seeds Indoors
Warm-season crops like tomatoes need 6-10 weeks indoors before transplanting after the last frost date.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start planting in Canada?
Planting dates vary significantly across Canada. In coastal BC (zone 8-9), you can start cool crops outdoors in February. In the Prairies (zones 1-4), most planting begins in mid to late May after the last frost. Use your local frost date as the starting point for all planting calculations.
How do I find my hardiness zone in Canada?
Canadian hardiness zones range from 0 (extreme north) to 9 (coastal BC). Your zone is determined by average minimum winter temperatures. Check our province pages for zone ranges, or use Natural Resources Canada's Plant Hardiness Zone map for your exact location.
What vegetables grow in all Canadian provinces?
Cold-hardy crops like peas, lettuce, kale, spinach, carrots, and potatoes grow successfully in every Canadian province. Warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers can be grown anywhere with indoor seed starting and proper timing around frost dates.
How long is the growing season in Canada?
Growing seasons range from about 85 frost-free days in Newfoundland and northern regions to over 250 days on the BC coast. Most populated areas of Canada have 120-200 frost-free days, which is sufficient for a wide range of vegetables.
How do I find my USDA hardiness zone?
USDA hardiness zones are based on average annual minimum winter temperatures. The US ranges from zone 1 (coldest, Alaska interior) to zone 13 (warmest, Hawaii). Check our state pages for zone ranges, or use the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for your exact location.
When should I start planting in the United States?
Planting dates vary across the US. In the deep South (zones 8-10), spring planting begins as early as February. In the upper Midwest and northern states (zones 3-5), most planting starts in mid to late May. Use your last frost date as the starting point for all planting calculations.
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Explore More Resources
US State Planting Dates
USDA zones, frost dates, and growing tips for all 50 US states.
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Free Calculator
Calculate exact planting dates based on your location and frost dates.