In Brandon, the average last spring frost is May 21 and the average first fall frost is Sep 21, a growing season of about 123 days (zone 3b). Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 9 and move them outside from Jun 4. Plant garlic Sep 28 to Oct 5, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Brandon at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 21 (average)
- First fall frost
- Sep 21 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 123 days
- Hardiness zone
- 3b (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Brandon, Cypress River and Melita, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Brandon this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Brandon in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 12.
What to plant in Brandon this month (February)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Brandon in February. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 12.
What to plant in Brandon this month (March)
- Start onions indoors: Mar 12
Coming up in early April: start tomatoes indoors (Apr 9), start peppers indoors (Apr 9), start eggplant indoors (Apr 9) and start lettuce indoors (Apr 9).
What to plant in Brandon this month (April)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Apr 9
- Start peppers indoors: Apr 9
- Start eggplant indoors: Apr 9
- Start lettuce indoors: Apr 9
- Start kale indoors: Apr 16
- Start broccoli indoors: Apr 16
- Start cabbage indoors: Apr 16
- Start basil indoors: Apr 23
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 30
- Direct sow peas: Apr 30
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 30
Coming up in early May: transplant lettuce (May 7), direct sow carrots (May 7), start cucumbers indoors (May 7), start zucchini indoors (May 7), start winter squash indoors (May 7), direct sow beets (May 14), transplant kale (May 14), transplant broccoli (May 14), transplant cabbage (May 14) and direct sow potatoes (May 14).
What to plant in Brandon this month (May)
- Transplant lettuce: May 7
- Direct sow carrots: May 7
- Start cucumbers indoors: May 7
- Start zucchini indoors: May 7
- Start winter squash indoors: May 7
- Direct sow beets: May 14
- Transplant kale: May 14
- Transplant broccoli: May 14
- Transplant cabbage: May 14
- Direct sow potatoes: May 14
- Transplant onions: May 21
- Transplant cucumbers: May 28
- Transplant zucchini: May 28
- Transplant winter squash: May 28
- Direct sow beans: May 28
Coming up in early June: transplant tomatoes (Jun 4), transplant peppers (Jun 4), transplant eggplant (Jun 4) and transplant basil (Jun 4).
What to plant in Brandon this month (June)
- Transplant tomatoes: Jun 4
- Transplant peppers: Jun 4
- Transplant eggplant: Jun 4
- Transplant basil: Jun 4
Coming up in early July: sow peas for a fall harvest (Jul 13) and sow kale for a fall harvest (Jul 13).
What to plant in Brandon this month (July)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Jul 13
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Jul 13
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Jul 27
Coming up in early August: sow spinach for a fall harvest (Aug 3).
What to plant in Brandon this month (August)
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 3
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Aug 17
What to plant in Brandon this month (September)
- Plant garlic: Sep 28 to Oct 5
What to plant in Brandon this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Sep 28 to Oct 5
What to plant in Brandon this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Brandon in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 12.
What to plant in Brandon this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Brandon in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 12.
Brandon planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 9 | Transplant Jun 4 | From Aug 21 |
| Peppers | Apr 9 | Transplant Jun 4 | From Aug 15 |
| Eggplant | Apr 9 | Transplant Jun 4 | From Aug 18 |
| Basil | Apr 23 | Transplant Jun 4 | From Jul 16 |
| Onions (from seed) | Mar 12 | Transplant May 21 | From Aug 29 |
| Lettuce | Apr 9 | Transplant May 7Fall: direct sow Jul 27 | From Jun 16Fall: from Sep 5 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 30Fall: direct sow Aug 3 | From Jun 9Fall: from Sep 12 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 30Fall: direct sow Jul 13 | From Jun 29Fall: from Sep 11 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 30Fall: direct sow Aug 17 | From May 25Fall: from Sep 11 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow May 7 | From Jul 16 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow May 14 | From Jul 8 |
| Kale | Apr 16 | Transplant May 14Fall: direct sow Jul 13 | From Jul 8Fall: from Sep 6 |
| Broccoli | Apr 16 | Transplant May 14 | From Jul 18 |
| Cabbage | Apr 16 | Transplant May 14 | From Jul 23 |
| Cucumbers | May 7 | Transplant May 28 | From Jul 22 |
| Zucchini | May 7 | Transplant May 28 | From Jul 17 |
| Winter squash | May 7 | Transplant May 28 | From Aug 26 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 28 | From Jul 22 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow May 14 | From Aug 2 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Sep 28 to Oct 5 | Around Aug 13 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Brandon's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready. Garlic follows University of Minnesota Extension (see below).
Fall planting in Brandon
Plant garlic Sep 28 to Oct 5. That is one to two weeks after Brandon's average first fall frost of Sep 21, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Aug 13 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Brandon.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Brandon:
- Peas: sow Jul 13, ready from about Sep 11
- Kale: sow Jul 13, ready from about Sep 6
- Lettuce: sow Jul 27, ready from about Sep 5
- Spinach: sow Aug 3, ready from about Sep 12
- Radishes: sow Aug 17, ready from about Sep 11
Nearby planting calendars
Brandon planting questions
When is the last frost in Brandon?
The average last spring frost in Brandon is May 21, and the average first fall frost is Sep 21, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Brandon?
Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 9, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Jun 4, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Brandon in fall?
Garlic goes in Sep 28 to Oct 5. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Jul 13, lettuce around Jul 27, spinach around Aug 3 and radishes around Aug 17.