In Calgary, the average last spring frost is May 23 and the average first fall frost is Sep 10, a growing season of about 110 days (zone 4a). Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 11 and move them outside from Jun 6. Plant garlic Sep 17 to Sep 24, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Calgary at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 23 (average)
- First fall frost
- Sep 10 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 110 days
- Hardiness zone
- 4a (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Calgary (Airport), Sundre and Queenstown, 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 Calgary this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Calgary in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 14.
What to plant in Calgary this month (February)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Calgary in February. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 14.
What to plant in Calgary this month (March)
- Start onions indoors: Mar 14
Coming up in early April: start tomatoes indoors (Apr 11), start peppers indoors (Apr 11), start eggplant indoors (Apr 11) and start lettuce indoors (Apr 11).
What to plant in Calgary this month (April)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Apr 11
- Start peppers indoors: Apr 11
- Start eggplant indoors: Apr 11
- Start lettuce indoors: Apr 11
- Start kale indoors: Apr 18
- Start broccoli indoors: Apr 18
- Start cabbage indoors: Apr 18
- Start basil indoors: Apr 25
Coming up in early May: direct sow spinach (May 2), direct sow peas (May 2), direct sow radishes (May 2), transplant lettuce (May 9), direct sow carrots (May 9), start cucumbers indoors (May 9), start zucchini indoors (May 9) and start winter squash indoors (May 9).
What to plant in Calgary this month (May)
- Direct sow spinach: May 2
- Direct sow peas: May 2
- Direct sow radishes: May 2
- Transplant lettuce: May 9
- Direct sow carrots: May 9
- Start cucumbers indoors: May 9
- Start zucchini indoors: May 9
- Start winter squash indoors: May 9
- Direct sow beets: May 16
- Transplant kale: May 16
- Transplant broccoli: May 16
- Transplant cabbage: May 16
- Direct sow potatoes: May 16
- Transplant onions: May 23
- Transplant cucumbers: May 30
- Transplant zucchini: May 30
- Transplant winter squash: May 30
- Direct sow beans: May 30
Coming up in early June: transplant tomatoes (Jun 6), transplant peppers (Jun 6), transplant eggplant (Jun 6) and transplant basil (Jun 6).
What to plant in Calgary this month (June)
- Transplant tomatoes: Jun 6
- Transplant peppers: Jun 6
- Transplant eggplant: Jun 6
- Transplant basil: Jun 6
Coming up in early July: sow peas for a fall harvest (Jul 2) and sow kale for a fall harvest (Jul 2).
What to plant in Calgary this month (July)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Jul 2
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Jul 2
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Jul 16
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Jul 23
Coming up in early August: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Aug 6).
What to plant in Calgary this month (August)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Aug 6
What to plant in Calgary this month (September)
- Plant garlic: Sep 17 to Sep 24
What to plant in Calgary this month (October)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Calgary in October. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 14.
What to plant in Calgary this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Calgary in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 14.
What to plant in Calgary this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Calgary in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 14.
Calgary planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 11 | Transplant Jun 6 | From Aug 23 |
| Peppers | Apr 11 | Transplant Jun 6 | From Aug 17 |
| Eggplant | Apr 11 | Transplant Jun 6 | From Aug 20 |
| Basil | Apr 25 | Transplant Jun 6 | From Jul 18 |
| Onions (from seed) | Mar 14 | Transplant May 23 | From Aug 31 |
| Lettuce | Apr 11 | Transplant May 9Fall: direct sow Jul 16 | From Jun 18Fall: from Aug 25 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow May 2Fall: direct sow Jul 23 | From Jun 11Fall: from Sep 1 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow May 2Fall: direct sow Jul 2 | From Jul 1Fall: from Aug 31 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow May 2Fall: direct sow Aug 6 | From May 27Fall: from Aug 31 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow May 9 | From Jul 18 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow May 16 | From Jul 10 |
| Kale | Apr 18 | Transplant May 16Fall: direct sow Jul 2 | From Jul 10Fall: from Aug 26 |
| Broccoli | Apr 18 | Transplant May 16 | From Jul 20 |
| Cabbage | Apr 18 | Transplant May 16 | From Jul 25 |
| Cucumbers | May 9 | Transplant May 30 | From Jul 24 |
| Zucchini | May 9 | Transplant May 30 | From Jul 19 |
| Winter squash | May 9 | Transplant May 30 | From Aug 28 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 30 | From Jul 24 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow May 16 | From Aug 4 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Sep 17 to Sep 24 | Around Aug 15 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Calgary'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 Calgary
Plant garlic Sep 17 to Sep 24. That is one to two weeks after Calgary's average first fall frost of Sep 10, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Aug 15 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Calgary.
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 Calgary:
- Peas: sow Jul 2, ready from about Aug 31
- Kale: sow Jul 2, ready from about Aug 26
- Lettuce: sow Jul 16, ready from about Aug 25
- Spinach: sow Jul 23, ready from about Sep 1
- Radishes: sow Aug 6, ready from about Aug 31
Nearby planting calendars
Calgary planting questions
When is the last frost in Calgary?
The average last spring frost in Calgary is May 23, and the average first fall frost is Sep 10, 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 Calgary?
Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 11, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Jun 6, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Calgary in fall?
Garlic goes in Sep 17 to Sep 24. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Jul 2, lettuce around Jul 16, spinach around Jul 23 and radishes around Aug 6.