In Gatineau, the average last spring frost is May 18 and the average first fall frost is Sep 21, a growing season of about 126 days (zone 5b). Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 6 and move them outside from Jun 1. Plant garlic Sep 28 to Oct 5, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Gatineau at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 18 (average)
- First fall frost
- Sep 21 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 126 days
- Hardiness zone
- 5b (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Ottawa (City), Angers and Luskville, 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 Gatineau this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Gatineau in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 9.
What to plant in Gatineau this month (February)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Gatineau in February. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 9.
What to plant in Gatineau this month (March)
- Start onions indoors: Mar 9
Coming up in early April: start tomatoes indoors (Apr 6), start peppers indoors (Apr 6), start eggplant indoors (Apr 6), start lettuce indoors (Apr 6), start kale indoors (Apr 13), start broccoli indoors (Apr 13) and start cabbage indoors (Apr 13).
What to plant in Gatineau this month (April)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Apr 6
- Start peppers indoors: Apr 6
- Start eggplant indoors: Apr 6
- Start lettuce indoors: Apr 6
- Start kale indoors: Apr 13
- Start broccoli indoors: Apr 13
- Start cabbage indoors: Apr 13
- Start basil indoors: Apr 20
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 27
- Direct sow peas: Apr 27
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 27
Coming up in early May: transplant lettuce (May 4), direct sow carrots (May 4), start cucumbers indoors (May 4), start zucchini indoors (May 4), start winter squash indoors (May 4), direct sow beets (May 11), transplant kale (May 11), transplant broccoli (May 11), transplant cabbage (May 11) and direct sow potatoes (May 11).
What to plant in Gatineau this month (May)
- Transplant lettuce: May 4
- Direct sow carrots: May 4
- Start cucumbers indoors: May 4
- Start zucchini indoors: May 4
- Start winter squash indoors: May 4
- Direct sow beets: May 11
- Transplant kale: May 11
- Transplant broccoli: May 11
- Transplant cabbage: May 11
- Direct sow potatoes: May 11
- Transplant onions: May 18
- Transplant cucumbers: May 25
- Transplant zucchini: May 25
- Transplant winter squash: May 25
- Direct sow beans: May 25
Coming up in early June: transplant tomatoes (Jun 1), transplant peppers (Jun 1), transplant eggplant (Jun 1) and transplant basil (Jun 1).
What to plant in Gatineau this month (June)
- Transplant tomatoes: Jun 1
- Transplant peppers: Jun 1
- Transplant eggplant: Jun 1
- Transplant basil: Jun 1
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 Gatineau 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 Gatineau this month (August)
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 3
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Aug 17
What to plant in Gatineau this month (September)
- Plant garlic: Sep 28 to Oct 5
What to plant in Gatineau this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Sep 28 to Oct 5
What to plant in Gatineau this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Gatineau in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 9.
What to plant in Gatineau this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Gatineau in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 9.
Gatineau planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 6 | Transplant Jun 1 | From Aug 18 |
| Peppers | Apr 6 | Transplant Jun 1 | From Aug 12 |
| Eggplant | Apr 6 | Transplant Jun 1 | From Aug 15 |
| Basil | Apr 20 | Transplant Jun 1 | From Jul 13 |
| Onions (from seed) | Mar 9 | Transplant May 18 | From Aug 26 |
| Lettuce | Apr 6 | Transplant May 4Fall: direct sow Jul 27 | From Jun 13Fall: from Sep 5 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 27Fall: direct sow Aug 3 | From Jun 6Fall: from Sep 12 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 27Fall: direct sow Jul 13 | From Jun 26Fall: from Sep 11 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 27Fall: direct sow Aug 17 | From May 22Fall: from Sep 11 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow May 4 | From Jul 13 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow May 11 | From Jul 5 |
| Kale | Apr 13 | Transplant May 11Fall: direct sow Jul 13 | From Jul 5Fall: from Sep 6 |
| Broccoli | Apr 13 | Transplant May 11 | From Jul 15 |
| Cabbage | Apr 13 | Transplant May 11 | From Jul 20 |
| Cucumbers | May 4 | Transplant May 25 | From Jul 19 |
| Zucchini | May 4 | Transplant May 25 | From Jul 14 |
| Winter squash | May 4 | Transplant May 25 | From Aug 23 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 25 | From Jul 19 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow May 11 | From Jul 30 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Sep 28 to Oct 5 | Around Aug 10 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Gatineau'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 Gatineau
Plant garlic Sep 28 to Oct 5. That is one to two weeks after Gatineau'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 10 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Gatineau.
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 Gatineau:
- 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
Gatineau planting questions
When is the last frost in Gatineau?
The average last spring frost in Gatineau is May 18, 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 Gatineau?
Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 6, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Jun 1, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Gatineau 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.