In Hamilton, the average last spring frost is Apr 23 and the average first fall frost is Oct 17, a growing season of about 177 days (zone 6b). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 12 and move them outside from May 7. Plant garlic Oct 24 to Oct 31, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Hamilton at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Apr 23 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 17 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 177 days
- Hardiness zone
- 6b (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Hamilton, Vineland and Toronto (Island), 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 Hamilton this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Hamilton in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 12.
What to plant in Hamilton this month (February)
- Start onions indoors: Feb 12
Coming up in early March: start tomatoes indoors (Mar 12), start peppers indoors (Mar 12), start eggplant indoors (Mar 12) and start lettuce indoors (Mar 12).
What to plant in Hamilton this month (March)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 12
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 12
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 12
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 12
- Start kale indoors: Mar 19
- Start broccoli indoors: Mar 19
- Start cabbage indoors: Mar 19
- Start basil indoors: Mar 26
Coming up in early April: direct sow spinach (Apr 2), direct sow peas (Apr 2), direct sow radishes (Apr 2), transplant lettuce (Apr 9), direct sow carrots (Apr 9), start cucumbers indoors (Apr 9), start zucchini indoors (Apr 9) and start winter squash indoors (Apr 9).
What to plant in Hamilton this month (April)
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 2
- Direct sow peas: Apr 2
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 2
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 9
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 9
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 9
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 9
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 9
- Direct sow beets: Apr 16
- Transplant kale: Apr 16
- Transplant broccoli: Apr 16
- Transplant cabbage: Apr 16
- Direct sow potatoes: Apr 16
- Transplant onions: Apr 23
- Transplant cucumbers: Apr 30
- Transplant zucchini: Apr 30
- Transplant winter squash: Apr 30
- Direct sow beans: Apr 30
Coming up in early May: transplant tomatoes (May 7), transplant peppers (May 7), transplant eggplant (May 7) and transplant basil (May 7).
What to plant in Hamilton this month (May)
- Transplant tomatoes: May 7
- Transplant peppers: May 7
- Transplant eggplant: May 7
- Transplant basil: May 7
What to plant in Hamilton this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Hamilton in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 8.
What to plant in Hamilton this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Hamilton in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 8.
What to plant in Hamilton this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 8
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 8
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 22
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 29
Coming up in early September: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Sep 12).
What to plant in Hamilton this month (September)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 12
What to plant in Hamilton this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 24 to Oct 31
What to plant in Hamilton this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Hamilton in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 12.
What to plant in Hamilton this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Hamilton in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 12.
Hamilton planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 12 | Transplant May 7 | From Jul 24 |
| Peppers | Mar 12 | Transplant May 7 | From Jul 18 |
| Eggplant | Mar 12 | Transplant May 7 | From Jul 21 |
| Basil | Mar 26 | Transplant May 7 | From Jun 18 |
| Onions (from seed) | Feb 12 | Transplant Apr 23 | From Aug 1 |
| Lettuce | Mar 12 | Transplant Apr 9Fall: direct sow Aug 22 | From May 19Fall: from Oct 1 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 2Fall: direct sow Aug 29 | From May 12Fall: from Oct 8 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 2Fall: direct sow Aug 8 | From Jun 1Fall: from Oct 7 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 2Fall: direct sow Sep 12 | From Apr 27Fall: from Oct 7 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 9 | From Jun 18 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Apr 16 | From Jun 10 |
| Kale | Mar 19 | Transplant Apr 16Fall: direct sow Aug 8 | From Jun 10Fall: from Oct 2 |
| Broccoli | Mar 19 | Transplant Apr 16 | From Jun 20 |
| Cabbage | Mar 19 | Transplant Apr 16 | From Jun 25 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 9 | Transplant Apr 30 | From Jun 24 |
| Zucchini | Apr 9 | Transplant Apr 30 | From Jun 19 |
| Winter squash | Apr 9 | Transplant Apr 30 | From Jul 29 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Apr 30 | From Jun 24 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 16 | From Jul 5 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 24 to Oct 31 | Around Jul 16 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Hamilton'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 Hamilton
Plant garlic Oct 24 to Oct 31. That is one to two weeks after Hamilton's average first fall frost of Oct 17, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jul 16 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Hamilton.
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 Hamilton:
- Peas: sow Aug 8, ready from about Oct 7
- Kale: sow Aug 8, ready from about Oct 2
- Lettuce: sow Aug 22, ready from about Oct 1
- Spinach: sow Aug 29, ready from about Oct 8
- Radishes: sow Sep 12, ready from about Oct 7
Nearby planting calendars
Hamilton planting questions
When is the last frost in Hamilton?
The average last spring frost in Hamilton is Apr 23, and the average first fall frost is Oct 17, 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 Hamilton?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 12, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 7, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Hamilton in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 24 to Oct 31. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 8, lettuce around Aug 22, spinach around Aug 29 and radishes around Sep 12.