In Kitchener, the average last spring frost is May 7 and the average first fall frost is Oct 5, a growing season of about 151 days (zone 5b). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 26 and move them outside from May 21. Plant garlic Oct 12 to Oct 19, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Kitchener at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 7 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 5 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 151 days
- Hardiness zone
- 5b (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Kitchener/Waterloo, Hamilton and Mount Forest, 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 Kitchener this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Kitchener in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 26.
What to plant in Kitchener this month (February)
- Start onions indoors: Feb 26
What to plant in Kitchener this month (March)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 26
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 26
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 26
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 26
Coming up in early April: start kale indoors (Apr 2), start broccoli indoors (Apr 2), start cabbage indoors (Apr 2) and start basil indoors (Apr 9).
What to plant in Kitchener this month (April)
- Start kale indoors: Apr 2
- Start broccoli indoors: Apr 2
- Start cabbage indoors: Apr 2
- Start basil indoors: Apr 9
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 16
- Direct sow peas: Apr 16
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 16
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 23
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 23
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 23
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 23
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 23
- Direct sow beets: Apr 30
- Transplant kale: Apr 30
- Transplant broccoli: Apr 30
- Transplant cabbage: Apr 30
- Direct sow potatoes: Apr 30
Coming up in early May: transplant onions (May 7), transplant cucumbers (May 14), transplant zucchini (May 14), transplant winter squash (May 14) and direct sow beans (May 14).
What to plant in Kitchener this month (May)
- Transplant onions: May 7
- Transplant cucumbers: May 14
- Transplant zucchini: May 14
- Transplant winter squash: May 14
- Direct sow beans: May 14
- Transplant tomatoes: May 21
- Transplant peppers: May 21
- Transplant eggplant: May 21
- Transplant basil: May 21
What to plant in Kitchener this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Kitchener in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Jul 27.
What to plant in Kitchener this month (July)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Jul 27
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Jul 27
Coming up in early August: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Aug 10).
What to plant in Kitchener this month (August)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 10
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 17
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Aug 31
What to plant in Kitchener this month (September)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Kitchener in September. Next up: plant garlic on Oct 12.
What to plant in Kitchener this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 12 to Oct 19
What to plant in Kitchener this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Kitchener in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 26.
What to plant in Kitchener this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Kitchener in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 26.
Kitchener planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 26 | Transplant May 21 | From Aug 7 |
| Peppers | Mar 26 | Transplant May 21 | From Aug 1 |
| Eggplant | Mar 26 | Transplant May 21 | From Aug 4 |
| Basil | Apr 9 | Transplant May 21 | From Jul 2 |
| Onions (from seed) | Feb 26 | Transplant May 7 | From Aug 15 |
| Lettuce | Mar 26 | Transplant Apr 23Fall: direct sow Aug 10 | From Jun 2Fall: from Sep 19 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 16Fall: direct sow Aug 17 | From May 26Fall: from Sep 26 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 16Fall: direct sow Jul 27 | From Jun 15Fall: from Sep 25 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 16Fall: direct sow Aug 31 | From May 11Fall: from Sep 25 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 23 | From Jul 2 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Apr 30 | From Jun 24 |
| Kale | Apr 2 | Transplant Apr 30Fall: direct sow Jul 27 | From Jun 24Fall: from Sep 20 |
| Broccoli | Apr 2 | Transplant Apr 30 | From Jul 4 |
| Cabbage | Apr 2 | Transplant Apr 30 | From Jul 9 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 23 | Transplant May 14 | From Jul 8 |
| Zucchini | Apr 23 | Transplant May 14 | From Jul 3 |
| Winter squash | Apr 23 | Transplant May 14 | From Aug 12 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 14 | From Jul 8 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 30 | From Jul 19 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 12 to Oct 19 | Around Jul 30 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Kitchener'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 Kitchener
Plant garlic Oct 12 to Oct 19. That is one to two weeks after Kitchener's average first fall frost of Oct 5, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jul 30 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Kitchener.
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 Kitchener:
- Peas: sow Jul 27, ready from about Sep 25
- Kale: sow Jul 27, ready from about Sep 20
- Lettuce: sow Aug 10, ready from about Sep 19
- Spinach: sow Aug 17, ready from about Sep 26
- Radishes: sow Aug 31, ready from about Sep 25
Nearby planting calendars
Kitchener planting questions
When is the last frost in Kitchener?
The average last spring frost in Kitchener is May 7, and the average first fall frost is Oct 5, 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 Kitchener?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 26, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 21, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Kitchener in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 12 to Oct 19. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Jul 27, lettuce around Aug 10, spinach around Aug 17 and radishes around Aug 31.