In Owen Sound, the average last spring frost is May 10 and the average first fall frost is Oct 8, a growing season of about 151 days (zone 5b). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 29 and move them outside from May 24. Plant garlic Oct 15 to Oct 22, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Owen Sound at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 10 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 8 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 151 days
- Hardiness zone
- 5b (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Wiarton; Mount Forest; and Egbert 1 W, ON, 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 Owen Sound this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Owen Sound in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 1.
What to plant in Owen Sound this month (February)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Owen Sound in February. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 1.
What to plant in Owen Sound this month (March)
- Start onions indoors: Mar 1
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 29
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 29
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 29
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 29
Coming up in early April: start kale indoors (Apr 5), start broccoli indoors (Apr 5), start cabbage indoors (Apr 5) and start basil indoors (Apr 12).
What to plant in Owen Sound this month (April)
- Start kale indoors: Apr 5
- Start broccoli indoors: Apr 5
- Start cabbage indoors: Apr 5
- Start basil indoors: Apr 12
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 19
- Direct sow peas: Apr 19
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 19
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 26
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 26
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 26
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 26
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 26
Coming up in early May: direct sow beets (May 3), transplant kale (May 3), transplant broccoli (May 3), transplant cabbage (May 3), direct sow potatoes (May 3) and transplant onions (May 10).
What to plant in Owen Sound this month (May)
- Direct sow beets: May 3
- Transplant kale: May 3
- Transplant broccoli: May 3
- Transplant cabbage: May 3
- Direct sow potatoes: May 3
- Transplant onions: May 10
- Transplant cucumbers: May 17
- Transplant zucchini: May 17
- Transplant winter squash: May 17
- Direct sow beans: May 17
- Transplant tomatoes: May 24
- Transplant peppers: May 24
- Transplant eggplant: May 24
- Transplant basil: May 24
What to plant in Owen Sound this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Owen Sound in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Jul 30.
What to plant in Owen Sound this month (July)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Jul 30
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Jul 30
Coming up in early August: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Aug 13).
What to plant in Owen Sound this month (August)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 13
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 20
Coming up in early September: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Sep 3).
What to plant in Owen Sound this month (September)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 3
What to plant in Owen Sound this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 15 to Oct 22
What to plant in Owen Sound this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Owen Sound in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 1.
What to plant in Owen Sound this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Owen Sound in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 1.
Owen Sound planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 29 | Transplant May 24 | From Aug 10 |
| Peppers | Mar 29 | Transplant May 24 | From Aug 4 |
| Eggplant | Mar 29 | Transplant May 24 | From Aug 7 |
| Basil | Apr 12 | Transplant May 24 | From Jul 5 |
| Onions (from seed) | Mar 1 | Transplant May 10 | From Aug 18 |
| Lettuce | Mar 29 | Transplant Apr 26Fall: direct sow Aug 13 | From Jun 5Fall: from Sep 22 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 19Fall: direct sow Aug 20 | From May 29Fall: from Sep 29 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 19Fall: direct sow Jul 30 | From Jun 18Fall: from Sep 28 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 19Fall: direct sow Sep 3 | From May 14Fall: from Sep 28 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 26 | From Jul 5 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow May 3 | From Jun 27 |
| Kale | Apr 5 | Transplant May 3Fall: direct sow Jul 30 | From Jun 27Fall: from Sep 23 |
| Broccoli | Apr 5 | Transplant May 3 | From Jul 7 |
| Cabbage | Apr 5 | Transplant May 3 | From Jul 12 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 26 | Transplant May 17 | From Jul 11 |
| Zucchini | Apr 26 | Transplant May 17 | From Jul 6 |
| Winter squash | Apr 26 | Transplant May 17 | From Aug 15 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 17 | From Jul 11 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow May 3 | From Jul 22 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 15 to Oct 22 | Around Aug 2 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Owen Sound'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 Owen Sound
Plant garlic Oct 15 to Oct 22. That is one to two weeks after Owen Sound's average first fall frost of Oct 8, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Aug 2 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Owen Sound.
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 Owen Sound:
- Peas: sow Jul 30, ready from about Sep 28
- Kale: sow Jul 30, ready from about Sep 23
- Lettuce: sow Aug 13, ready from about Sep 22
- Spinach: sow Aug 20, ready from about Sep 29
- Radishes: sow Sep 3, ready from about Sep 28
Nearby planting calendars
Owen Sound planting questions
When is the last frost in Owen Sound?
The average last spring frost in Owen Sound is May 10, and the average first fall frost is Oct 8, 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 Owen Sound?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 29, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 24, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Owen Sound in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 15 to Oct 22. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Jul 30, lettuce around Aug 13, spinach around Aug 20 and radishes around Sep 3.