In Peterborough, the average last spring frost is May 14 and the average first fall frost is Oct 3, a growing season of about 142 days (zone 5b). Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 2 and move them outside from May 28. Plant garlic Oct 10 to Oct 17, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Peterborough at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 14 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 3 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 142 days
- Hardiness zone
- 5b (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Peterborough, Oshawa and Udora, 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 Peterborough this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Peterborough in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 5.
What to plant in Peterborough this month (February)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Peterborough in February. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 5.
What to plant in Peterborough this month (March)
- Start onions indoors: Mar 5
Coming up in early April: start tomatoes indoors (Apr 2), start peppers indoors (Apr 2), start eggplant indoors (Apr 2), start lettuce indoors (Apr 2), start kale indoors (Apr 9), start broccoli indoors (Apr 9) and start cabbage indoors (Apr 9).
What to plant in Peterborough this month (April)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Apr 2
- Start peppers indoors: Apr 2
- Start eggplant indoors: Apr 2
- Start lettuce indoors: Apr 2
- Start kale indoors: Apr 9
- Start broccoli indoors: Apr 9
- Start cabbage indoors: Apr 9
- Start basil indoors: Apr 16
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 23
- Direct sow peas: Apr 23
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 23
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 30
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 30
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 30
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 30
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 30
Coming up in early May: direct sow beets (May 7), transplant kale (May 7), transplant broccoli (May 7), transplant cabbage (May 7), direct sow potatoes (May 7) and transplant onions (May 14).
What to plant in Peterborough this month (May)
- Direct sow beets: May 7
- Transplant kale: May 7
- Transplant broccoli: May 7
- Transplant cabbage: May 7
- Direct sow potatoes: May 7
- Transplant onions: May 14
- Transplant cucumbers: May 21
- Transplant zucchini: May 21
- Transplant winter squash: May 21
- Direct sow beans: May 21
- Transplant tomatoes: May 28
- Transplant peppers: May 28
- Transplant eggplant: May 28
- Transplant basil: May 28
What to plant in Peterborough this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Peterborough in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Jul 25.
What to plant in Peterborough this month (July)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Jul 25
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Jul 25
Coming up in early August: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Aug 8).
What to plant in Peterborough this month (August)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 8
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 15
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Aug 29
What to plant in Peterborough this month (September)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Peterborough in September. Next up: plant garlic on Oct 10.
What to plant in Peterborough this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 10 to Oct 17
What to plant in Peterborough this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Peterborough in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 5.
What to plant in Peterborough this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Peterborough in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 5.
Peterborough planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 2 | Transplant May 28 | From Aug 14 |
| Peppers | Apr 2 | Transplant May 28 | From Aug 8 |
| Eggplant | Apr 2 | Transplant May 28 | From Aug 11 |
| Basil | Apr 16 | Transplant May 28 | From Jul 9 |
| Onions (from seed) | Mar 5 | Transplant May 14 | From Aug 22 |
| Lettuce | Apr 2 | Transplant Apr 30Fall: direct sow Aug 8 | From Jun 9Fall: from Sep 17 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 23Fall: direct sow Aug 15 | From Jun 2Fall: from Sep 24 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 23Fall: direct sow Jul 25 | From Jun 22Fall: from Sep 23 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 23Fall: direct sow Aug 29 | From May 18Fall: from Sep 23 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 30 | From Jul 9 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow May 7 | From Jul 1 |
| Kale | Apr 9 | Transplant May 7Fall: direct sow Jul 25 | From Jul 1Fall: from Sep 18 |
| Broccoli | Apr 9 | Transplant May 7 | From Jul 11 |
| Cabbage | Apr 9 | Transplant May 7 | From Jul 16 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 30 | Transplant May 21 | From Jul 15 |
| Zucchini | Apr 30 | Transplant May 21 | From Jul 10 |
| Winter squash | Apr 30 | Transplant May 21 | From Aug 19 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 21 | From Jul 15 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow May 7 | From Jul 26 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 10 to Oct 17 | Around Aug 6 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Peterborough'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 Peterborough
Plant garlic Oct 10 to Oct 17. That is one to two weeks after Peterborough's average first fall frost of Oct 3, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Aug 6 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Peterborough.
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 Peterborough:
- Peas: sow Jul 25, ready from about Sep 23
- Kale: sow Jul 25, ready from about Sep 18
- Lettuce: sow Aug 8, ready from about Sep 17
- Spinach: sow Aug 15, ready from about Sep 24
- Radishes: sow Aug 29, ready from about Sep 23
Nearby planting calendars
Peterborough planting questions
When is the last frost in Peterborough?
The average last spring frost in Peterborough is May 14, and the average first fall frost is Oct 3, 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 Peterborough?
Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 2, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 28, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Peterborough in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 10 to Oct 17. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Jul 25, lettuce around Aug 8, spinach around Aug 15 and radishes around Aug 29.