In Quebec City, the average last spring frost is May 14 and the average first fall frost is Sep 28, a growing season of about 137 days (zone 5a). Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 2 and move them outside from May 28. Plant garlic Oct 5 to Oct 12, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Quebec City at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 14 (average)
- First fall frost
- Sep 28 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 137 days
- Hardiness zone
- 5a (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Ste-Foy (U. Laval), Lauzon and Beausejour, 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 Quebec City this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Quebec City in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 5.
What to plant in Quebec City this month (February)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Quebec City in February. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 5.
What to plant in Quebec City 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 Quebec City 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 Quebec City 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 Quebec City this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Quebec City in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Jul 20.
What to plant in Quebec City this month (July)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Jul 20
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Jul 20
Coming up in early August: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Aug 3) and sow spinach for a fall harvest (Aug 10).
What to plant in Quebec City this month (August)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 3
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 10
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Aug 24
What to plant in Quebec City this month (September)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Quebec City in September. Next up: plant garlic on Oct 5.
What to plant in Quebec City this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 5 to Oct 12
What to plant in Quebec City this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Quebec City in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 5.
What to plant in Quebec City this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Quebec City in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 5.
Quebec City 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 3 | From Jun 9Fall: from Sep 12 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 23Fall: direct sow Aug 10 | From Jun 2Fall: from Sep 19 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 23Fall: direct sow Jul 20 | From Jun 22Fall: from Sep 18 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 23Fall: direct sow Aug 24 | From May 18Fall: from Sep 18 |
| 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 20 | From Jul 1Fall: from Sep 13 |
| 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 5 to Oct 12 | Around Aug 6 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Quebec City'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 Quebec City
Plant garlic Oct 5 to Oct 12. That is one to two weeks after Quebec City's average first fall frost of Sep 28, 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 Quebec City.
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 Quebec City:
- Peas: sow Jul 20, ready from about Sep 18
- Kale: sow Jul 20, ready from about Sep 13
- Lettuce: sow Aug 3, ready from about Sep 12
- Spinach: sow Aug 10, ready from about Sep 19
- Radishes: sow Aug 24, ready from about Sep 18
Nearby planting calendars
Quebec City planting questions
When is the last frost in Quebec City?
The average last spring frost in Quebec City is May 14, and the average first fall frost is Sep 28, 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 Quebec City?
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 Quebec City in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 5 to Oct 12. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Jul 20, lettuce around Aug 3, spinach around Aug 10 and radishes around Aug 24.