In Red Deer, the average last spring frost is May 25 and the average first fall frost is Sep 12, a growing season of about 110 days (zone 3b). Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 13 and move them outside from Jun 8. Plant garlic Sep 19 to Sep 26, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Red Deer at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 25 (average)
- First fall frost
- Sep 12 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 110 days
- Hardiness zone
- 3b (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Red Deer, Sundre and Breton, 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 Red Deer this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Red Deer in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 16.
What to plant in Red Deer this month (February)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Red Deer in February. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 16.
What to plant in Red Deer this month (March)
- Start onions indoors: Mar 16
Coming up in early April: start tomatoes indoors (Apr 13), start peppers indoors (Apr 13), start eggplant indoors (Apr 13) and start lettuce indoors (Apr 13).
What to plant in Red Deer this month (April)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Apr 13
- Start peppers indoors: Apr 13
- Start eggplant indoors: Apr 13
- Start lettuce indoors: Apr 13
- Start kale indoors: Apr 20
- Start broccoli indoors: Apr 20
- Start cabbage indoors: Apr 20
- Start basil indoors: Apr 27
Coming up in early May: direct sow spinach (May 4), direct sow peas (May 4), direct sow radishes (May 4), transplant lettuce (May 11), direct sow carrots (May 11), start cucumbers indoors (May 11), start zucchini indoors (May 11) and start winter squash indoors (May 11).
What to plant in Red Deer this month (May)
- Direct sow spinach: May 4
- Direct sow peas: May 4
- Direct sow radishes: May 4
- Transplant lettuce: May 11
- Direct sow carrots: May 11
- Start cucumbers indoors: May 11
- Start zucchini indoors: May 11
- Start winter squash indoors: May 11
- Direct sow beets: May 18
- Transplant kale: May 18
- Transplant broccoli: May 18
- Transplant cabbage: May 18
- Direct sow potatoes: May 18
- Transplant onions: May 25
Coming up in early June: transplant cucumbers (Jun 1), transplant zucchini (Jun 1), transplant winter squash (Jun 1), direct sow beans (Jun 1), transplant tomatoes (Jun 8), transplant peppers (Jun 8), transplant eggplant (Jun 8) and transplant basil (Jun 8).
What to plant in Red Deer this month (June)
- Transplant cucumbers: Jun 1
- Transplant zucchini: Jun 1
- Transplant winter squash: Jun 1
- Direct sow beans: Jun 1
- Transplant tomatoes: Jun 8
- Transplant peppers: Jun 8
- Transplant eggplant: Jun 8
- Transplant basil: Jun 8
Coming up in early July: sow peas for a fall harvest (Jul 4) and sow kale for a fall harvest (Jul 4).
What to plant in Red Deer this month (July)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Jul 4
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Jul 4
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Jul 18
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Jul 25
Coming up in early August: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Aug 8).
What to plant in Red Deer this month (August)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Aug 8
What to plant in Red Deer this month (September)
- Plant garlic: Sep 19 to Sep 26
What to plant in Red Deer this month (October)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Red Deer in October. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 16.
What to plant in Red Deer this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Red Deer in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 16.
What to plant in Red Deer this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Red Deer in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 16.
Red Deer planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 13 | Transplant Jun 8 | From Aug 25 |
| Peppers | Apr 13 | Transplant Jun 8 | From Aug 19 |
| Eggplant | Apr 13 | Transplant Jun 8 | From Aug 22 |
| Basil | Apr 27 | Transplant Jun 8 | From Jul 20 |
| Onions (from seed) | Mar 16 | Transplant May 25 | From Sep 2 |
| Lettuce | Apr 13 | Transplant May 11Fall: direct sow Jul 18 | From Jun 20Fall: from Aug 27 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow May 4Fall: direct sow Jul 25 | From Jun 13Fall: from Sep 3 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow May 4Fall: direct sow Jul 4 | From Jul 3Fall: from Sep 2 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow May 4Fall: direct sow Aug 8 | From May 29Fall: from Sep 2 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow May 11 | From Jul 20 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow May 18 | From Jul 12 |
| Kale | Apr 20 | Transplant May 18Fall: direct sow Jul 4 | From Jul 12Fall: from Aug 28 |
| Broccoli | Apr 20 | Transplant May 18 | From Jul 22 |
| Cabbage | Apr 20 | Transplant May 18 | From Jul 27 |
| Cucumbers | May 11 | Transplant Jun 1 | From Jul 26 |
| Zucchini | May 11 | Transplant Jun 1 | From Jul 21 |
| Winter squash | May 11 | Transplant Jun 1 | From Aug 30 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Jun 1 | From Jul 26 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow May 18 | From Aug 6 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Sep 19 to Sep 26 | Around Aug 17 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Red Deer'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 Red Deer
Plant garlic Sep 19 to Sep 26. That is one to two weeks after Red Deer's average first fall frost of Sep 12, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Aug 17 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Red Deer.
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 Red Deer:
- Peas: sow Jul 4, ready from about Sep 2
- Kale: sow Jul 4, ready from about Aug 28
- Lettuce: sow Jul 18, ready from about Aug 27
- Spinach: sow Jul 25, ready from about Sep 3
- Radishes: sow Aug 8, ready from about Sep 2
Nearby planting calendars
Red Deer planting questions
When is the last frost in Red Deer?
The average last spring frost in Red Deer is May 25, and the average first fall frost is Sep 12, 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 Red Deer?
Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 13, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Jun 8, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Red Deer in fall?
Garlic goes in Sep 19 to Sep 26. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Jul 4, lettuce around Jul 18, spinach around Jul 25 and radishes around Aug 8.