In Saint John, the average last spring frost is May 17 and the average first fall frost is Oct 1, a growing season of about 137 days (zone 5b). Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 5 and move them outside from May 31. Plant garlic Oct 8 to Oct 15, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Saint John at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 17 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 1 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 137 days
- Hardiness zone
- 5b (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Saint John, Point Lepreau and Sussex/Four Corners, 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 Saint John this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Saint John in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 8.
What to plant in Saint John this month (February)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Saint John in February. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 8.
What to plant in Saint John this month (March)
- Start onions indoors: Mar 8
Coming up in early April: start tomatoes indoors (Apr 5), start peppers indoors (Apr 5), start eggplant indoors (Apr 5), start lettuce indoors (Apr 5), start kale indoors (Apr 12), start broccoli indoors (Apr 12) and start cabbage indoors (Apr 12).
What to plant in Saint John this month (April)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Apr 5
- Start peppers indoors: Apr 5
- Start eggplant indoors: Apr 5
- Start lettuce indoors: Apr 5
- Start kale indoors: Apr 12
- Start broccoli indoors: Apr 12
- Start cabbage indoors: Apr 12
- Start basil indoors: Apr 19
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 26
- Direct sow peas: Apr 26
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 26
Coming up in early May: transplant lettuce (May 3), direct sow carrots (May 3), start cucumbers indoors (May 3), start zucchini indoors (May 3), start winter squash indoors (May 3), direct sow beets (May 10), transplant kale (May 10), transplant broccoli (May 10), transplant cabbage (May 10) and direct sow potatoes (May 10).
What to plant in Saint John this month (May)
- Transplant lettuce: May 3
- Direct sow carrots: May 3
- Start cucumbers indoors: May 3
- Start zucchini indoors: May 3
- Start winter squash indoors: May 3
- Direct sow beets: May 10
- Transplant kale: May 10
- Transplant broccoli: May 10
- Transplant cabbage: May 10
- Direct sow potatoes: May 10
- Transplant onions: May 17
- Transplant cucumbers: May 24
- Transplant zucchini: May 24
- Transplant winter squash: May 24
- Direct sow beans: May 24
- Transplant tomatoes: May 31
- Transplant peppers: May 31
- Transplant eggplant: May 31
- Transplant basil: May 31
What to plant in Saint John this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Saint John in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Jul 23.
What to plant in Saint John this month (July)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Jul 23
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Jul 23
Coming up in early August: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Aug 6) and sow spinach for a fall harvest (Aug 13).
What to plant in Saint John this month (August)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 6
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 13
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Aug 27
What to plant in Saint John this month (September)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Saint John in September. Next up: plant garlic on Oct 8.
What to plant in Saint John this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 8 to Oct 15
What to plant in Saint John this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Saint John in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 8.
What to plant in Saint John this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Saint John in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 8.
Saint John planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 5 | Transplant May 31 | From Aug 17 |
| Peppers | Apr 5 | Transplant May 31 | From Aug 11 |
| Eggplant | Apr 5 | Transplant May 31 | From Aug 14 |
| Basil | Apr 19 | Transplant May 31 | From Jul 12 |
| Onions (from seed) | Mar 8 | Transplant May 17 | From Aug 25 |
| Lettuce | Apr 5 | Transplant May 3Fall: direct sow Aug 6 | From Jun 12Fall: from Sep 15 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 26Fall: direct sow Aug 13 | From Jun 5Fall: from Sep 22 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 26Fall: direct sow Jul 23 | From Jun 25Fall: from Sep 21 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 26Fall: direct sow Aug 27 | From May 21Fall: from Sep 21 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow May 3 | From Jul 12 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow May 10 | From Jul 4 |
| Kale | Apr 12 | Transplant May 10Fall: direct sow Jul 23 | From Jul 4Fall: from Sep 16 |
| Broccoli | Apr 12 | Transplant May 10 | From Jul 14 |
| Cabbage | Apr 12 | Transplant May 10 | From Jul 19 |
| Cucumbers | May 3 | Transplant May 24 | From Jul 18 |
| Zucchini | May 3 | Transplant May 24 | From Jul 13 |
| Winter squash | May 3 | Transplant May 24 | From Aug 22 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 24 | From Jul 18 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow May 10 | From Jul 29 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 8 to Oct 15 | Around Aug 9 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Saint John'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 Saint John
Plant garlic Oct 8 to Oct 15. That is one to two weeks after Saint John's average first fall frost of Oct 1, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Aug 9 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Saint John.
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 Saint John:
- Peas: sow Jul 23, ready from about Sep 21
- Kale: sow Jul 23, ready from about Sep 16
- Lettuce: sow Aug 6, ready from about Sep 15
- Spinach: sow Aug 13, ready from about Sep 22
- Radishes: sow Aug 27, ready from about Sep 21
Nearby planting calendars
Saint John planting questions
When is the last frost in Saint John?
The average last spring frost in Saint John is May 17, and the average first fall frost is Oct 1, 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 Saint John?
Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 5, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 31, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Saint John in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 8 to Oct 15. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Jul 23, lettuce around Aug 6, spinach around Aug 13 and radishes around Aug 27.