In Saskatoon, the average last spring frost is May 21 and the average first fall frost is Sep 14, a growing season of about 116 days (zone 3b). Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 9 and move them outside from Jun 4. Plant garlic Sep 21 to Sep 28, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Saskatoon at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 21 (average)
- First fall frost
- Sep 14 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 116 days
- Hardiness zone
- 3b (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Saskatoon Diefenbaker (Airport), Watrous and Rosetown, 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 Saskatoon this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Saskatoon in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 12.
What to plant in Saskatoon this month (February)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Saskatoon in February. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 12.
What to plant in Saskatoon this month (March)
- Start onions indoors: Mar 12
Coming up in early April: start tomatoes indoors (Apr 9), start peppers indoors (Apr 9), start eggplant indoors (Apr 9) and start lettuce indoors (Apr 9).
What to plant in Saskatoon this month (April)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Apr 9
- Start peppers indoors: Apr 9
- Start eggplant indoors: Apr 9
- Start lettuce indoors: Apr 9
- Start kale indoors: Apr 16
- Start broccoli indoors: Apr 16
- Start cabbage indoors: Apr 16
- Start basil indoors: Apr 23
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 30
- Direct sow peas: Apr 30
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 30
Coming up in early May: transplant lettuce (May 7), direct sow carrots (May 7), start cucumbers indoors (May 7), start zucchini indoors (May 7), start winter squash indoors (May 7), direct sow beets (May 14), transplant kale (May 14), transplant broccoli (May 14), transplant cabbage (May 14) and direct sow potatoes (May 14).
What to plant in Saskatoon this month (May)
- Transplant lettuce: May 7
- Direct sow carrots: May 7
- Start cucumbers indoors: May 7
- Start zucchini indoors: May 7
- Start winter squash indoors: May 7
- Direct sow beets: May 14
- Transplant kale: May 14
- Transplant broccoli: May 14
- Transplant cabbage: May 14
- Direct sow potatoes: May 14
- Transplant onions: May 21
- Transplant cucumbers: May 28
- Transplant zucchini: May 28
- Transplant winter squash: May 28
- Direct sow beans: May 28
Coming up in early June: transplant tomatoes (Jun 4), transplant peppers (Jun 4), transplant eggplant (Jun 4) and transplant basil (Jun 4).
What to plant in Saskatoon this month (June)
- Transplant tomatoes: Jun 4
- Transplant peppers: Jun 4
- Transplant eggplant: Jun 4
- Transplant basil: Jun 4
Coming up in early July: sow peas for a fall harvest (Jul 6) and sow kale for a fall harvest (Jul 6).
What to plant in Saskatoon this month (July)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Jul 6
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Jul 6
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Jul 20
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Jul 27
Coming up in early August: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Aug 10).
What to plant in Saskatoon this month (August)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Aug 10
What to plant in Saskatoon this month (September)
- Plant garlic: Sep 21 to Sep 28
What to plant in Saskatoon this month (October)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Saskatoon in October. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 12.
What to plant in Saskatoon this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Saskatoon in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 12.
What to plant in Saskatoon this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Saskatoon in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 12.
Saskatoon planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 9 | Transplant Jun 4 | From Aug 21 |
| Peppers | Apr 9 | Transplant Jun 4 | From Aug 15 |
| Eggplant | Apr 9 | Transplant Jun 4 | From Aug 18 |
| Basil | Apr 23 | Transplant Jun 4 | From Jul 16 |
| Onions (from seed) | Mar 12 | Transplant May 21 | From Aug 29 |
| Lettuce | Apr 9 | Transplant May 7Fall: direct sow Jul 20 | From Jun 16Fall: from Aug 29 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 30Fall: direct sow Jul 27 | From Jun 9Fall: from Sep 5 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 30Fall: direct sow Jul 6 | From Jun 29Fall: from Sep 4 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 30Fall: direct sow Aug 10 | From May 25Fall: from Sep 4 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow May 7 | From Jul 16 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow May 14 | From Jul 8 |
| Kale | Apr 16 | Transplant May 14Fall: direct sow Jul 6 | From Jul 8Fall: from Aug 30 |
| Broccoli | Apr 16 | Transplant May 14 | From Jul 18 |
| Cabbage | Apr 16 | Transplant May 14 | From Jul 23 |
| Cucumbers | May 7 | Transplant May 28 | From Jul 22 |
| Zucchini | May 7 | Transplant May 28 | From Jul 17 |
| Winter squash | May 7 | Transplant May 28 | From Aug 26 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 28 | From Jul 22 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow May 14 | From Aug 2 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Sep 21 to Sep 28 | Around Aug 13 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Saskatoon'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 Saskatoon
Plant garlic Sep 21 to Sep 28. That is one to two weeks after Saskatoon's average first fall frost of Sep 14, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Aug 13 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Saskatoon.
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 Saskatoon:
- Peas: sow Jul 6, ready from about Sep 4
- Kale: sow Jul 6, ready from about Aug 30
- Lettuce: sow Jul 20, ready from about Aug 29
- Spinach: sow Jul 27, ready from about Sep 5
- Radishes: sow Aug 10, ready from about Sep 4
Nearby planting calendars
Saskatoon planting questions
When is the last frost in Saskatoon?
The average last spring frost in Saskatoon is May 21, and the average first fall frost is Sep 14, 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 Saskatoon?
Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 9, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Jun 4, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Saskatoon in fall?
Garlic goes in Sep 21 to Sep 28. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Jul 6, lettuce around Jul 20, spinach around Jul 27 and radishes around Aug 10.