In St. Catharines, the average last spring frost is Apr 29 and the average first fall frost is Oct 23, a growing season of about 177 days (zone 7a). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 18 and move them outside from May 13. Plant garlic Oct 30 to Nov 6, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
St. Catharines at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Apr 29 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 23 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 177 days
- Hardiness zone
- 7a (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Vineland; Youngstown 2 E, NY; and Welland-Pelham, 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 St. Catharines this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in St. Catharines in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 18.
What to plant in St. Catharines this month (February)
- Start onions indoors: Feb 18
What to plant in St. Catharines this month (March)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 18
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 18
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 18
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 18
- Start kale indoors: Mar 25
- Start broccoli indoors: Mar 25
- Start cabbage indoors: Mar 25
Coming up in early April: start basil indoors (Apr 1), direct sow spinach (Apr 8), direct sow peas (Apr 8) and direct sow radishes (Apr 8).
What to plant in St. Catharines this month (April)
- Start basil indoors: Apr 1
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 8
- Direct sow peas: Apr 8
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 8
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 15
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 15
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 15
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 15
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 15
- Direct sow beets: Apr 22
- Transplant kale: Apr 22
- Transplant broccoli: Apr 22
- Transplant cabbage: Apr 22
- Direct sow potatoes: Apr 22
- Transplant onions: Apr 29
Coming up in early May: transplant cucumbers (May 6), transplant zucchini (May 6), transplant winter squash (May 6), direct sow beans (May 6), transplant tomatoes (May 13), transplant peppers (May 13), transplant eggplant (May 13) and transplant basil (May 13).
What to plant in St. Catharines this month (May)
- Transplant cucumbers: May 6
- Transplant zucchini: May 6
- Transplant winter squash: May 6
- Direct sow beans: May 6
- Transplant tomatoes: May 13
- Transplant peppers: May 13
- Transplant eggplant: May 13
- Transplant basil: May 13
What to plant in St. Catharines this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in St. Catharines in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 14.
What to plant in St. Catharines this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in St. Catharines in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 14.
What to plant in St. Catharines this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 14
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 14
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 28
Coming up in early September: sow spinach for a fall harvest (Sep 4).
What to plant in St. Catharines this month (September)
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Sep 4
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 18
What to plant in St. Catharines this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 30 to Nov 6
What to plant in St. Catharines this month (November)
- Plant garlic: Oct 30 to Nov 6
What to plant in St. Catharines this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in St. Catharines in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 18.
St. Catharines planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 18 | Transplant May 13 | From Jul 30 |
| Peppers | Mar 18 | Transplant May 13 | From Jul 24 |
| Eggplant | Mar 18 | Transplant May 13 | From Jul 27 |
| Basil | Apr 1 | Transplant May 13 | From Jun 24 |
| Onions (from seed) | Feb 18 | Transplant Apr 29 | From Aug 7 |
| Lettuce | Mar 18 | Transplant Apr 15Fall: direct sow Aug 28 | From May 25Fall: from Oct 7 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 8Fall: direct sow Sep 4 | From May 18Fall: from Oct 14 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 8Fall: direct sow Aug 14 | From Jun 7Fall: from Oct 13 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 8Fall: direct sow Sep 18 | From May 3Fall: from Oct 13 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 15 | From Jun 24 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Apr 22 | From Jun 16 |
| Kale | Mar 25 | Transplant Apr 22Fall: direct sow Aug 14 | From Jun 16Fall: from Oct 8 |
| Broccoli | Mar 25 | Transplant Apr 22 | From Jun 26 |
| Cabbage | Mar 25 | Transplant Apr 22 | From Jul 1 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 15 | Transplant May 6 | From Jun 30 |
| Zucchini | Apr 15 | Transplant May 6 | From Jun 25 |
| Winter squash | Apr 15 | Transplant May 6 | From Aug 4 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 6 | From Jun 30 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 22 | From Jul 11 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 30 to Nov 6 | Around Jul 22 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from St. Catharines'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 St. Catharines
Plant garlic Oct 30 to Nov 6. That is one to two weeks after St. Catharines's average first fall frost of Oct 23, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jul 22 the following summer. How to plant garlic in St. Catharines.
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 St. Catharines:
- Peas: sow Aug 14, ready from about Oct 13
- Kale: sow Aug 14, ready from about Oct 8
- Lettuce: sow Aug 28, ready from about Oct 7
- Spinach: sow Sep 4, ready from about Oct 14
- Radishes: sow Sep 18, ready from about Oct 13
Nearby planting calendars
St. Catharines planting questions
When is the last frost in St. Catharines?
The average last spring frost in St. Catharines is Apr 29, and the average first fall frost is Oct 23, 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 St. Catharines?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 18, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 13, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in St. Catharines in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 30 to Nov 6. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 14, lettuce around Aug 28, spinach around Sep 4 and radishes around Sep 18.