In St. John's, the average last spring frost is Jun 2 and the average first fall frost is Oct 18, a growing season of about 138 days (zone 5b). Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 21 and move them outside from Jun 16. Plant garlic Oct 25 to Nov 1, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
St. John's at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Jun 2 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 18 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 138 days
- Hardiness zone
- 5b (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- St. John's (Airport), Whitbourne and Dunville/Argentia, 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. John's this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in St. John's in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 24.
What to plant in St. John's this month (February)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in St. John's in February. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 24.
What to plant in St. John's this month (March)
- Start onions indoors: Mar 24
What to plant in St. John's this month (April)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Apr 21
- Start peppers indoors: Apr 21
- Start eggplant indoors: Apr 21
- Start lettuce indoors: Apr 21
- Start kale indoors: Apr 28
- Start broccoli indoors: Apr 28
- Start cabbage indoors: Apr 28
Coming up in early May: start basil indoors (May 5), direct sow spinach (May 12), direct sow peas (May 12) and direct sow radishes (May 12).
What to plant in St. John's this month (May)
- Start basil indoors: May 5
- Direct sow spinach: May 12
- Direct sow peas: May 12
- Direct sow radishes: May 12
- Transplant lettuce: May 19
- Direct sow carrots: May 19
- Start cucumbers indoors: May 19
- Start zucchini indoors: May 19
- Start winter squash indoors: May 19
- Direct sow beets: May 26
- Transplant kale: May 26
- Transplant broccoli: May 26
- Transplant cabbage: May 26
- Direct sow potatoes: May 26
Coming up in early June: transplant onions (Jun 2), transplant cucumbers (Jun 9), transplant zucchini (Jun 9), transplant winter squash (Jun 9) and direct sow beans (Jun 9).
What to plant in St. John's this month (June)
- Transplant onions: Jun 2
- Transplant cucumbers: Jun 9
- Transplant zucchini: Jun 9
- Transplant winter squash: Jun 9
- Direct sow beans: Jun 9
- Transplant tomatoes: Jun 16
- Transplant peppers: Jun 16
- Transplant eggplant: Jun 16
- Transplant basil: Jun 16
What to plant in St. John's this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in St. John's in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 9.
What to plant in St. John's this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 9
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 9
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 23
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 30
Coming up in early September: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Sep 13).
What to plant in St. John's this month (September)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 13
What to plant in St. John's this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 25 to Nov 1
What to plant in St. John's this month (November)
- Plant garlic: Oct 25 to Nov 1
What to plant in St. John's this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in St. John's in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 24.
St. John's planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 21 | Transplant Jun 16 | From Sep 2 |
| Peppers | Apr 21 | Transplant Jun 16 | From Aug 27 |
| Eggplant | Apr 21 | Transplant Jun 16 | From Aug 30 |
| Basil | May 5 | Transplant Jun 16 | From Jul 28 |
| Onions (from seed) | Mar 24 | Transplant Jun 2 | From Sep 10 |
| Lettuce | Apr 21 | Transplant May 19Fall: direct sow Aug 23 | From Jun 28Fall: from Oct 2 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow May 12Fall: direct sow Aug 30 | From Jun 21Fall: from Oct 9 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow May 12Fall: direct sow Aug 9 | From Jul 11Fall: from Oct 8 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow May 12Fall: direct sow Sep 13 | From Jun 6Fall: from Oct 8 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow May 19 | From Jul 28 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow May 26 | From Jul 20 |
| Kale | Apr 28 | Transplant May 26Fall: direct sow Aug 9 | From Jul 20Fall: from Oct 3 |
| Broccoli | Apr 28 | Transplant May 26 | From Jul 30 |
| Cabbage | Apr 28 | Transplant May 26 | From Aug 4 |
| Cucumbers | May 19 | Transplant Jun 9 | From Aug 3 |
| Zucchini | May 19 | Transplant Jun 9 | From Jul 29 |
| Winter squash | May 19 | Transplant Jun 9 | From Sep 7 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Jun 9 | From Aug 3 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow May 26 | From Aug 14 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 25 to Nov 1 | Around Aug 25 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from St. John's'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. John's
Plant garlic Oct 25 to Nov 1. That is one to two weeks after St. John's's average first fall frost of Oct 18, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Aug 25 the following summer. How to plant garlic in St. John's.
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. John's:
- Peas: sow Aug 9, ready from about Oct 8
- Kale: sow Aug 9, ready from about Oct 3
- Lettuce: sow Aug 23, ready from about Oct 2
- Spinach: sow Aug 30, ready from about Oct 9
- Radishes: sow Sep 13, ready from about Oct 8
Nearby planting calendars
St. John's planting questions
When is the last frost in St. John's?
The average last spring frost in St. John's is Jun 2, and the average first fall frost is Oct 18, 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. John's?
Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 21, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Jun 16, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in St. John's in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 25 to Nov 1. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 9, lettuce around Aug 23, spinach around Aug 30 and radishes around Sep 13.