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In the garden now (2 November 2026)
Halifax planting calendar
Bars show when each crop can go in and when a planting from that window is ready. The blue band is the frost season, from the average first autumn frost to the average last spring frost. Hover or tap a crop for details.
Sow indoorsSow or plant outdoorsHarvestFrost seasonToday
Swipe sideways to see the whole year →
Dates by crop
| Crop | Sow indoors | Sow / plant outdoors | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 24 – May 29 | Jun 19 – Jul 10 plant out | Aug 31 – Oct 6 |
| Pepper | No outdoor window passes all the checks here; grow it under cover or try a specialist variety. | ||
| Eggplant (aubergine) | No outdoor window passes all the checks here; grow it under cover or try a specialist variety. | ||
| Cucumber | May 28 – Jun 24 | Jun 25 – Jul 25 sow | Aug 19 – Oct 6 |
| Zucchini (courgette) | May 22 – Jun 18 | Jun 19 – Jul 29 sow | Aug 11 – Oct 6 |
| Pumpkin and winter squash | No outdoor window passes all the checks here; grow it under cover or try a specialist variety. | ||
| Watermelon | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 7 – Jul 2 sow | Sep 4 – Oct 6 |
| Green beans | – | Jun 19 – Jul 25 sow | Aug 16 – Oct 6 |
| Peas | – | Apr 27 – Aug 17 sow | Jul 14 – Oct 24 |
| Lettuce | Mar 17 – Apr 14 | Apr 21 – Aug 29 sow | Jul 2 – Oct 27 |
| Spinach | – | Apr 15 – Sep 6 sow | Jun 27 – Nov 16 |
| Kale | Mar 10 – Apr 14 | Apr 21 – Aug 25 sow | Jul 10 – Dec 1 |
| Cabbage | Mar 14 – Apr 18 | May 2 – Aug 13 plant out | Jul 23 – Nov 7 |
| Broccoli | Mar 14 – Apr 18 | May 2 – Aug 19 plant out | Jul 15 – Oct 31 |
| Carrots | – | May 2 – Aug 18 sow | Jul 19 – Dec 1 |
| Beets (beetroot) | – | May 2 – Aug 24 sow | Jul 12 – Nov 7 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 21 – Sep 18 sow | Jun 11 – Oct 31 |
| Onions | Feb 16 – Mar 23 | Apr 27 – Jul 20 plant out | Aug 9 – Oct 17 |
| Garlic | – | Sep 26 – Oct 30 sow | Jul 11 – Jul 31 |
| Potatoes | – | May 8 – Jul 23 sow | Aug 8 – Oct 17 |
| Swiss chard | – | May 8 – Aug 28 sow | Jul 9 – Nov 7 |
| Basil | May 21 – Jun 18 | Jul 2 – Aug 17 plant out | Aug 1 – Oct 6 |
| Cilantro (coriander) | – | May 2 – Sep 7 sow | Jun 25 – Oct 31 |
| Parsley | Mar 13 – Apr 17 | May 8 – Aug 14 sow | Jul 24 – Nov 16 |
Dates are for a typical year and the middle of the window is the safest. Sow a little at a time across a window rather than all at once. Cold snaps, heat waves, frost pockets and city warmth all shift the real dates; watch the forecast.
Frost dates in Halifax
- Average last spring frost
- May 9
- Late frost (1 year in 10)
- May 25 approx.
- Average first autumn frost
- October 17
- Early frost (1 year in 10)
- October 3 approx.
- Frost-free growing season
- 160 days
“Average” is the date with an even chance of a later (spring) or earlier (autumn) frost: a night at or below 0 °C (32 °F) at screen height. Tender crops go out a week or two after the spring date, which brings the risk down to about one year in ten.
Source: ECCC 1981–2010 normals, Halifax Stanfield Int'l A.
Climate at a glance
- Hardiness zone
- 6a estimate
- Average coldest winter night
- -21°C-5°F
- Warmest month
- August, highs 24°C75°F
- Coldest month
- January, lows -9°C17°F
- Crops with an outdoor window
- 21 of 25
The zone follows the USDA scheme: bands of the average lowest temperature of the year, 10 °F wide, split into a and b halves. Estimated from monthly climate normals; about one city in ten we checked comes out a full half-zone off. It tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow.
Temperature and rain by month
Average highAverage lowRainFreezing point
| Month | High | Low | Mean | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0°C33°F | -9°C17°F | -4°C25°F | 137 mm5.4 in |
| February | 1°C33°F | -8°C17°F | -4°C25°F | 116 mm4.6 in |
| March | 4°C39°F | -5°C24°F | 0°C31°F | 126 mm5.0 in |
| April | 9°C48°F | 0°C33°F | 5°C41°F | 112 mm4.4 in |
| May | 15°C58°F | 5°C41°F | 10°C50°F | 106 mm4.2 in |
| June | 20°C68°F | 10°C50°F | 15°C59°F | 116 mm4.6 in |
| July | 24°C75°F | 14°C58°F | 19°C66°F | 99 mm3.9 in |
| August | 24°C75°F | 15°C58°F | 19°C67°F | 94 mm3.7 in |
| September | 20°C69°F | 11°C52°F | 16°C61°F | 96 mm3.8 in |
| October | 14°C58°F | 6°C42°F | 10°C50°F | 143 mm5.6 in |
| November | 9°C48°F | 1°C35°F | 5°C41°F | 151 mm5.9 in |
| December | 4°C39°F | -4°C25°F | 0°C32°F | 162 mm6.4 in |
Monthly averages 1991–2020 from TerraClimate (about 4 km grid).