When to plant in Banff, AB
Planting dates worked out from Banff's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Safe to plant out
Jul 2
1 year in 10 has a later frost
Average last frost
Jun 17
about a 50% chance of a later one
Average first fall frost
Aug 22
1 year in 10 by Aug 4
Frost-free days
66
median, 1991–2020
Station used: Banff Cs · 2.3 km away · station 1397 m, town 1388 m. How we match towns to stations
This season
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato Season likely too short |
May 7 – May 21 | Jul 2 – Jul 16 | Aug 26 |
| Sweet pepper Season likely too short |
Apr 23 – May 7 | Jul 2 – Jul 16 | Aug 31 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Apr 15 – Apr 22 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jun 29 |
| Peas | — | May 9 – Jun 6 | Jul 3 |
| Bush beans Season likely too short |
— | Jun 25 – Jul 16 | Aug 14 |
| Carrot | — | May 27 – Jul 8 | Jul 26 |
| Beet | — | May 21 – Jul 2 | Jul 10 |
| Potato | — | May 27 – Jun 17 | Aug 5 |
| Kale | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 2 |
| Broccoli | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | May 20 – Jun 10 | Jul 19 |
| Cucumber Season likely too short |
Jun 4 – Jun 11 | Jul 2 – Jul 16 | Aug 21 |
| Summer squash and zucchini Season likely too short |
Jun 4 – Jun 11 | Jul 2 – Jul 16 | Aug 16 |
| Winter squash Season likely too short |
Jun 4 – Jun 11 | Jul 2 – Jul 16 | Sep 20 |
| Sweet corn Season likely too short |
— | Jun 25 – Jul 16 | Aug 24 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | May 20 – Jun 10 | Aug 18 |
| Garlic | — | Aug 8 – Sep 5 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | May 9 – Jun 6 | Jun 16 |
| Basil Season likely too short |
May 21 – Jun 4 | Jul 2 – Jul 16 | Aug 28 |
Banff's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
Each year's last spring frostLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Jul 11 |
| 1997 | Jun 3 |
| 1998 | Jun 17 |
| 1999 | Jun 12 |
| 2000 | Jun 25 |
| 2001 | Jun 19 |
| 2002 | Jun 12 |
| 2003 | Jun 24 |
| 2004 | Jun 19 |
| 2005 | Jun 24 |
| 2006 | May 31 |
| 2007 | May 30 |
| 2008 | Jun 18 |
| 2009 | Jul 2 |
| 2010 | Jul 1 |
| 2011 | Jun 1 |
| 2012 | Jul 5 |
| 2013 | Jun 16 |
| 2014 | Jun 10 |
| 2015 | Jun 22 |
| 2016 | May 31 |
| 2017 | Jun 11 |
| 2018 | Jun 17 |
| 2019 | Jun 25 |
| 2020 | Jun 16 |
| 2021 | Jun 18 |
| 2022 | Jun 25 |
| 2023 | May 13 |
| 2024 | Jun 21 |
| 2025 | Jun 5 |
| 2026 | Jun 13 |
Each year's frost-free daysLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 66 |
| 1998 | 84 |
| 1999 | 33 |
| 2000 | 56 |
| 2001 | 76 |
| 2002 | 56 |
| 2003 | 51 |
| 2004 | 78 |
| 2005 | 39 |
| 2006 | 65 |
| 2007 | 85 |
| 2008 | 74 |
| 2009 | 52 |
| 2010 | 57 |
| 2011 | 78 |
| 2012 | 56 |
| 2013 | 96 |
| 2014 | 85 |
| 2015 | 72 |
| 2016 | 96 |
| 2017 | 36 |
| 2018 | 62 |
| 2019 | 62 |
| 2020 | 71 |
| 2021 | 67 |
| 2022 | 72 |
| 2023 | 98 |
| 2024 | 87 |
| 2025 | 115 |
Each year's average temperature, April to SeptemberLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 9.3 °C |
| 1996 | 9.1 °C |
| 1997 | 9.8 °C |
| 1998 | 11.4 °C |
| 1999 | 8.9 °C |
| 2000 | 9.0 °C |
| 2001 | 10.0 °C |
| 2002 | 8.4 °C |
| 2003 | 10.0 °C |
| 2004 | 9.8 °C |
| 2005 | 9.2 °C |
| 2006 | 10.9 °C |
| 2007 | 10.2 °C |
| 2008 | 9.1 °C |
| 2009 | 10.0 °C |
| 2010 | 8.9 °C |
| 2011 | 9.6 °C |
| 2012 | 10.3 °C |
| 2013 | 10.3 °C |
| 2014 | 10.2 °C |
| 2015 | 10.3 °C |
| 2016 | 10.8 °C |
| 2017 | 11.0 °C |
| 2018 | 9.9 °C |
| 2019 | 9.7 °C |
| 2020 | 9.9 °C |
| 2021 | 11.3 °C |
| 2022 | 10.6 °C |
| 2023 | 11.7 °C |
| 2024 | 10.8 °C |
| 2025 | 11.7 °C |
| 2026 | 10.6 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1996, Banff's last spring frost has come about 3 days earlier per decade, on average. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Banff Cs (NOAA GHCN-Daily, from Environment and Climate Change Canada). Years with too many missing days are left out.