When to plant in Cochrane, AB
Planting dates worked out from Cochrane's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Safe to plant out
Jun 21
1 year in 10 has a later frost
Average last frost
Jun 8
about a 50% chance of a later one
Average first fall frost
Aug 27
1 year in 10 by Aug 11
Frost-free days
78
median, 1991–2020
Station used: Springbank A · 11.1 km away · station 1201 m, town 1143 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 |
Apr 26 – May 10 | Jun 21 – Jul 5 | Aug 15 |
| Sweet pepper Season likely too short |
Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Jun 21 – Jul 5 | Aug 20 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | May 11 – May 25 | Jun 20 |
| Peas | — | May 4 – Jun 1 | Jun 28 |
| Bush beans | — | Jun 14 – Jul 5 | Aug 3 |
| Carrot | — | May 18 – Jun 29 | Jul 17 |
| Beet | — | May 17 – Jun 28 | Jul 6 |
| Potato | — | May 18 – Jun 8 | Jul 27 |
| Kale | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | May 11 – May 25 | Jun 23 |
| Broccoli | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | May 11 – Jun 1 | Jul 10 |
| Cucumber | May 24 – May 31 | Jun 21 – Jul 5 | Aug 10 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | May 24 – May 31 | Jun 21 – Jul 5 | Aug 5 |
| Winter squash Season likely too short |
May 24 – May 31 | Jun 21 – Jul 5 | Sep 9 |
| Sweet corn Season likely too short |
— | Jun 14 – Jul 5 | Aug 13 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | May 11 – Jun 1 | Aug 9 |
| Garlic | — | Aug 13 – Sep 10 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | May 4 – Jun 1 | Jun 11 |
| Basil Season likely too short |
May 10 – May 24 | Jun 21 – Jul 5 | Aug 17 |
Cochrane'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 |
|---|---|
| 1985 | Jun 26 |
| 1986 | May 24 |
| 1987 | Jun 3 |
| 1988 | May 25 |
| 1989 | May 29 |
| 1990 | May 22 |
| 1991 | Jun 16 |
| 1992 | Jun 6 |
| 1993 | Jun 5 |
| 1994 | May 31 |
| 1995 | Jun 10 |
| 1996 | Jun 12 |
| 1997 | Jun 3 |
| 1998 | Jun 8 |
| 1999 | Jun 8 |
| 2000 | Jun 19 |
| 2001 | Jun 8 |
| 2002 | Jul 2 |
| 2003 | Jun 7 |
| 2004 | Jun 19 |
| 2005 | May 28 |
| 2006 | May 29 |
| 2007 | May 26 |
| 2008 | May 13 |
| 2009 | Jul 1 |
Each year's frost-free daysLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 43 |
| 1986 | 87 |
| 1987 | 69 |
| 1988 | 108 |
| 1989 | 103 |
| 1990 | 113 |
| 1991 | 78 |
| 1992 | 75 |
| 1993 | 67 |
| 1994 | 87 |
| 1995 | 75 |
| 1996 | 85 |
| 1997 | 96 |
| 1998 | 105 |
| 1999 | 37 |
| 2000 | 69 |
| 2001 | 89 |
| 2002 | 45 |
| 2003 | 82 |
| 2004 | 78 |
| 2005 | 76 |
| 2006 | 67 |
| 2007 | 93 |
| 2008 | 111 |
| 2009 | 81 |
Each year's average temperature, April to SeptemberLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 10.2 °C |
| 1986 | 9.9 °C |
| 1987 | 11.1 °C |
| 1989 | 10.5 °C |
| 1990 | 10.7 °C |
| 1991 | 10.6 °C |
| 1992 | 9.9 °C |
| 1993 | 9.4 °C |
| 1994 | 10.9 °C |
| 1995 | 9.3 °C |
| 1996 | 9.6 °C |
| 1997 | 10.0 °C |
| 1998 | 11.7 °C |
| 1999 | 9.3 °C |
| 2000 | 9.5 °C |
| 2001 | 10.8 °C |
| 2002 | 9.1 °C |
| 2003 | 10.5 °C |
| 2004 | 9.9 °C |
| 2005 | 9.9 °C |
| 2006 | 11.6 °C |
| 2007 | 10.5 °C |
| 2008 | 9.8 °C |
| 2009 | 10.1 °C |
What this means for you: This station's record is too short to show a reliable trend yet.
Source: daily records from Springbank A (NOAA GHCN-Daily, from Environment and Climate Change Canada). Years with too many missing days are left out.