When to plant in Devon, AB
Planting dates worked out from Devon's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Last spring frost
- Early · riskyMay 199 years in 10 still get a later frost
- TypicalMay 30about half of years get a later frost
- Safe to plant outJun 101 year in 10 gets a later frost
Hardy crops like peas and spinach are timed from the typical date. Wait for the safe date before planting out tomatoes, peppers and squash.
First fall frost
- EarlySep 31 year in 10 has frost by then
- TypicalSep 12about half of years have had frost
- LateSep 219 years in 10 have had frost by then
A typical year has 101 frost-free days. Plan for tender crops to be ripe by the early date.
Station used: Edmonton Woodbend · 5.6 km away · station 671 m, town 695 m. How we match towns to stations
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 10 – Jun 24 | Aug 4 |
| Sweet pepper | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | Jun 10 – Jun 24 | Aug 9 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Mar 28 – Apr 4 | May 2 – May 16 | Jun 11 |
| Peas | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | Jun 18 |
| Bush beans | — | Jun 3 – Jun 24 | Jul 23 |
| Carrot | — | May 9 – Jun 20 | Jul 8 |
| Beet | — | May 3 – Jun 14 | Jun 22 |
| Potato | — | May 9 – May 30 | Jul 18 |
| Kale | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | May 2 – May 16 | Jun 14 |
| Broccoli | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | May 2 – May 23 | Jul 1 |
| Cucumber | May 13 – May 20 | Jun 10 – Jun 24 | Jul 30 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | May 13 – May 20 | Jun 10 – Jun 24 | Jul 25 |
| Winter squash | May 13 – May 20 | Jun 10 – Jun 24 | Aug 29 |
| Sweet corn | — | Jun 3 – Jun 24 | Aug 2 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | May 2 – May 23 | Jul 31 |
| Garlic | — | Aug 29 – Sep 26 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Apr 24 – May 22 | Jun 1 |
| Basil | Apr 29 – May 13 | Jun 10 – Jun 24 | Aug 6 |
Devon's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1974 | May 29 |
| 1975 | May 28 |
| 1976 | Jun 17 |
| 1977 | Jun 3 |
| 1978 | Jun 19 |
| 1979 | Jun 9 |
| 1980 | Jun 7 |
| 1981 | May 11 |
| 1983 | Jun 3 |
| 1984 | Jun 20 |
| 1985 | Jun 26 |
| 1986 | Jun 13 |
| 1987 | May 25 |
| 1988 | May 24 |
| 1989 | May 29 |
| 1990 | Jun 14 |
| 1991 | May 24 |
| 1992 | May 24 |
| 1993 | May 30 |
| 1994 | May 31 |
| 1995 | Jun 8 |
| 1996 | May 23 |
| 1997 | May 23 |
| 1998 | Jun 5 |
| 1999 | May 30 |
| 2000 | Jun 1 |
| 2001 | Jun 12 |
| 2002 | Jun 7 |
| 2003 | May 20 |
| 2004 | Jun 18 |
| 2005 | May 28 |
| 2006 | May 4 |
| 2007 | May 25 |
| 2008 | May 26 |
| 2009 | Jul 1 |
| 2010 | Jun 1 |
| 2011 | Jun 4 |
| 2012 | May 28 |
| 2013 | May 4 |
| 2014 | Jun 6 |
| 2015 | May 19 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1974 | 94 |
| 1975 | 79 |
| 1976 | 107 |
| 1977 | 67 |
| 1978 | 95 |
| 1979 | 94 |
| 1980 | 75 |
| 1981 | 114 |
| 1983 | 94 |
| 1984 | 70 |
| 1985 | 43 |
| 1986 | 67 |
| 1987 | 92 |
| 1988 | 107 |
| 1989 | 92 |
| 1990 | 70 |
| 1991 | 113 |
| 1992 | 89 |
| 1993 | 98 |
| 1994 | 112 |
| 1995 | 101 |
| 1996 | 119 |
| 1997 | 116 |
| 1998 | 102 |
| 1999 | 117 |
| 2000 | 101 |
| 2001 | 85 |
| 2002 | 89 |
| 2003 | 118 |
| 2004 | 79 |
| 2005 | 101 |
| 2006 | 136 |
| 2007 | 104 |
| 2008 | 97 |
| 2009 | 81 |
| 2010 | 90 |
| 2011 | 99 |
| 2012 | 110 |
| 2013 | 137 |
| 2014 | 93 |
| 2015 | 120 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1974 | 10.9 °C |
| 1975 | 10.8 °C |
| 1976 | 12.4 °C |
| 1977 | 11.3 °C |
| 1978 | 11.6 °C |
| 1979 | 10.9 °C |
| 1980 | 11.6 °C |
| 1981 | 12.5 °C |
| 1983 | 11.8 °C |
| 1984 | 11.7 °C |
| 1985 | 10.8 °C |
| 1986 | 11.1 °C |
| 1987 | 12.2 °C |
| 1988 | 12.5 °C |
| 1989 | 11.9 °C |
| 1990 | 12.2 °C |
| 1991 | 12.8 °C |
| 1992 | 11.2 °C |
| 1993 | 11.4 °C |
| 1994 | 12.5 °C |
| 1995 | 11.4 °C |
| 1996 | 11.1 °C |
| 1997 | 11.9 °C |
| 1998 | 13.8 °C |
| 1999 | 11.6 °C |
| 2000 | 11.5 °C |
| 2001 | 12.3 °C |
| 2002 | 11.3 °C |
| 2003 | 11.8 °C |
| 2004 | 11.3 °C |
| 2005 | 11.7 °C |
| 2006 | 13.3 °C |
| 2007 | 11.7 °C |
| 2008 | 11.7 °C |
| 2009 | 11.9 °C |
| 2010 | 11.4 °C |
| 2011 | 11.8 °C |
| 2012 | 12.7 °C |
| 2013 | 12.2 °C |
| 2014 | 11.9 °C |
| 2015 | 12.5 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1974, Devon's last spring frost has come about 3 days earlier per decade, on average. The frost-free season has grown by about 6 days per decade. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Edmonton Woodbend (NOAA GHCN-Daily, from Environment and Climate Change Canada). Years with too many missing days are left out.