When to plant in Bowser, BC
Planting dates worked out from Bowser's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Safe to plant out
Apr 25
1 year in 10 has a later frost
Average last frost
Apr 11
about a 50% chance of a later one
Average first fall frost
Oct 29
1 year in 10 by Oct 10
Frost-free days
203
median, 1991–2020
Station used: Qualicum R Fish Research · 7.7 km away · station 8 m, town 52 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 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 14 – May 28 | Jul 8 |
| Sweet pepper | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | May 14 – May 28 | Jul 13 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Feb 9 – Feb 16 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Apr 25 |
| Peas | — | Mar 16 – Apr 13 | May 10 |
| Bush beans | — | May 5 – May 26 | Jun 24 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 9 – May 21 | Jun 8 |
| Beet | — | Apr 9 – May 21 | May 29 |
| Potato | — | Apr 9 – Apr 30 | Jun 18 |
| Kale | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 5 |
| Broccoli | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Mar 16 – Apr 6 | May 15 |
| Cucumber | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | May 14 – May 28 | Jul 3 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | May 14 – May 28 | Jun 28 |
| Winter squash | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | May 14 – May 28 | Aug 2 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 5 – May 26 | Jul 4 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Mar 16 – Apr 6 | Jun 14 |
| Garlic | — | Sep 29 – Oct 27 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Mar 16 – Apr 13 | Apr 23 |
| Basil | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | May 14 – May 28 | Jul 10 |
Bowser'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 |
|---|---|
| 1963 | Apr 1 |
| 1964 | Apr 19 |
| 1965 | Mar 31 |
| 1966 | Apr 27 |
| 1967 | Apr 16 |
| 1968 | Apr 21 |
| 1969 | Apr 8 |
| 1970 | Apr 27 |
| 1971 | Apr 17 |
| 1972 | Apr 29 |
| 1973 | Apr 28 |
| 1974 | Apr 14 |
| 1975 | May 24 |
| 1976 | Apr 22 |
| 1977 | Apr 14 |
| 1978 | Apr 12 |
| 1979 | Apr 21 |
| 1981 | Apr 26 |
| 1982 | Apr 26 |
| 1983 | Apr 14 |
| 1984 | Apr 26 |
| 1985 | Apr 30 |
| 1986 | Apr 30 |
| 1987 | Apr 22 |
| 1988 | Apr 9 |
| 1989 | Apr 9 |
| 1990 | Apr 5 |
| 1991 | Apr 29 |
| 1992 | Apr 23 |
| 1993 | Mar 28 |
| 1994 | Mar 26 |
| 1995 | Apr 16 |
| 1996 | Mar 30 |
| 1997 | Apr 6 |
| 1998 | Apr 9 |
| 1999 | Apr 15 |
| 2000 | Apr 24 |
| 2001 | Apr 15 |
| 2003 | Apr 2 |
| 2004 | Apr 3 |
| 2005 | Apr 9 |
| 2006 | Apr 22 |
| 2007 | Apr 3 |
| 2008 | Apr 26 |
| 2009 | Apr 24 |
| 2010 | Apr 11 |
| 2011 | Apr 23 |
| 2012 | Apr 6 |
| 2013 | Apr 30 |
| 2015 | Mar 3 |
| 2017 | Apr 3 |
| 2020 | Apr 13 |
| 2024 | Apr 19 |
| 2025 | Apr 16 |
Each year's frost-free daysLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1963 | 223 |
| 1964 | 188 |
| 1965 | 226 |
| 1966 | 168 |
| 1967 | 200 |
| 1968 | 196 |
| 1969 | 222 |
| 1970 | 181 |
| 1971 | 181 |
| 1972 | 150 |
| 1973 | 159 |
| 1974 | 201 |
| 1975 | 169 |
| 1976 | 177 |
| 1977 | 206 |
| 1978 | 195 |
| 1979 | 199 |
| 1981 | 160 |
| 1982 | 173 |
| 1983 | 166 |
| 1984 | 171 |
| 1985 | 160 |
| 1986 | 191 |
| 1987 | 170 |
| 1988 | 200 |
| 1989 | 201 |
| 1990 | 209 |
| 1991 | 176 |
| 1992 | 172 |
| 1993 | 220 |
| 1994 | 220 |
| 1995 | 195 |
| 1996 | 184 |
| 1997 | 218 |
| 1998 | 215 |
| 1999 | 182 |
| 2000 | 198 |
| 2001 | 215 |
| 2003 | 210 |
| 2004 | 213 |
| 2005 | 218 |
| 2006 | 190 |
| 2007 | 205 |
| 2008 | 166 |
| 2009 | 203 |
| 2010 | 222 |
| 2011 | 194 |
| 2012 | 216 |
| 2013 | 147 |
| 2020 | 191 |
| 2025 | 180 |
Each year's average temperature, April to SeptemberLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1963 | 14.0 °C |
| 1964 | 12.8 °C |
| 1965 | 13.8 °C |
| 1966 | 13.3 °C |
| 1967 | 14.5 °C |
| 1968 | 13.2 °C |
| 1969 | 13.8 °C |
| 1970 | 13.2 °C |
| 1971 | 13.2 °C |
| 1972 | 13.0 °C |
| 1973 | 13.0 °C |
| 1974 | 13.1 °C |
| 1975 | 13.0 °C |
| 1976 | 12.8 °C |
| 1977 | 13.7 °C |
| 1978 | 13.5 °C |
| 1979 | 13.9 °C |
| 1981 | 12.6 °C |
| 1982 | 13.0 °C |
| 1983 | 13.6 °C |
| 1984 | 12.5 °C |
| 1985 | 13.3 °C |
| 1986 | 13.5 °C |
| 1987 | 14.0 °C |
| 1988 | 13.5 °C |
| 1989 | 14.0 °C |
| 1990 | 14.5 °C |
| 1991 | 13.5 °C |
| 1992 | 14.2 °C |
| 1993 | 13.8 °C |
| 1994 | 14.6 °C |
| 1995 | 14.3 °C |
| 1996 | 13.2 °C |
| 1997 | 14.3 °C |
| 1998 | 14.8 °C |
| 1999 | 13.2 °C |
| 2000 | 13.6 °C |
| 2001 | 13.3 °C |
| 2003 | 14.2 °C |
| 2004 | 15.2 °C |
| 2005 | 14.4 °C |
| 2006 | 14.2 °C |
| 2007 | 13.9 °C |
| 2008 | 13.6 °C |
| 2009 | 14.6 °C |
| 2010 | 14.0 °C |
| 2011 | 13.7 °C |
| 2012 | 14.1 °C |
| 2013 | 14.7 °C |
| 2014 | 15.3 °C |
| 2020 | 14.8 °C |
| 2023 | 15.8 °C |
| 2025 | 15.5 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1963, Bowser's last spring frost has come about 2 days earlier per decade, on average. The frost-free season has grown by about 2 days per decade. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Qualicum R Fish Research (NOAA GHCN-Daily, from Environment and Climate Change Canada). Years with too many missing days are left out.