When to plant in Coombs, BC
Planting dates worked out from Coombs's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Last spring frost
- Early · riskyApr 199 years in 10 still get a later frost
- TypicalMay 3about half of years get a later frost
- Safe to plant outMay 161 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 231 year in 10 has frost by then
- TypicalOct 9about half of years have had frost
- LateOct 249 years in 10 have had frost by then
A typical year has 161 frost-free days. Plan for tender crops to be ripe by the early date.
Station used: Coombs · 1.0 km away · station 98 m, town 118 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 24 – Apr 7 | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jul 13 |
| Sweet pepper | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jul 18 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Mar 1 – Mar 8 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | May 15 |
| Peas | — | Mar 23 – Apr 20 | May 17 |
| Bush beans | — | May 10 – May 31 | Jun 29 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jun 14 |
| Beet | — | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jun 4 |
| Potato | — | Apr 15 – May 6 | Jun 24 |
| Kale | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | May 18 |
| Broccoli | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Jun 4 |
| Cucumber | Apr 21 – Apr 28 | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jul 8 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 21 – Apr 28 | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jul 3 |
| Winter squash | Apr 21 – Apr 28 | May 19 – Jun 2 | Aug 7 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 10 – May 31 | Jul 9 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Jul 4 |
| Garlic | — | Sep 25 – Oct 23 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Mar 23 – Apr 20 | Apr 30 |
| Basil | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jul 15 |
Coombs'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 |
|---|---|
| 1961 | Apr 20 |
| 1962 | May 6 |
| 1984 | May 4 |
| 1985 | May 12 |
| 1986 | May 22 |
| 1987 | May 15 |
| 1988 | May 30 |
| 1990 | Apr 30 |
| 1991 | Apr 30 |
| 1992 | May 20 |
| 1993 | May 4 |
| 1994 | May 3 |
| 1995 | Apr 21 |
| 1996 | May 9 |
| 1997 | May 2 |
| 1998 | Apr 25 |
| 1999 | May 15 |
| 2000 | May 8 |
| 2001 | May 6 |
| 2002 | May 7 |
| 2003 | May 17 |
| 2004 | Apr 17 |
| 2005 | Apr 14 |
| 2006 | May 13 |
| 2007 | Apr 21 |
Each year's frost-free daysLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1961 | 161 |
| 1984 | 142 |
| 1985 | 138 |
| 1986 | 126 |
| 1987 | 147 |
| 1988 | 149 |
| 1990 | 157 |
| 1991 | 169 |
| 1992 | 115 |
| 1993 | 180 |
| 1994 | 161 |
| 1995 | 180 |
| 1996 | 136 |
| 1997 | 157 |
| 1998 | 175 |
| 1999 | 139 |
| 2000 | 137 |
| 2001 | 151 |
| 2002 | 146 |
| 2003 | 165 |
| 2004 | 188 |
| 2005 | 172 |
| 2006 | 161 |
| 2007 | 166 |
Each year's average temperature, April to SeptemberLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1961 | 14.0 °C |
| 1984 | 12.5 °C |
| 1985 | 12.9 °C |
| 1986 | 12.7 °C |
| 1987 | 14.1 °C |
| 1988 | 13.1 °C |
| 1990 | 14.4 °C |
| 1991 | 13.2 °C |
| 1992 | 13.7 °C |
| 1993 | 13.3 °C |
| 1994 | 14.4 °C |
| 1995 | 14.3 °C |
| 1996 | 13.3 °C |
| 1997 | 14.0 °C |
| 1998 | 14.5 °C |
| 1999 | 12.6 °C |
| 2000 | 13.7 °C |
| 2001 | 13.3 °C |
| 2002 | 14.0 °C |
| 2003 | 14.3 °C |
| 2004 | 15.2 °C |
| 2005 | 14.5 °C |
| 2006 | 14.6 °C |
| 2007 | 13.6 °C |
| 2008 | 13.5 °C |
| 2009 | 14.6 °C |
What this means for you: This station's record is too short to show a reliable trend yet.
Source: daily records from Coombs (NOAA GHCN-Daily, from Environment and Climate Change Canada). Years with too many missing days are left out.