When to plant in Osoyoos, BC
Planting dates worked out from Osoyoos's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Safe to plant out
May 8
1 year in 10 has a later frost
Average last frost
Apr 21
about a 50% chance of a later one
Average first fall frost
Oct 13
1 year in 10 by Sep 29
Frost-free days
174
median, 1991–2020
Station used: Osoyoos West · 1.8 km away · station 297 m, town 304 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 13 – Mar 27 | May 8 – May 22 | Jul 2 |
| Sweet pepper | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 8 – May 22 | Jul 7 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Feb 17 – Feb 24 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | May 3 |
| Peas | — | Mar 14 – Apr 11 | May 8 |
| Bush beans | — | May 1 – May 22 | Jun 20 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 31 – May 12 | May 30 |
| Beet | — | Mar 25 – May 6 | May 14 |
| Potato | — | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | Jun 9 |
| Kale | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | May 6 |
| Broccoli | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Mar 24 – Apr 14 | May 23 |
| Cucumber | Apr 10 – Apr 17 | May 8 – May 22 | Jun 27 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 10 – Apr 17 | May 8 – May 22 | Jun 22 |
| Winter squash | Apr 10 – Apr 17 | May 8 – May 22 | Jul 27 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 1 – May 22 | Jun 30 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Mar 24 – Apr 14 | Jun 22 |
| Garlic | — | Sep 29 – Oct 27 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Mar 14 – Apr 11 | Apr 21 |
| Basil | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 8 – May 22 | Jul 4 |
Osoyoos'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 |
|---|---|
| 1969 | Apr 25 |
| 1970 | Apr 17 |
| 1971 | Apr 18 |
| 1972 | May 1 |
| 1973 | Apr 19 |
| 1974 | May 16 |
| 1975 | Apr 30 |
| 1976 | Apr 25 |
| 1977 | May 5 |
| 1978 | Apr 12 |
| 1979 | Apr 21 |
| 1980 | Apr 11 |
| 1981 | Apr 25 |
| 1982 | May 5 |
| 1983 | Apr 15 |
| 1984 | May 4 |
| 1985 | May 5 |
| 1986 | May 15 |
| 1987 | Apr 20 |
| 1988 | May 1 |
| 1989 | Apr 9 |
| 1990 | Apr 30 |
| 1991 | Apr 26 |
| 1992 | Apr 24 |
| 1993 | Apr 6 |
| 1994 | Apr 7 |
| 1995 | Apr 20 |
| 1996 | May 9 |
| 1997 | Apr 21 |
| 1998 | Apr 13 |
| 1999 | May 9 |
| 2000 | Apr 7 |
| 2001 | Apr 19 |
| 2002 | May 8 |
| 2003 | Apr 18 |
| 2004 | Mar 28 |
| 2005 | Apr 18 |
| 2006 | Apr 18 |
| 2008 | May 1 |
| 2009 | Apr 30 |
Each year's frost-free daysLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1969 | 170 |
| 1970 | 180 |
| 1971 | 181 |
| 1972 | 146 |
| 1973 | 165 |
| 1974 | 141 |
| 1975 | 159 |
| 1976 | 173 |
| 1977 | 149 |
| 1978 | 183 |
| 1979 | 190 |
| 1981 | 178 |
| 1982 | 155 |
| 1983 | 157 |
| 1984 | 145 |
| 1985 | 145 |
| 1986 | 148 |
| 1987 | 172 |
| 1988 | 178 |
| 1989 | 187 |
| 1990 | 158 |
| 1991 | 174 |
| 1992 | 173 |
| 1993 | 196 |
| 1994 | 197 |
| 1995 | 181 |
| 1996 | 160 |
| 1997 | 173 |
| 1998 | 185 |
| 1999 | 141 |
| 2000 | 168 |
| 2001 | 176 |
| 2002 | 156 |
| 2003 | 179 |
| 2005 | 191 |
| 2006 | 173 |
| 2008 | 166 |
Each year's average temperature, April to SeptemberLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1968 | 16.9 °C |
| 1969 | 18.3 °C |
| 1970 | 18.2 °C |
| 1971 | 17.9 °C |
| 1972 | 17.1 °C |
| 1973 | 18.0 °C |
| 1974 | 17.2 °C |
| 1975 | 16.9 °C |
| 1976 | 16.4 °C |
| 1977 | 17.2 °C |
| 1978 | 16.9 °C |
| 1979 | 18.3 °C |
| 1981 | 16.7 °C |
| 1982 | 16.8 °C |
| 1983 | 16.6 °C |
| 1984 | 16.4 °C |
| 1985 | 17.3 °C |
| 1986 | 16.9 °C |
| 1987 | 18.4 °C |
| 1988 | 17.6 °C |
| 1989 | 17.5 °C |
| 1990 | 17.7 °C |
| 1991 | 17.3 °C |
| 1992 | 17.8 °C |
| 1993 | 16.7 °C |
| 1994 | 18.4 °C |
| 1995 | 17.4 °C |
| 1996 | 16.6 °C |
| 1997 | 17.3 °C |
| 1998 | 18.9 °C |
| 1999 | 16.7 °C |
| 2000 | 17.2 °C |
| 2001 | 17.7 °C |
| 2002 | 17.6 °C |
| 2003 | 18.4 °C |
| 2004 | 18.4 °C |
| 2005 | 17.9 °C |
| 2006 | 18.3 °C |
| 2008 | 17.5 °C |
| 2009 | 19.0 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1969, Osoyoos's last spring frost has come about 2 days earlier per decade, on average. The frost-free season has grown by about 3 days per decade. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Osoyoos West (NOAA GHCN-Daily, from Environment and Climate Change Canada). Years with too many missing days are left out.