When to plant in Tumbler Ridge, BC
Planting dates worked out from Tumbler Ridge's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Station used: Elmworth Cda Epf · 79.2 km away · station 754 m, town 830 m. How we match towns to stations
The nearest reliable station is 79 km away, so frost dates here may be off by a week or more. Check them against local experience.
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato Season likely too short |
May 6 – May 20 | Jul 1 – Jul 15 | Aug 25 |
| Sweet pepper Season likely too short |
Apr 22 – May 6 | Jul 1 – Jul 15 | Aug 30 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Apr 3 – Apr 10 | May 8 – May 22 | Jun 17 |
| Peas | — | Apr 27 – May 25 | Jun 21 |
| Bush beans Season likely too short |
— | Jun 24 – Jul 15 | Aug 13 |
| Carrot | — | May 15 – Jun 26 | Jul 14 |
| Beet | — | May 9 – Jun 20 | Jun 28 |
| Potato | — | May 15 – Jun 5 | Jul 24 |
| Kale | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 8 – May 22 | Jun 20 |
| Broccoli | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 8 – May 29 | Jul 7 |
| Cucumber Season likely too short |
Jun 3 – Jun 10 | Jul 1 – Jul 15 | Aug 20 |
| Summer squash and zucchini Season likely too short |
Jun 3 – Jun 10 | Jul 1 – Jul 15 | Aug 15 |
| Winter squash Season likely too short |
Jun 3 – Jun 10 | Jul 1 – Jul 15 | Sep 19 |
| Sweet corn Season likely too short |
— | Jun 24 – Jul 15 | Aug 23 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | May 8 – May 29 | Aug 6 |
| Garlic | — | Aug 9 – Sep 6 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Apr 27 – May 25 | Jun 4 |
| Basil Season likely too short |
May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 1 – Jul 15 | Aug 27 |
Tumbler Ridge'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 |
|---|---|
| 1975 | May 28 |
| 1976 | Jun 4 |
| 1977 | May 26 |
| 1978 | May 25 |
| 1979 | May 31 |
| 1980 | Jun 7 |
| 1981 | Jun 8 |
| 1982 | Jun 7 |
| 1983 | May 27 |
| 1984 | May 28 |
| 1985 | Jun 17 |
| 1986 | Jun 12 |
| 1987 | May 22 |
| 1988 | Jun 4 |
| 1989 | May 27 |
| 1990 | May 22 |
| 1991 | Jun 5 |
| 1992 | May 24 |
| 1993 | May 27 |
| 1994 | Jun 16 |
| 1995 | Jun 15 |
| 1996 | Jul 2 |
| 1997 | Jun 29 |
| 1999 | Jul 5 |
| 2000 | Jun 1 |
| 2001 | May 20 |
| 2003 | May 21 |
| 2004 | Jun 17 |
| 2005 | May 10 |
| 2006 | May 15 |
| 2007 | May 29 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1976 | 106 |
| 1978 | 68 |
| 1979 | 98 |
| 1980 | 76 |
| 1981 | 86 |
| 1982 | 97 |
| 1983 | 103 |
| 1985 | 64 |
| 1986 | 68 |
| 1987 | 107 |
| 1988 | 63 |
| 1989 | 94 |
| 1991 | 88 |
| 1992 | 90 |
| 1993 | 75 |
| 1994 | 70 |
| 1995 | 71 |
| 1997 | 48 |
| 1999 | 10 |
| 2000 | 101 |
| 2001 | 111 |
| 2003 | 110 |
| 2004 | 67 |
| 2005 | 99 |
| 2007 | 90 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1976 | 11.0 °C |
| 1977 | 10.8 °C |
| 1978 | 10.8 °C |
| 1979 | 10.3 °C |
| 1980 | 11.0 °C |
| 1981 | 11.3 °C |
| 1982 | 10.0 °C |
| 1983 | 10.5 °C |
| 1984 | 9.8 °C |
| 1985 | 10.6 °C |
| 1986 | 10.1 °C |
| 1987 | 11.9 °C |
| 1989 | 11.4 °C |
| 1990 | 11.2 °C |
| 1991 | 11.8 °C |
| 1992 | 10.9 °C |
| 1993 | 11.6 °C |
| 1994 | 11.9 °C |
| 1995 | 11.1 °C |
| 1997 | 11.2 °C |
| 1998 | 12.9 °C |
| 1999 | 10.7 °C |
| 2000 | 10.2 °C |
| 2001 | 11.0 °C |
| 2004 | 10.9 °C |
| 2005 | 10.6 °C |
| 2006 | 11.9 °C |
| 2007 | 10.5 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1975, Tumbler Ridge's last spring frost has stayed at about the same time of year. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Elmworth Cda Epf (NOAA GHCN-Daily, from Environment and Climate Change Canada). Years with too many missing days are left out.