When to plant in Napierville, QC
Planting dates worked out from Napierville's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Last spring frost
- Early · riskyApr 249 years in 10 still get a later frost
- TypicalMay 6about half of years get a later frost
- Safe to plant outMay 151 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 281 year in 10 has frost by then
- TypicalOct 9about half of years have had frost
- LateOct 199 years in 10 have had frost by then
A typical year has 158 frost-free days. Plan for tender crops to be ripe by the early date.
Station used: St Bernard De Lacolle · 11.6 km away · station 49 m, town 57 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 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 9 |
| Sweet pepper | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 14 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Mar 11 – Mar 18 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | May 25 |
| Peas | — | Apr 15 – May 13 | Jun 9 |
| Bush beans | — | May 8 – May 29 | Jun 27 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 22 – Jun 3 | Jun 21 |
| Beet | — | Apr 22 – Jun 3 | Jun 11 |
| Potato | — | Apr 22 – May 13 | Jul 1 |
| Kale | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Apr 22 – May 6 | Jun 4 |
| Broccoli | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Apr 15 – May 6 | Jun 14 |
| Cucumber | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 4 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | May 15 – May 29 | Jun 29 |
| Winter squash | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | May 15 – May 29 | Aug 3 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 8 – May 29 | Jul 7 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Apr 15 – May 6 | Jul 14 |
| Garlic | — | Sep 25 – Oct 23 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Apr 15 – May 13 | May 23 |
| Basil | Apr 3 – Apr 17 | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 11 |
Napierville'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 20 |
| 1975 | Apr 30 |
| 1976 | Apr 26 |
| 1977 | May 8 |
| 1978 | May 4 |
| 1979 | Apr 21 |
| 1980 | Jun 9 |
| 1981 | May 20 |
| 1982 | Apr 30 |
| 1983 | May 18 |
| 1984 | Apr 22 |
| 1985 | May 29 |
| 1986 | Jun 3 |
| 1987 | May 19 |
| 1988 | May 14 |
| 1989 | Apr 29 |
| 1991 | May 19 |
| 1995 | May 7 |
| 1996 | Apr 29 |
| 1997 | May 9 |
| 1999 | May 14 |
| 2000 | May 20 |
| 2001 | May 6 |
| 2002 | Apr 29 |
| 2003 | May 4 |
| 2004 | May 8 |
| 2005 | May 5 |
| 2006 | May 7 |
| 2007 | Apr 26 |
| 2008 | May 2 |
| 2009 | Apr 24 |
| 2010 | May 13 |
| 2011 | Apr 22 |
| 2012 | May 7 |
| 2013 | May 15 |
| 2014 | May 7 |
| 2017 | May 4 |
| 2018 | Apr 23 |
| 2020 | May 13 |
| 2021 | May 7 |
| 2022 | May 1 |
| 2023 | May 18 |
| 2024 | Apr 27 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1974 | 126 |
| 1975 | 155 |
| 1976 | 167 |
| 1977 | 152 |
| 1978 | 144 |
| 1979 | 151 |
| 1981 | 132 |
| 1982 | 162 |
| 1983 | 144 |
| 1984 | 157 |
| 1986 | 125 |
| 1987 | 130 |
| 1988 | 137 |
| 1989 | 150 |
| 1995 | 134 |
| 1996 | 157 |
| 1999 | 142 |
| 2000 | 130 |
| 2001 | 146 |
| 2002 | 162 |
| 2003 | 151 |
| 2004 | 149 |
| 2005 | 168 |
| 2006 | 152 |
| 2007 | 173 |
| 2008 | 168 |
| 2009 | 170 |
| 2010 | 158 |
| 2011 | 188 |
| 2012 | 158 |
| 2017 | 160 |
| 2018 | 177 |
| 2020 | 130 |
| 2021 | 168 |
| 2022 | 154 |
| 2023 | 158 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1974 | 15.0 °C |
| 1975 | 16.0 °C |
| 1976 | 15.3 °C |
| 1977 | 15.5 °C |
| 1978 | 15.2 °C |
| 1979 | 14.7 °C |
| 1981 | 15.3 °C |
| 1982 | 14.7 °C |
| 1983 | 15.6 °C |
| 1984 | 15.4 °C |
| 1985 | 14.9 °C |
| 1986 | 14.5 °C |
| 1987 | 15.3 °C |
| 1988 | 15.2 °C |
| 1989 | 15.6 °C |
| 1993 | 16.0 °C |
| 1995 | 15.1 °C |
| 1996 | 15.3 °C |
| 1999 | 16.9 °C |
| 2000 | 14.8 °C |
| 2001 | 16.2 °C |
| 2008 | 16.2 °C |
| 2010 | 16.8 °C |
| 2017 | 16.0 °C |
| 2018 | 16.3 °C |
| 2020 | 15.5 °C |
| 2022 | 16.1 °C |
| 2023 | 16.4 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1974, Napierville's last spring frost has come about 2 days earlier per decade, on average. The frost-free season has grown by about 4 days per decade. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from St Bernard De Lacolle (NOAA GHCN-Daily, from Environment and Climate Change Canada). Years with too many missing days are left out.