Planting dates for Calgary
Frost dates and sow windows from the 30-year record at Calgary Intl Airport, the official station 8 km from Calgary, Alberta.
Sow and transplant events for the staples, straight from this page.
Key windows for Calgary (2026)
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | April 9 | May 28 |
| Pepper | March 26 | June 4 |
| Peas | – | April 16 |
| Lettuce | March 26 | April 23 |
| Carrot | – | April 30 |
| Bush beans | – | May 28 |
| Garlic (longer than the average season; use short varieties) | – | Fall planted |
| Potato | – | May 7 |
Mean-date planning windows, not guarantees; watch the local forecast at the shoulders. Method on the methodology page.
Calgary planting questions
When is the last frost in Calgary?
Around May 21, the 30-year mean date of the last spring frost at Calgary Intl Airport, the official station 8 km from Calgary. Half of years see frost after the mean, so tender crops usually wait a week or more past it.
When can I plant tomatoes in Calgary?
Start seeds indoors around April 9 and transplant around May 28, once nights hold above 10 C. The full 32-crop table on the planner computes every window for Calgary.
How long is the growing season in Calgary?
About 117 frost-free days on average, from roughly May 21 to September 16. Crops whose days-to-maturity exceed that window need transplants, short-season varieties, or season extension.
How this page was made
Every date above is computed from the Environment and Climate Change Canada Canadian Climate Normals at Calgary Intl Airport: the 30-year mean dates of last spring and first fall frost, with crop offsets from standard horticultural practice. Full method and crop sources: data and methodology. These are planning averages, not forecasts: half of years frost later than the mean, so harden off transplants and watch the local forecast at the shoulders of the season.
More for Calgary: winter tire dates. Need every crop, or a different place? The full calendar covers 32 crops at 638 stations.