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2023 Planting Calendar: When to Start Vegetable Seeds | The Old Farmer's Almanac

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Planting Calendar for Lively, ON

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you're already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost but also many are frost-tolerant—and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they can still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-seasons crops such as kale and lettuce do not grow well in hot tempertures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on September 23 (at SUDBURY A, ON climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 5-Sep 9
Moon Aug 16-30
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 1-29
Moon Jul 4-16
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Jul 15-Aug 5
Moon Jul 17-Aug 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jun 24-Jul 1
Moon Jun 24-Jul 1
Frost Jul 15-29
Moon Jul 17-29
60Frost-tolerant
CabbageFrost Jun 24-Jul 1
Moon Jun 24-Jul 1
Frost Jul 15-22
Moon Jul 17-22
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 8-15
Moon Jul 8-15
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jun 17-24
Moon Jun 17-24
Frost Jul 1- 8
Moon Jul 1- 3
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 1-29
Moon Jul 1- 3, Jul 17-29
N/A70Frost-tolerant
GarlicFrost Oct 7-21
Moon Oct 7-13
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 8-22
Moon Jul 17-22
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Jul 15-29
Moon Jul 17-29
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Jul 22-Aug 12
Moon Jul 22-Aug 1
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Jul 15-29
Moon Jul 17-29
N/A60Frost-tolerant
PeasFrost Jul 15-29
Moon Jul 17-29
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 12-26
Moon Aug 12-15
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 5-26
Moon Aug 16-26
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Jul 15-29
Moon Jul 17-29
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Jul 22-Aug 5
Moon Aug 2- 5
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on May 21 (at SUDBURY A, ON climate station, elevation 1141 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
Frost Apr 30-May 14
Moon Apr 30-May 5
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23-30
Aug 26
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost May 7-21
Moon May 7-18
May 21
BasilFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost Jun 4-18
Moon Jun 17-18
Frost Jun 4-18
Moon Jun 17-18
Aug 12
BeetsN/AFrost May 7-21
Moon May 7-18
Frost Apr 23-30
Jun 4
Bell PeppersFrost Mar 11-26
Moon Mar 21-26
Frost Jun 4-11
N/AJul 1
Bok ChoyFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost Jun 4-11
Frost Jun 4-11
Jul 2
BroccoliFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
Frost May 7-21
Moon May 19-21
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23-30
Jul 22
Brussels SproutsFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost Feb 11-25
Moon Feb 20-25
Frost Jan 14-28
Moon Jan 21-28
Jun 17
CabbageFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
Frost May 7-21
Moon May 19-21
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23-30
Jun 10
CantaloupesFrost Apr 30-May 14
Moon Apr 30-May 5
Frost May 21-Jun 4
Moon May 21-Jun 3
Frost May 28-Jun 4
Moon May 28-Jun 3
Jun 17
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 23-May 7
Moon May 6- 7
Jul 15
CauliflowerFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost May 14-28
Moon May 19-28
N/AJul 15
CeleryFrost Feb 25-Mar 11
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7
Frost May 28-Jun 11
Moon May 28-Jun 3
Frost May 21
Moon May 21
Jul 15
ChivesFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
Frost Apr 30-May 7
Moon Apr 30-May 5
Frost Apr 30-May 7
Moon Apr 30-May 5
Jul 29
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost May 21-Jun 4
Moon May 21-Jun 3
Jun 11
CollardsFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost May 7-21
Moon May 19-21
Frost Apr 30-May 7
Moon Apr 30-May 5
Jul 15
CornN/AN/AFrost Jun 4-18
Moon Jun 17-18
Jul 8
CucumbersFrost Apr 30-May 7
Moon Apr 30-May 5
Frost May 28-Jun 11
Moon May 28-Jun 3
Frost Jun 4-11
Jul 15
DillN/AN/AFrost May 14-Jun 4
Moon May 19-Jun 3
Jul 29
EggplantsFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
Frost Jun 4-11
N/AJul 15
Fava Beans (Broad Beans)N/AN/AFrost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23-30
Jun 4
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 28-Jun 18
Moon May 28-Jun 3, Jun 17-18
Jul 15
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Mar 11-26
Moon Mar 21-26
Frost Jun 4-11
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
Frost May 7-21
Moon May 19-21
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23-30
Jun 4
KohlrabiFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost Apr 30-May 7
Moon Apr 30-May 5
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23-30
Jun 4
LettuceFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost Apr 30-May 7
Moon Apr 30-May 5
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23-30
Jun 4
OkraFrost Apr 23-May 7
Moon Apr 23-May 5
Frost Jun 4-11
Frost Jun 4-18
Moon Jun 17-18
Jul 15
Onion SetsN/AFrost Apr 23-May 7
Moon May 6- 7
N/AJun 17
OreganoFrost Mar 11-Apr 9
Moon Mar 21-Apr 5
Frost May 28-Jun 11
Moon May 28-Jun 3
N/AJul 15
ParsleyFrost Mar 11-26
Moon Mar 21-26
Frost May 28-Jun 11
Moon May 28-Jun 3
Frost Apr 23-May 28
Moon Apr 23-May 5, May 19-28
Jul 8
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 23-30
Jun 17
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23-30
Jun 4
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 23-May 7
Moon May 6- 7
Jul 15
PumpkinsFrost Apr 30-May 14
Moon Apr 30-May 5
Frost Jun 4-11
Frost Jun 4-11
Jun 10
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 23-30
Jul 29
RosemaryFrost Feb 25-Mar 11
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7
Frost Jun 4-11
N/AJul 29
SageFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
Frost May 28-Jun 11
Moon May 28-Jun 3
N/AJul 8
SpinachFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost Apr 30-May 7
Moon Apr 30-May 5
Frost Apr 23-30
Moon Apr 23-30
Jun 4
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Jun 4-18
Moon Jun 4-16
Jun 10
Swiss ChardFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost May 7-21
Moon May 19-21
Frost Apr 30-May 21
Moon Apr 30-May 5, May 19-21
Jun 4
ThymeFrost Mar 11-26
Moon Mar 21-26
Frost May 28-Jun 4
Moon May 28-Jun 3
N/AJul 1
TomatillosFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 19-23
Frost Jun 4-18
Moon Jun 17-18
N/AJul 8
TomatoesFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
Frost Jun 4-11
N/AJun 24
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 23-30
Aug 26
WatermelonsFrost Apr 30-May 14
Moon Apr 30-May 5
Frost Jun 4-11
Frost May 28-Jun 4
Moon May 28-Jun 3
Jun 24
Winter SquashFrost Apr 30-May 7
Moon Apr 30-May 5
Frost May 28-Jun 11
Moon May 28-Jun 3
Frost Jun 4-11
Jun 3
Zucchini and Summer SquashFrost Apr 30-May 7
Moon Apr 30-May 5
Frost May 28-Jun 11
Moon May 28-Jun 3
Frost Jun 4-11
Jul 22
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