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Planting Calendar for Courtenay, BC

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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.

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 could 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-season crops, such as kale and lettuce, do not grow well in hot temperatures, 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. 

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've 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 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.

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 October 20 (at COMOX A, BC climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 1-Oct 6
Moon Sep 1-7, Sep 21-Oct 6
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 28-Aug 25
Moon Aug 10-22
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 11-Sep 1
Moon Aug 23-Sep 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 21-28
Moon Jul 24-28
Frost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 23-25
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 30-Jul 14
Moon Jun 30-Jul 10
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 21-28
Moon Jul 24-28
Frost Aug 11-18
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 4-11
Moon Aug 10-11
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 14-21
Frost Jul 28-Aug 4
Moon Jul 28-Aug 4
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 28-Aug 25
Moon Jul 28-Aug 9, Aug 23-25
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 21-Aug 4
Moon Jul 24-Aug 4
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 2-16
Moon Nov 6-16
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 4-18
Moon Aug 4-9
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 23-25
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 18-Sep 8
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 23-25
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 18-Sep 8
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 23-25
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 8-22
Moon Sep 8-20
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 1-22
Moon Sep 1-7, Sep 21-22
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 23-25
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 18-Sep 1
Moon Aug 18-22
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 20 (at COMOX A, BC climate station, elevation 82 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Feb 22-Mar 8
Moon Feb 27-Mar 8
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Sep 22
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 13-20
Apr 20
BasilFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 4-12
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 4-12
Sep 8
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 13-20
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-28
May 4
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 8-12
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
N/AJul 28
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Jun 1
BroccoliFrost Feb 22-Mar 8
Moon Feb 27-Mar 8
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Aug 18
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Jul 14
CabbageFrost Feb 22-Mar 8
Moon Feb 27-Mar 8
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Apr 27
CantaloupesFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Jul 14
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-28
Aug 11
CauliflowerFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
N/AAug 4
CeleryFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 29-Feb 8
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Frost Apr 20
Aug 11
ChivesFrost Feb 22-Mar 8
Moon Feb 27-Mar 8
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
Aug 25
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
May 11
CollardsFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
Aug 11
CucumbersFrost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Aug 11
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Aug 25
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Jul 14
EggplantsFrost Feb 22-Mar 8
Moon Feb 27-Mar 8
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
N/AAug 11
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
May 4
FennelFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Aug 4
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 27-May 18
Moon Apr 27-May 12
Aug 11
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Jul 21
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 8-12
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 22-Mar 8
Moon Feb 27-Mar 8
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
May 4
KohlrabiFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
May 4
LeeksFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 8-12
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
N/AJul 7
LettuceFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
May 4
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 29-Apr 6
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 4-12
Aug 11
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-28
N/AJul 14
OreganoFrost Feb 8-Mar 8
Moon Feb 8-12, Feb 27-Mar 8
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
N/AAug 11
ParsleyFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 8-12
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Frost Mar 23-Apr 27
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Aug 4
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-28
Jul 14
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost May 11-25
Moon May 13-25
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
May 4
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-28
Aug 11
PumpkinsFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Jul 7
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-28
Aug 25
RosemaryFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 29-Feb 8
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
N/AAug 25
SageFrost Feb 22-Mar 8
Moon Feb 27-Mar 8
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
N/AAug 4
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-28
Jul 14
SpinachFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
May 4
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 4-18
Moon May 4-12
Aug 4
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 4-18
Moon May 13-18
Jul 7
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Mar 30-Apr 20
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
May 4
ThymeFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 8-12
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
N/AJul 28
TomatillosFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 4-12
N/AAug 4
TomatoesFrost Feb 22-Mar 8
Moon Feb 27-Mar 8
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
N/AJul 21
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-28
Sep 22
WatermelonsFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Jul 21
Winter SquashFrost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Jun 30
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Aug 18
The Old Farmer's Store