Alberta · Growing Zone 3b
Gardeners in Fort McMurray, AB can expect the average last spring frost around June 9, and the first fall frost around September 12, based on historical Environment Canada frost data for the area. That gives Fort McMurray a frost-free growing season of roughly 95 days. Actual frost dates shift by a week or two year to year, so use this as a planning baseline rather than an exact guarantee, and always check your local forecast before moving tender plants outside.
You have your Fort McMurray frost dates. Now put them to work: GrowBlock counts back your indoor seed-starting weeks, marks your safe planting day, warns you before a frost, and lays your whole season out on one timeline.
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Most warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) need transplanting only after the last frost has passed, and are usually started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before that date. Cold-hardy crops (peas, lettuce, spinach) can often go in the ground a few weeks before the last frost. As Fort McMurray's first fall frost approaches in September, it's time to plan the last harvests for anything frost-sensitive still in the ground.
Approximate dates for common crops in Fort McMurray, worked out from the local last frost around June 9. Warm crops go out after frost, cold-hardy crops a few weeks before it, and anything with an indoor start is counted back from its sow date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow / transplant out | Approx. harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍅 Tomato | May 5 | June 23 | September 11 |
| 🌶️ Pepper | April 21 | June 23 | September 6 |
| 🥒 Cucumber | — | June 16 | August 13 |
| 🥬 Zucchini | — | June 16 | August 5 |
| 🥬 Lettuce | — | May 19 | July 3 |
| 🥬 Spinach | — | May 19 | July 6 |
| 🫛 Peas | — | May 19 | July 20 |
| 🥕 Carrots | — | May 19 | July 26 |
| 🫘 Bush beans | — | June 9 | July 29 |
| 🥬 Kale | April 21 | May 19 | July 13 |
Guideline dates from Fort McMurray's average frost window, not a guarantee. GrowBlock tunes these to each variety you plant and adjusts as you build your beds.
This calendar is a starting point. In GrowBlock every date is tuned to the exact varieties you plant and updates as you lay out your beds, and you can share the plan with whoever you garden with, changes show up for both of you.
Build your Fort McMurray garden planAround June 9 on average, though it can vary by a week or two either way depending on the year.
Fort McMurray is in zone 3b, with a frost-free season of about 95 days.
Now that you have your dates, here is how to put them to work through the season:
More how-to on the GrowBlock gardening blog.
See frost dates for all Canadian cities covered by GrowBlock.