Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Iqaluit

Canada

In Iqaluit the last spring frost usually comes around 18 June and the first autumn frost around 3 September, which leaves about 77 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 25 June to 25 June.

Last spring frostaround 18 June
First autumn frostaround 3 September
Frost-free days77 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Iqaluit?

The last frost in Iqaluit usually comes around 18 June: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 28 May, while cucumber waits until 25 June. The first autumn frost follows around 3 September, about 77 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha5 May – 26 May14 June – 5 July5 July – 5 July
Ageratumfrom 9 April—from 25 June
Arugula——sow 28 May – 30 July
Basil27 April – 2 July4 June – 9 August25 June – 9 August
Beet——sow 28 May – 5 July
Bell Pepper5 April – 26 April4 June – 25 June25 June – 25 June
Black-eyed Susanfrom 13 April—from 5 July
Bok Choy10 May – 13 July14 June – 17 August5 July – 17 August
Borage——sow 25 June – 10 July
Broad bean——sow from 28 May
Broccoli——sow from 28 May
Brussels Sprouts23 March – 16 April7 May – 31 May28 May – 31 May
Busy Lizziefrom 2 April—from 25 June
Cabbage——sow from 28 May
Calendula——sow from 28 May
Carrot——sow 28 May – 11 June
Cauliflower26 March – 19 May7 May – 30 June28 May – 30 June
Celeriacfrom 29 Marchfrom 14 Junefrom 5 July
Celeryfrom 29 Marchfrom 14 Junefrom 5 July
Celosiafrom 20 Aprilfrom 4 Junefrom 25 June
Chamomile——sow 28 May – 30 June
Chayotefrom 22 Marchfrom 18 Junefrom 9 July
Chickpea——sow from 28 May
Chicory12 April – 10 June—28 May – 5 July
Chili Pepperfrom 5 Aprilfrom 4 Junefrom 25 June
China asterfrom 13 Aprilfrom 4 Junefrom 25 June
Chives——sow 28 May – 21 June
Cilantro——sow 28 May – 1 July
Corn——sow from 9 July
Corn poppy——sow from 28 May
Cosmosfrom 20 Aprilfrom 4 Junefrom 25 June
Cucumber7 May – 3 July4 June – 31 July25 June – 31 July
Daikon——sow 28 May – 28 June
Delphiniumfrom 9 March—from 28 May
Dill——sow 28 May – 11 July
Edging lobeliafrom 12 April—from 5 July
Eggplant5 April – 26 April4 June – 25 June25 June – 25 June
Florence fennel30 April – 26 May14 June – 10 July5 July – 10 July
Foxglovefrom 19 February—from 28 May
Garden sorrel——sow 28 May – 29 June
Green Beans——sow 25 June – 5 July
Hollyhock——sow from 28 May
Hyssop——sow from 28 May
Kale——sow 28 May – 23 June
Kiwano3 May – 29 May4 June – 30 June25 June – 30 June
Kohlrabi——sow 28 May – 3 July
Leekfrom 26 Februaryfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Lemon balm——sow 28 May – 25 June
Lettuce——sow 28 May – 8 July
Lisianthusfrom 9 Februaryfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Lovage——sow from 28 May
Luffafrom 23 Aprilfrom 4 Junefrom 25 June
Marigoldfrom 3 Mayfrom 14 Junefrom 5 July
Marjoram5 April – 10 June—25 June – 9 August
Melonfrom 7 Mayfrom 4 Junefrom 25 June
Microgreens——sow 25 June – 20 August
Moringa10 April – 15 June4 June – 9 August25 June – 9 August
Moss rosefrom 9 April—from 25 June
Mustard greens——sow 28 May – 20 July
Napa cabbage12 May – 20 June14 June – 23 July5 July – 23 July
Nasturtiumfrom 7 Mayfrom 14 Junefrom 5 July
Okra23 April – 3 June4 June – 15 July25 June – 15 July
Oregano8 March – 31 May7 May – 30 July28 May – 30 July
Pansyfrom 12 Marchfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Parsley——sow 28 May – 19 June
Parsnip——sow from 28 May
Peanutfrom 28 Aprilfrom 4 Junefrom 25 June
Peas——sow 28 May – 21 June
Petuniafrom 2 Aprilfrom 4 Junefrom 25 June
Physalisfrom 20 Aprilfrom 4 Junefrom 25 June
Pumpkinfrom 23 Aprilfrom 4 Junefrom 25 June
Purple coneflowerfrom 6 March—from 28 May
Radish——sow 28 May – 4 August
Sage19 March – 27 May7 May – 15 July28 May – 15 July
Scarlet sagefrom 13 April—from 25 June
Snapdragonfrom 3 Marchfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Soybean——sow from 25 June
Spinach——sow 28 May – 10 July
Steviafrom 16 Aprilfrom 4 Junefrom 25 June
Stock——sow from 28 May
Sunflower——sow from 25 June
Sweet alyssum——sow from 28 May
Sweet Cornfrom 2 Junefrom 24 Junefrom 15 July
Sweet peafrom 26 Marchfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Sweet William——sow from 28 May
Swiss Chard——sow 28 May – 5 July
Thyme——sow from 28 May
Tomato13 April – 4 May4 June – 25 June25 June – 25 June
Turnip——sow 28 May – 7 July
Watercress——sow 28 May – 18 July
Watermelon7 May – 8 June4 June – 6 July25 June – 6 July
Zinniafrom 30 Aprilfrom 4 Junefrom 25 June
Zucchini14 May – 8 July4 June – 29 July25 June – 29 July

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Iqaluit

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo).

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C21 June3 days later
10 °C5 July17 days later
15 °Cnot reached before August—
18 °Cnot reached before August—

Frost dates near Iqaluit

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Trois-Rivières (29 April) and latest in Saguenay (14 May).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Saguenay1,710 km14 May22 October
Quebec City1,891 km5 May28 October
Trois-Rivières1,952 km29 April29 October
Charlottetown1,977 km10 May2 November
Moncton1,977 km1 May4 November

What to grow at home in winter in Iqaluit

Frosts in Iqaluit usually come from about 3 September to about 18 June. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Iqaluit by month

Average weather in Iqaluit over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. No month averages 20 °C by day; the warmest, July, reaches 11.6 °C. Nights average below 0 °C in October–May (-29.8–-5.2 °C). About 497 mm of rain falls in a year, on 112 days; August is the wettest month (76 mm) and February the driest (14 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January-20.3-27227
February-23.4-29.8145
March-16.3-23.4247
April-7.8-14.3298
May-1.4-6.1328
June6.10.74611
July11.65.27512
August10.84.87613
September50.46311
October-1-5.25512
November-7.9-14349
December-13.6-20.8279

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 4 August
Crocus4 August – 15 September
Daffodil4 August – 15 September
Garlic4 August – 15 September
Grape hyacinthby 4 August
Helleboreby 4 August
Hyacinth4 August – 15 September
Lilyby 4 August
Ornamental onionby 4 August
Peonyby 4 August
Saffronby 4 August
Snowdropby 4 August
Tulip4 August – 15 September
Wild garlicby 4 August

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).