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What to plant in March in Canada

Worked out for 29 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.

What to sow and plant in March in Canada, by zone: frost possible, highs of 10–16 °C (Vancouver and Victoria): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 28 more; frost possible, highs below 10 °C (Toronto, Montreal and 25 more): broad bean, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, parsley and 5 more.

In Canada, March is spring.

Frost possible, highs of 10–16 °C: Vancouver and Victoria

In March, on average, these cities have highs of 10 to 11 °C and lows of 2 to 4 °C, 92 to 219 mm of rain on 15 to 19 days; the day lasts 11 h 49 min to 11 h 50 min (on the 15th).

March falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait. Average last frost: Vancouver (27 March) and Victoria (1 March).

HowWhatWhere
sow directBroad bean, peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, cabbage, Swiss chard, arugula, chamomile, daikon, kale, parsnip, turnipall
plant setsOnion, shallotall
sow directCarrot, broccoli, dill, mustard greensVictoria
start indoors, plant out in AprilCauliflower, kohlrabiall
start indoors, plant out in April or sow directBeetall
start indoors, plant out in MayTomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, Florence fennel, moringaVancouver
start indoors, plant out in MayParsley, Brussels sproutsall
start indoors, plant out in JuneCeleriac, celery, chayoteall

Compared with February: new — carrot, tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, daikon, parsnip, shallot, chili pepper and 4 more; no longer sown — leek and chicory.

Not starting in March: zucchini (May, started indoors) and green beans (June, sown direct) — dates for Victoria.

Ready to harvest in March in Victoria, if sown in the right month: broad bean (December), peas (January), spinach (January), radish (February) and cabbage (November).

Frost possible, highs below 10 °C: Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Ottawa and 23 more

In March, on average, these cities have highs of -16 to 9 °C and lows of -23 to -1 °C, 12 to 126 mm of rain on 3 to 14 days; the day lasts 11 h 39 min to 11 h 53 min (on the 15th).

March falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait.

HowWhatWhere
start indoors, plant out in AprilBroad beanToronto, Montreal, Calgary and 22 more
sow directPeas, radishWindsor
start indoors, plant out in AprilSpinachToronto, Montreal, Calgary and 20 more
start indoors, plant out in AprilLettuce, kohlrabiToronto, Montreal, Calgary and 21 more
start indoors, plant out in MayCabbageCalgary, Ottawa, Winnipeg and 16 more
start indoors, plant out in MayBroccoliEdmonton, St. John's, Thunder Bay and 3 more
start indoors, plant out in AprilCauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomileToronto, Montreal, Calgary and 10 more
start indoors, plant out in MayLeekWhitehorse
start indoors, plant out in MayTomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, Florence fennel, moringaToronto, Montreal, Ottawa and 8 more
start indoors, plant out in MayParsleyToronto, Montreal, Calgary and 22 more
start indoors, plant out in JuneCeleriac, celery, chayoteToronto, Montreal, Calgary and 21 more
start indoors, plant out in MayBrussels SproutsCalgary, Ottawa, Winnipeg and 15 more
start indoors, plant out in AprilKaleCalgary, Ottawa, Sherbrooke and 3 more

Compared with February: new — peas, radish, cauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, leek, tomato, bell pepper and 7 more.

Not starting in March: zucchini (April, started indoors) and green beans (June, sown direct) — dates for Trois-Rivières.

How we work it out

For each city we use its average weather in March and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in March if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.

Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 16–27 °C and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 4 °C, semi-hardy ones from 4–10 °C (we use 10 °C); warm-season crops need days above 13 °C, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, aubergine, melon, watermelon, squash) above 16 °C, up to 35 °C. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Broad beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in autumn and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).

This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.

Other months in Canada