Now
21°C · Clear
Today
21° / 9°
Soil 6 cm
13°C
First frost
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Gardening in Fort McMurray
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyFort McMurray Gardening: September 8–14 — Harvest Before Frost, Prep for Winter
You're in zone 3a with 16 days until your average first frost (September 24). Soil at 13°C is cooling fast; frost can arrive any night now. This is your final push to harvest tender crops and get perennials established before the ground freezes solid around late October.
Sow outdoors now
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea 'Space' or 'Bloomsdale')
Direct-seed now for a quick fall crop; germinates in cool soil and tolerates light frosts. Harvest in 40–45 days before hard freeze.
Mâche (Valerianella locusta)
Cold-hardy salad green that actually improves after frost. Sow thickly in rows; ready in 6–8 weeks or overwinter for spring harvest.
Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Cherry Belle' or 'Icicle')
Fast grower (25–30 days); sow in succession every 10 days through mid-September for continuous harvest before ground freezes.
Garlic (Allium sativum, hardneck varieties)
Plant individual cloves 5 cm (2 in) deep, 15 cm (6 in) apart, in well-draining soil. Needs cold winter dormancy; mulch after soil freezes.
Winter rye or hairy vetch (cover crop)
Broadcast over empty beds to prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and add nitrogen. Mow down in spring before tilling.
Start indoors now
Microgreens (any brassica or radish seed)
Start in shallow trays indoors on a sunny windowsill; harvest in 10–14 days. Extends fresh greens through winter.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Pot up divisions or seeds; grow on a cool windowsill indoors. Tolerates low light and provides fresh snips all winter.
Harvest now
Tomatoes (all varieties)
Pick all fruit now, even green ones; ripen indoors at room temperature or use for green tomato relish. Frost will kill the plant within 2 weeks.
Peppers (Capsicum annuum)
Harvest mature peppers; immature fruit won't ripen outdoors. Bring potted plants indoors to extend production.
Beans and peas (Phaseolus and Pisum sativum)
Pick pods at peak tenderness; frost will blacken foliage. Dry mature pods for seed or storage.
Root crops (carrots, beets, turnips)
Dig before soil freezes hard. Store in cool, dark place (0–4°C / 32–39°F) in damp sand or peat for winter use.
Tasks this week
- Cut back perennials (coneflowers, rudbeckia, sedums) to 5–10 cm (2–4 in); leave ornamental grasses for winter interest and wildlife shelter.
- Divide and transplant spring-blooming perennials (hostas, daylilies, peonies) while soil is still workable; water in well.
- Apply 5–8 cm (2–3 in) of mulch around shrubs and perennials after soil surface freezes (late September) to prevent frost heave.
- Empty and store garden hoses, drain irrigation lines, and shut off outdoor water before hard freeze.
- Collect and compost fallen leaves; shred them to speed decomposition or use as winter mulch for tender perennials.
Watch out for
- Frost can strike any night now—cover tender annuals with row cloth or sheets if temperatures dip below 0°C (32°F).
- Wet soil + freeze = root damage; ensure all beds drain well and avoid overwatering as temperatures drop.
- Slugs and earwigs thrive in cool, damp conditions; remove debris piles and use beer traps or hand-pick in early morning.
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