Now
16°C · Partly cloudy
Today
18° / 10°
Soil 6 cm
14°C
First frost
~58 days (Nov 5)
Gardening in Halifax
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyHalifax Gardening: Early September – Harvest Season Begins, Winter Crops Established
Zone 6b with 58 days until the average first frost (Nov 5). Soil at 15°C is cool but workable; air temps this week range 8–20°C. You're at peak harvest for summer crops while establishing fall/winter plantings. Frost risk is real by late October, so time direct seeding carefully.
Sow outdoors now
Spinach (e.g., 'Space' or 'Bloomsdale Long Standing')
Direct seed now for October–November harvest; germinates well at 15°C soil temp. Sow 1 cm deep, 10 cm apart.
Arugula (e.g., 'Roquette' or 'Wild Rocket')
Fast-growing (30–40 days); direct seed for late-September picking before hard frost. Tolerates cool soil.
Mâche (corn salad, e.g., 'Verte de Cambrai')
Extremely cold-hardy; sow now for winter greens under row cover or in cold frame. Germinates slowly at cool temps but worth it.
Radish (e.g., 'Cherry Belle' or 'Watermelon')
Direct seed for October harvest; 25–30 days to maturity. Sow 1 cm deep, thin to 5 cm spacing.
Turnip (e.g., 'Purple Top' or 'Hakurei')
Sow now for November harvest; roots sweeten after light frost. Thin seedlings to 10 cm; direct seed 1 cm deep.
Start indoors now
Garlic cloves (e.g., 'German Extra Hardy' or 'Chesnok Red')
Start in pots indoors to establish roots before transplanting outdoors in late September–early October. Plant 5 cm deep, 1 clove per small pot.
Onion sets or seedlings (e.g., 'Walla Walla' or 'Egyptian Walking')
Start from sets indoors in small pots for transplant in 2–3 weeks; gives a head start in cool soil. Keep at 15–18°C.
Microgreens (e.g., mustard, radish, broccoli)
Quick indoor crop (7–14 days) on windowsill or under grow lights; harvest before frost stress hits outdoor beds.
Harvest now
Tomatoes (all types)
Pick all remaining fruit, including green ones; ripen indoors at 18–21°C or use for green tomato relish. Frost will kill plants within 6 weeks.
Beans (bush and pole)
Harvest pods daily while tender; plants will decline as nights cool. Compost spent plants after final pick.
Peppers (sweet and hot)
Pick mature peppers now; immature ones won't ripen before frost. Leave plants in ground if protected; otherwise harvest all and ripen indoors.
Squash and pumpkins (winter storage types)
Harvest when skin hardens and stem browns; cure in warm, dry place for 7–10 days before storage. Cut, don't pull, to avoid vine damage.
Tasks this week
- Deadhead spent flowers on ornamentals to extend bloom; collect seeds from cosmos, zinnias, and sunflowers for next year.
- Mulch beds with 5 cm of compost or aged leaves to insulate soil and suppress weeds as temps drop.
- Scout for aphids and spider mites on remaining warm-season crops; spray with insecticidal soap if needed.
- Drain and store garden hoses; shut off outdoor water if not frost-protected.
- Plant garlic cloves outdoors by late September; prepare beds now with compost worked 15 cm deep.
Watch out for
- Early frost: Protect tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) with row cover or cloches on nights forecast below 5°C.
- Powdery mildew and early blight: Thin foliage, improve air flow, and remove infected leaves as humidity rises with fall rains.
- Slugs and earwigs: Peak activity in cool, damp conditions; handpick at dusk or use beer traps in low-lying areas.
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