Now
23°C · Overcast
Today
23° / 12°
Soil 6 cm
19°C
First frost
~54 days (Nov 1)
Gardening in Kingston
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyKingston Gardening: Early Fall Planting & Harvest Window
Zone 5b means your first fall frost arrives around November 1—you have 54 days left to grow cool-season crops. Soil at 19°C is ideal for fall seeding; it'll drop steadily through October. Spring frost (April 26) is 135 days behind you, so summer crops are done.
Sow outdoors now
Spinach (Bloomsdale, Space or Tyee)
Direct seed now; germinates fast at 19°C soil and matures in 40–50 days before hard frost. Space 10 cm (4 in) apart in full sun or part shade.
Arugula (Roquette)
Sow every 2 weeks through mid-September for continuous harvest. Thrives in cool weather and ready in 30 days; thin to 15 cm (6 in).
Radish (Cherry Belle, French Breakfast)
Matures in 25–30 days at this soil temperature. Sow in succession; works well interplanted with slower crops to break up soil.
Mâche (Corn Salad)
A cold-hardy green that germinates at 19°C and overwinters in zone 5b under mulch. Sow densely, thin to 10 cm (4 in).
Garlic (hardneck varieties: German Extra Hardy, Chesnok Red)
Plant cloves 5 cm (2 in) deep, 15 cm (6 in) apart, in well-draining soil by late September. Mulch heavily after soil freezes to prevent heave.
Start indoors now
Kale (Winterbor, Lacinato)
Start seeds indoors now for transplant in 3–4 weeks; these varieties tolerate hard frost and improve in flavor after a freeze. Needs 12–14 hours light.
Cabbage (January King, Tundra)
Sow indoors for fall transplant; both are cold-hardy and store well. Transplant in 4 weeks when soil is still warm enough for establishment.
Broccoli (Waltham 29, De Cicco)
Start now for October transplant; these mature before hard frost and tolerate light freezes. Needs consistent moisture after transplant.
Harvest now
Tomatoes (all varieties)
Pick all remaining fruit before the first hard frost (Nov 1). Green tomatoes ripen indoors at room temperature in 2–3 weeks.
Beans & Peas (bush types)
Harvest regularly to encourage final flushes. Most will finish by late September as nights cool.
Squash & Pumpkins
Cut with 5 cm (2 in) stem; cure in a warm, dry place for 2 weeks before storage. Check for soft spots or damage.
Herbs (basil, cilantro, parsley)
Cut heavily before frost kills tender annuals. Dry or freeze for winter use; hardy parsley will regrow next spring.
Tasks this week
- Clean up spent summer crops and add disease-free material to compost; remove any with blight or mildew.
- Mulch beds with 5–7 cm (2–3 in) of shredded leaves or straw to insulate soil and suppress weeds through fall.
- Water newly seeded beds gently and consistently; September rain is unreliable—check soil moisture daily.
- Scout for late-season pests (cabbage moths, aphids) on brassicas and greens; hand-pick or use neem oil if needed.
- Divide and transplant spring-blooming perennials (daylilies, coneflowers) while soil is still warm and moist.
Watch out for
- Frost can arrive earlier than November 1 in low-lying areas or near water—monitor forecasts closely after mid-October.
- Powdery mildew thrives in cool, humid September nights; ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering.
- Slugs and snails are active in damp fall weather—use beer traps or hand-pick at dusk, especially around new seedlings.
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