Now
22°C · Clear
Today
23° / 14°
Soil 6 cm
17°C
First frost
~58 days (Nov 5)
Gardening in Nanaimo
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyNanaimo Garden Guide: Early September – Sow Fall Crops, Harvest Summer Bounty
You're in zone 8b with 58 days until your average first frost (Nov 5). Soil at 17°C is still warm enough for direct seeding cool-season crops; they'll establish roots before winter dormancy. Your 218 frost-free days mean tender annuals are finishing, but brassicas, root crops, and leafy greens thrive in the cooling trend ahead.
Sow outdoors now
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
Sow directly now; germinates at 17°C soil temp and matures in 40–50 days before hard frost. Varieties like 'Space' and 'Bloomsdale' are cold-hardy.
Arugula (Eruca vesicana)
Direct seed into moist soil; ready to harvest in 30–40 days. Thrives in cool fall weather and tolerates light frosts.
Radish (Raphanus sativus)
Fast-maturing (25–30 days); 'Cherry Belle' and 'Watermelon' varieties perform well. Sow in succession every 10 days through mid-September.
Mâche (Valerianella locusta)
Sow now for winter harvest; extremely cold-hardy and germinates reliably at 17°C. Grows slowly but overwinters in zone 8b.
Kale (Brassica oleracea)
Direct seed 'Winterbor' or 'Lacinato' now; flavor improves after frost. Matures in 50–60 days but tolerates freezing.
Start indoors now
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
Start 'January King' or 'Savoy' indoors now for transplant in 3–4 weeks; they'll head up before hard frost.
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)
Seed indoors now for transplant by late September; 'Calabrese' and 'Purple Sprouting' mature in 60–70 days in cool weather.
Leek (Allium porrum)
Start 'Musselburgh' or 'King Richard' indoors; transplant in 4 weeks for harvest through winter. Extremely cold-hardy in zone 8b.
Harvest now
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Pick ripe fruit now; bring green tomatoes indoors to ripen at room temperature as nights cool. Frost will kill plants within 6 weeks.
Pepper (Capsicum annuum)
Harvest mature peppers; production slows as temperatures drop. Green peppers can be picked and ripened indoors.
Zucchini & Summer Squash (Cucurbita pepo)
Pick regularly while tender; plants will decline as soil cools. Compost spent plants by late September.
Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Harvest pole and bush beans before frost; frost will blacken pods. Pull plants and add to compost.
Tasks this week
- Deadhead spent flowers on perennials to redirect energy to roots; cut back ornamental grasses by one-third.
- Plant spring bulbs (tulips, daffodils, crocuses) in well-draining soil; they need 12–16 weeks of cold to bloom.
- Mulch beds with 5–7 cm (2–3 in) of compost or aged bark to insulate soil and suppress winter weeds.
- Divide and transplant perennials (daylilies, coreopsis, salvia) while soil is still warm; water well.
- Scout for powdery mildew on squash and beans; remove affected leaves and improve air circulation.
Watch out for
- Slugs and snails thrive in fall moisture—hand-pick at dusk or use copper tape around vulnerable seedlings.
- Powdery mildew accelerates in cool, humid nights; thin crowded plants and avoid wetting foliage.
- Frost can arrive earlier than Nov 5 in low-lying areas—watch the forecast and cover tender plants if temps drop below 0°C.
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