Now
24°C · Overcast
Today
25° / 14°
Soil 6 cm
21°C
First frost
~51 days (Oct 29)
Gardening in Toronto
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyToronto Gardening: Early Fall Planting & Harvest (Sept 8–14)
Zone 6a with 51 days to first frost (Oct 29). Soil at 21°C is still warm enough for cool-season crops to germinate and establish before winter dormancy. Spring frost (May 2) was 129 days ago, so you're well into the season's second half. Nights are cooling fast—expect frost risk by late October.
Sow outdoors now
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
Sow direct now; 'Space' and 'Bloomsdale' mature in 40–50 days, well before frost. Thin to 10 cm (4 in) apart.
Arugula (Eruca vesicana)
Direct sow; ready in 30–40 days. Tolerates light frost, improving flavor. Sow thickly and thin as you harvest.
Mâche (Valerianella locusta)
Sow now for October–November harvest; extremely cold-hardy. Germinates in cool soil; barely needs thinning.
Radish (Raphanus sativus)
'Cherry Belle' and 'Icicle' mature in 25–30 days. Sow every 2 weeks through mid-September for succession.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Plant individual cloves 5 cm (2 in) deep, 15 cm (6 in) apart, now through October. 'German Extra Hardy' is zone 6a standard.
Start indoors now
Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
'Winterbor' and 'Lacinato' sown now indoors will be transplant-ready in 4–5 weeks for October planting. Improves after frost.
Onions (Allium cepa) – transplants
Start long-day varieties ('Walla Walla', 'Ailsa Craig') indoors for transplanting in 6 weeks; they'll establish roots before dormancy.
Claytonia (Claytonia perfoliata)
Sow indoors for October transplant; this cold-hardy salad green thrives in unheated frames through winter.
Harvest now
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)
Pick all fruit now, including green ones; frost will kill plants within 6 weeks. Ripen indoors on a sunny windowsill.
Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Harvest all pods before frost. Freeze or dry surplus; plants will die at first hard frost.
Peppers (Capsicum annuum)
Cut (don't pull) all peppers now; they won't ripen further outdoors. Green peppers are edible; red takes weeks indoors.
Squash & Pumpkins (Cucurbita spp.)
Harvest when skin resists fingernail and stem browns. Cure in a warm, dry place 7–10 days before storage.
Tasks this week
- Cut back perennials (coneflowers, black-eyed Susans) to 10–15 cm (4–6 in) after flowering; leave ornamental grasses standing for winter interest.
- Divide spring-blooming perennials (hostas, daylilies, peonies) now through late September while soil is still warm.
- Plant spring bulbs (tulips, daffodils, crocus) in well-draining soil 10–15 cm (4–6 in) deep; chill tulips 12–16 weeks before planting.
- Clean up fallen leaves and debris to reduce slug and disease habitat; compost disease-free material.
- Stop fertilizing trees, shrubs, and perennials now to harden off growth before winter.
Watch out for
- Powdery mildew on squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers: improve air flow, water at soil level only, and remove affected leaves.
- Early blight on tomatoes: remove lower leaves as plants mature, stake for air circulation, and harvest all fruit before frost.
- Slugs and snails thrive in cool, wet conditions: remove debris, hand-pick at dusk, or use copper tape around containers.
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