Visual explainer
Long Season vs Warm Season: A Canadian Comparison Chart
Frost-free days and growing degree days measure different parts of a garden climate. This chart shows why gardeners need both when planning tomatoes, peppers, squash, corn, melons, and other heat-loving crops.
Updated 2026-05-28 · 178 Canadian cities with both frost and GDD reference data.
Main visual
Frost-free days vs base-50°F growing degree days
Each point is one Canadian city. Only selected reference cities are labeled to keep the chart readable.
More crop heat →
More frost-free days →
Long + warm
Long + cool
Short + warm
Short + cool
Calgary, Alberta: 120 frost-free days, 841 base-50 GDD.
Edmonton, Alberta: 106 frost-free days, 679 base-50 GDD.
Red Deer, Alberta: 113 frost-free days, 589 base-50 GDD.
Lethbridge, Alberta: 119 frost-free days, 867 base-50 GDD.
Medicine Hat, Alberta: 136 frost-free days, 589 base-50 GDD.
Vancouver, British Columbia: 236 frost-free days, 1938 base-50 GDD.
Victoria, British Columbia: 214 frost-free days, 689 base-50 GDD.
Kelowna, British Columbia: 161 frost-free days, 1748 base-50 GDD.
Kamloops, British Columbia: 170 frost-free days, 679 base-50 GDD.
Prince George, British Columbia: 108 frost-free days, 287 base-50 GDD.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: 119 frost-free days, 901 base-50 GDD.
Regina, Saskatchewan: 114 frost-free days, 901 base-50 GDD.
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan: 114 frost-free days, 870 base-50 GDD.
Winnipeg, Manitoba: 122 frost-free days, 703 base-50 GDD.
Brandon, Manitoba: 123 frost-free days, 1089 base-50 GDD.
Airdrie, Alberta: 120 frost-free days, 1339 base-50 GDD.
Brooks, Alberta: 122 frost-free days, 1392 base-50 GDD.
Canmore, Alberta: 65 frost-free days, 883 base-50 GDD.
Cold Lake, Alberta: 120 frost-free days, 833 base-50 GDD.
Fort McMurray, Alberta: 101 frost-free days, 1666 base-50 GDD.
Grande Prairie, Alberta: 112 frost-free days, 912 base-50 GDD.
Lloydminster, Alberta: 122 frost-free days, 1028 base-50 GDD.
Spruce Grove, Alberta: 141 frost-free days, 803 base-50 GDD.
St. Albert, Alberta: 141 frost-free days, 912 base-50 GDD.
Wetaskiwin, Alberta: 117 frost-free days, 1028 base-50 GDD.
Okotoks, Alberta: 120 frost-free days, 867 base-50 GDD.
Cochrane, Alberta: 120 frost-free days, 833 base-50 GDD.
Abbotsford, British Columbia: 218 frost-free days, 689 base-50 GDD.
Chilliwack, British Columbia: 218 frost-free days, 1610 base-50 GDD.
Courtenay, British Columbia: 219 frost-free days, 963 base-50 GDD.
Cranbrook, British Columbia: 128 frost-free days, 1099 base-50 GDD.
Fort St. John, British Columbia: 127 frost-free days, 679 base-50 GDD.
Nanaimo, British Columbia: 236 frost-free days, 1077 base-50 GDD.
Nelson, British Columbia: 168 frost-free days, 2570 base-50 GDD.
Penticton, British Columbia: 161 frost-free days, 1396 base-50 GDD.
Powell River, British Columbia: 219 frost-free days, 1396 base-50 GDD.
Quesnel, British Columbia: 120 frost-free days, 1610 base-50 GDD.
Revelstoke, British Columbia: 103 frost-free days, 585 base-50 GDD.
Salmon Arm, British Columbia: 161 frost-free days, 689 base-50 GDD.
Terrace, British Columbia: 175 frost-free days, 1748 base-50 GDD.
Vernon, British Columbia: 161 frost-free days, 1935 base-50 GDD.
Williams Lake, British Columbia: 116 frost-free days, 830 base-50 GDD.
Whistler, British Columbia: 192 frost-free days, 775 base-50 GDD.
Port Alberni, British Columbia: 219 frost-free days, 1938 base-50 GDD.
Swift Current, Saskatchewan: 123 frost-free days, 1112 base-50 GDD.
Yorkton, Saskatchewan: 121 frost-free days, 1227 base-50 GDD.
North Battleford, Saskatchewan: 110 frost-free days, 1117 base-50 GDD.
Weyburn, Saskatchewan: 123 frost-free days, 1421 base-50 GDD.
Estevan, Saskatchewan: 123 frost-free days, 1461 base-50 GDD.
Melfort, Saskatchewan: 115 frost-free days, 901 base-50 GDD.
La Ronge, Saskatchewan: 79 frost-free days, 1036 base-50 GDD.
Steinbach, Manitoba: 122 frost-free days, 1135 base-50 GDD.
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba: 132 frost-free days, 1586 base-50 GDD.
Thompson, Manitoba: 75 frost-free days, 1129 base-50 GDD.
Winkler, Manitoba: 136 frost-free days, 1089 base-50 GDD.
Selkirk, Manitoba: 122 frost-free days, 703 base-50 GDD.
Morden, Manitoba: 136 frost-free days, 1497 base-50 GDD.
Dauphin, Manitoba: 122 frost-free days, 1435 base-50 GDD.
The Pas, Manitoba: 121 frost-free days, 1497 base-50 GDD.
Ottawa, Ontario: 159 frost-free days, 2170 base-50 GDD.
Kingston, Ontario: 170 frost-free days, 1352 base-50 GDD.
London, Ontario: 166 frost-free days, 1873 base-50 GDD.
Windsor, Ontario: 198 frost-free days, 2274 base-50 GDD.
Sudbury, Ontario: 136 frost-free days, 1973 base-50 GDD.
Thunder Bay, Ontario: 108 frost-free days, 2260 base-50 GDD.
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario: 124 frost-free days, 2372 base-50 GDD.
Guelph, Ontario: 150 frost-free days, 873 base-50 GDD.
Kitchener, Ontario: 150 frost-free days, 1063 base-50 GDD.
Waterloo, Ontario: 150 frost-free days, 1946 base-50 GDD.
Cambridge, Ontario: 150 frost-free days, 1176 base-50 GDD.
Brantford, Ontario: 164 frost-free days, 2274 base-50 GDD.
Niagara Falls, Ontario: 161 frost-free days, 1275 base-50 GDD.
St. Catharines, Ontario: 161 frost-free days, 1973 base-50 GDD.
Peterborough, Ontario: 131 frost-free days, 1946 base-50 GDD.
Barrie, Ontario: 142 frost-free days, 808 base-50 GDD.
Belleville, Ontario: 162 frost-free days, 1873 base-50 GDD.
Cornwall, Ontario: 162 frost-free days, 2372 base-50 GDD.
North Bay, Ontario: 137 frost-free days, 1932 base-50 GDD.
Timmins, Ontario: 92 frost-free days, 1297 base-50 GDD.
Orillia, Ontario: 142 frost-free days, 1873 base-50 GDD.
Owen Sound, Ontario: 151 frost-free days, 808 base-50 GDD.
Stratford, Ontario: 150 frost-free days, 2005 base-50 GDD.
Chatham-Kent, Ontario: 149 frost-free days, 873 base-50 GDD.
Leamington, Ontario: 181 frost-free days, 1946 base-50 GDD.
Woodstock, Ontario: 166 frost-free days, 1352 base-50 GDD.
Montreal, Quebec: 168 frost-free days, 1403 base-50 GDD.
Quebec City, Quebec: 148 frost-free days, 1403 base-50 GDD.
Gatineau, Quebec: 159 frost-free days, 2170 base-50 GDD.
Sherbrooke, Quebec: 134 frost-free days, 1460 base-50 GDD.
Trois-Rivières, Quebec: 138 frost-free days, 1953 base-50 GDD.
Saguenay, Quebec: 130 frost-free days, 955 base-50 GDD.
Drummondville, Quebec: 138 frost-free days, 2091 base-50 GDD.
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec: 138 frost-free days, 955 base-50 GDD.
Granby, Quebec: 155 frost-free days, 1977 base-50 GDD.
Rimouski, Quebec: 151 frost-free days, 1371 base-50 GDD.
Fredericton, New Brunswick: 136 frost-free days, 1140 base-50 GDD.
Moncton, New Brunswick: 136 frost-free days, 1474 base-50 GDD.
Saint John, New Brunswick: 129 frost-free days, 1051 base-50 GDD.
Bathurst, New Brunswick: 129 frost-free days, 1403 base-50 GDD.
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island: 154 frost-free days, 1503 base-50 GDD.
Summerside, Prince Edward Island: 154 frost-free days, 1505 base-50 GDD.
Halifax, Nova Scotia: 182 frost-free days, 1579 base-50 GDD.
Truro, Nova Scotia: 116 frost-free days, 1282 base-50 GDD.
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia: 104 frost-free days, 1448 base-50 GDD.
Kentville, Nova Scotia: 135 frost-free days, 1311 base-50 GDD.
Sydney, Nova Scotia: 151 frost-free days, 1277 base-50 GDD.
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia: 179 frost-free days, 1311 base-50 GDD.
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador: 143 frost-free days, 1579 base-50 GDD.
Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador: 142 frost-free days, 1357 base-50 GDD.
Whitehorse, Yukon: 86 frost-free days, 1474 base-50 GDD.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories: 120 frost-free days, 725 base-50 GDD.
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador: 102 frost-free days, 2260 base-50 GDD.
Camrose, Alberta: 117 frost-free days, 937 base-50 GDD.
Lacombe, Alberta: 113 frost-free days, 503 base-50 GDD.
Leduc, Alberta: 106 frost-free days, 325 base-50 GDD.
Surrey, British Columbia: 202 frost-free days, 1809 base-50 GDD.
Burnaby, British Columbia: 236 frost-free days, 904 base-50 GDD.
Campbell River, British Columbia: 169 frost-free days, 1394 base-50 GDD.
Toronto, Ontario: 176 frost-free days, 1634 base-50 GDD.
Hamilton, Ontario: 164 frost-free days, 2181 base-50 GDD.
Mississauga, Ontario: 176 frost-free days, 2274 base-50 GDD.
Oshawa, Ontario: 168 frost-free days, 1873 base-50 GDD.
Welland, Ontario: 161 frost-free days, 1709 base-50 GDD.
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec: 155 frost-free days, 1360 base-50 GDD.
Miramichi, New Brunswick: 135 frost-free days, 1523 base-50 GDD.
Edmundston, New Brunswick: 117 frost-free days, 1184 base-50 GDD.
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia: 125 frost-free days, 1639 base-50 GDD.
Amherst, Nova Scotia: 129 frost-free days, 1241 base-50 GDD.
Kenora, Ontario: 145 frost-free days, 1911 base-50 GDD.
Dryden, Ontario: 134 frost-free days, 2561 base-50 GDD.
Elliot Lake, Ontario: 136 frost-free days, 2167 base-50 GDD.
Kapuskasing, Ontario: 105 frost-free days, 2285 base-50 GDD.
Sioux Lookout, Ontario: 134 frost-free days, 2999 base-50 GDD.
Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec: 123 frost-free days, 1156 base-50 GDD.
Val-d'Or, Quebec: 108 frost-free days, 758 base-50 GDD.
Amos, Quebec: 108 frost-free days, 1952 base-50 GDD.
Sept-Îles, Quebec: 98 frost-free days, 71 base-50 GDD.
Baie-Comeau, Quebec: 115 frost-free days, 2207 base-50 GDD.
Chibougamau, Quebec: 138 frost-free days, 758 base-50 GDD.
Cochrane, Ontario: 105 frost-free days, 1925 base-50 GDD.
Moosonee, Ontario: 105 frost-free days, 1925 base-50 GDD.
Red Lake, Ontario: 125 frost-free days, 1530 base-50 GDD.
Wawa, Ontario: 124 frost-free days, 1153 base-50 GDD.
Chapleau, Ontario: 112 frost-free days, 2134 base-50 GDD.
Matagami, Quebec: 104 frost-free days, 1601 base-50 GDD.
Forestville, Quebec: 130 frost-free days, 1061 base-50 GDD.
Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan: 97 frost-free days, 678 base-50 GDD.
Flin Flon, Manitoba: 126 frost-free days, 1135 base-50 GDD.
Peace River, Alberta: 115 frost-free days, 925 base-50 GDD.
Smithers, British Columbia: 114 frost-free days, 1742 base-50 GDD.
Whitecourt, Alberta: 118 frost-free days, 1155 base-50 GDD.
Slave Lake, Alberta: 113 frost-free days, 1392 base-50 GDD.
Hinton, Alberta: 92 frost-free days, 1107 base-50 GDD.
Banff, Alberta: 65 frost-free days, 503 base-50 GDD.
Rocky Mountain House, Alberta: 73 frost-free days, 952 base-50 GDD.
Fort Nelson, British Columbia: 122 frost-free days, 854 base-50 GDD.
Hay River, Northwest Territories: 65 frost-free days, 0 base-50 GDD.
High Level, Alberta: 99 frost-free days, 1392 base-50 GDD.
Fort Vermilion, Alberta: 99 frost-free days, 1392 base-50 GDD.
Edson, Alberta: 92 frost-free days, 833 base-50 GDD.
Kindersley, Saskatchewan: 103 frost-free days, 640 base-50 GDD.
Humboldt, Saskatchewan: 119 frost-free days, 1412 base-50 GDD.
Swan River, Manitoba: 102 frost-free days, 1411 base-50 GDD.
Mackenzie, British Columbia: 114 frost-free days, 1742 base-50 GDD.
100 Mile House, British Columbia: 170 frost-free days, 819 base-50 GDD.
Burlington, Ontario: 164 frost-free days, 2134 base-50 GDD.
Oakville, Ontario: 164 frost-free days, 2396 base-50 GDD.
Milton, Ontario: 164 frost-free days, 2260 base-50 GDD.
Pickering, Ontario: 163 frost-free days, 1724 base-50 GDD.
Whitby, Ontario: 168 frost-free days, 730 base-50 GDD.
Newmarket, Ontario: 163 frost-free days, 1714 base-50 GDD.
Aurora, Ontario: 163 frost-free days, 2396 base-50 GDD.
Richmond Hill, Ontario: 163 frost-free days, 2274 base-50 GDD.
Vaughan, Ontario: 163 frost-free days, 1063 base-50 GDD.
Markham, Ontario: 163 frost-free days, 2561 base-50 GDD.
Repentigny, Quebec: 138 frost-free days, 1952 base-50 GDD.
Terrebonne, Quebec: 168 frost-free days, 1896 base-50 GDD.
Shawinigan, Quebec: 138 frost-free days, 1527 base-50 GDD.
Edmonton
Lethbridge
Victoria
Winnipeg
Canmore
Abbotsford
Ottawa
Toronto
How to read the chart
Long + warm
More outdoor time and more seasonal crop heat.
Long + cool
A wide frost-free window, but slower heat accumulation.
Short + warm
A compressed season with stronger summer heat.
Short + cool
The tightest pattern for heat-loving crops.
Reference city examples
Edmonton, AB
106 frost-free days · 679 base-50 GDD
Shorter window, moderate crop heat
Lethbridge, AB
119 frost-free days · 867 base-50 GDD
Shorter window with stronger prairie heat
Victoria, BC
214 frost-free days · 689 base-50 GDD
Long frost-free season, cooler heat profile
Winnipeg, MB
122 frost-free days · 703 base-50 GDD
Compressed but warmer inland season
Canmore, AB
65 frost-free days · 883 base-50 GDD
Short + cool mountain pressure
Abbotsford, BC
218 frost-free days · 689 base-50 GDD
Very long outdoor window
Ottawa, ON
159 frost-free days · 2170 base-50 GDD
Longer and warmer eastern example
Toronto, ON
176 frost-free days · 1634 base-50 GDD
More heat inside a longer window
The useful gardening distinction
Frost-free days measure the likely outdoor window for tender crops. Growing degree days measure accumulated warmth. A cool coastal city may have many frost-free days but less heat intensity, while an inland prairie city may have a shorter window with stronger summer heat.
This is why a frost-date chart alone can be misleading for heat-loving crops. Tomatoes, peppers, corn, squash, and melons need both enough time before frost and enough heat inside that window.
Use this resource
You may reference this visual with attribution to GrowByDate.
Methodology and limits
This resource joins city frost-date records with base-50°F GDD reference records. Frost-free days estimate the average window between last spring frost and first fall frost. GDD estimates seasonal accumulated crop heat from the mapped station series. These are planning signals, not forecasts, and do not capture every microclimate, slope, cold pocket, lake effect, soil condition, or variety difference.