City comparison
Canadian Cities With the Longest Growing Seasons
This ranking compares Canadian cities by median frost-free season length — the window between typical last spring frost and first fall frost.
Longest season
Vancouver
236 frost-free days · Very long season
Cities compared
178
Canadian cities with frost-date values
Best paired with
GDD
Long seasons and high heat are related, but not identical.
The ranking
Cities are ranked by median frost-free days. This is a season-length ranking, not a full crop-success ranking — GDD and crop heat needs still matter.
| Rank | City | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Frost-free days | Base 50°F GDD | Season read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |
Vancouver British Columbia, Canada |
March 19 | November 10 | 236 | 1938 | Very long season |
| #2 |
Nanaimo British Columbia, Canada |
March 19 | November 10 | 236 | 1077 | Very long season |
| #3 |
Burnaby British Columbia, Canada |
March 19 | November 10 | 236 | 904 | Very long season |
| #4 |
Port Alberni British Columbia, Canada |
April 1 | November 6 | 219 | 1938 | Very long season |
| #5 |
Powell River British Columbia, Canada |
April 1 | November 6 | 219 | 1396 | Very long season |
| #6 |
Courtenay British Columbia, Canada |
April 1 | November 6 | 219 | 963 | Very long season |
| #7 |
Chilliwack British Columbia, Canada |
April 3 | November 7 | 218 | 1610 | Very long season |
| #8 |
Abbotsford British Columbia, Canada |
April 3 | November 7 | 218 | 689 | Very long season |
| #9 |
Victoria British Columbia, Canada |
April 4 | November 4 | 214 | 689 | Very long season |
| #10 |
Surrey British Columbia, Canada |
April 11 | October 30 | 202 | 1809 | Long season |
| #11 |
Windsor Ontario, Canada |
April 17 | November 1 | 198 | 2274 | Long season |
| #12 |
Whistler British Columbia, Canada |
April 19 | October 28 | 192 | 775 | Long season |
| #13 |
Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada |
April 30 | October 29 | 182 | 1579 | Long season |
| #14 |
Leamington Ontario, Canada |
April 25 | October 23 | 181 | 1946 | Long season |
| #15 |
Yarmouth Nova Scotia, Canada |
April 28 | October 24 | 179 | 1311 | Longer Canadian season |
| #16 |
Mississauga Ontario, Canada |
April 27 | October 20 | 176 | 2274 | Longer Canadian season |
| #17 |
Toronto Ontario, Canada |
April 27 | October 20 | 176 | 1634 | Longer Canadian season |
| #18 |
Terrace British Columbia, Canada |
April 25 | October 17 | 175 | 1748 | Longer Canadian season |
| #19 |
Kingston Ontario, Canada |
April 27 | October 14 | 170 | 1352 | Longer Canadian season |
| #20 |
100 Mile House British Columbia, Canada |
April 25 | October 12 | 170 | 819 | Longer Canadian season |
| #21 |
Kamloops British Columbia, Canada |
April 25 | October 12 | 170 | 679 | Longer Canadian season |
| #22 |
Campbell River British Columbia, Canada |
April 27 | October 13 | 169 | 1394 | Longer Canadian season |
| #23 |
Nelson British Columbia, Canada |
April 28 | October 13 | 168 | 2570 | Longer Canadian season |
| #24 |
Terrebonne Quebec, Canada |
April 29 | October 14 | 168 | 1896 | Longer Canadian season |
| #25 |
Oshawa Ontario, Canada |
April 30 | October 15 | 168 | 1873 | Longer Canadian season |
| #26 |
Montreal Quebec, Canada |
April 29 | October 14 | 168 | 1403 | Longer Canadian season |
| #27 |
Whitby Ontario, Canada |
April 30 | October 15 | 168 | 730 | Longer Canadian season |
| #28 |
London Ontario, Canada |
May 3 | October 16 | 166 | 1873 | Longer Canadian season |
| #29 |
Woodstock Ontario, Canada |
May 3 | October 16 | 166 | 1352 | Longer Canadian season |
| #30 |
Oakville Ontario, Canada |
May 1 | October 12 | 164 | 2396 | Longer Canadian season |
| #31 |
Brantford Ontario, Canada |
May 1 | October 12 | 164 | 2274 | Longer Canadian season |
| #32 |
Milton Ontario, Canada |
May 1 | October 12 | 164 | 2260 | Longer Canadian season |
| #33 |
Hamilton Ontario, Canada |
May 1 | October 12 | 164 | 2181 | Longer Canadian season |
| #34 |
Burlington Ontario, Canada |
May 1 | October 12 | 164 | 2134 | Longer Canadian season |
| #35 |
Markham Ontario, Canada |
May 3 | October 13 | 163 | 2561 | Longer Canadian season |
| #36 |
Aurora Ontario, Canada |
May 3 | October 13 | 163 | 2396 | Longer Canadian season |
| #37 |
Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada |
May 3 | October 13 | 163 | 2274 | Longer Canadian season |
| #38 |
Pickering Ontario, Canada |
May 3 | October 13 | 163 | 1724 | Longer Canadian season |
| #39 |
Newmarket Ontario, Canada |
May 3 | October 13 | 163 | 1714 | Longer Canadian season |
| #40 |
Vaughan Ontario, Canada |
May 3 | October 13 | 163 | 1063 | Longer Canadian season |
| #41 |
Cornwall Ontario, Canada |
April 28 | October 7 | 162 | 2372 | Longer Canadian season |
| #42 |
Belleville Ontario, Canada |
May 1 | October 10 | 162 | 1873 | Longer Canadian season |
| #43 |
St. Catharines Ontario, Canada |
May 6 | October 14 | 161 | 1973 | Longer Canadian season |
| #44 |
Vernon British Columbia, Canada |
April 28 | October 6 | 161 | 1935 | Longer Canadian season |
| #45 |
Kelowna British Columbia, Canada |
April 30 | October 8 | 161 | 1748 | Longer Canadian season |
| #46 |
Welland Ontario, Canada |
May 6 | October 14 | 161 | 1709 | Longer Canadian season |
| #47 |
Penticton British Columbia, Canada |
April 30 | October 8 | 161 | 1396 | Longer Canadian season |
| #48 |
Niagara Falls Ontario, Canada |
May 6 | October 14 | 161 | 1275 | Longer Canadian season |
| #49 |
Salmon Arm British Columbia, Canada |
April 28 | October 6 | 161 | 689 | Longer Canadian season |
| #50 |
Ottawa Ontario, Canada |
April 30 | October 6 | 159 | 2170 | Longer Canadian season |
| #51 |
Gatineau Quebec, Canada |
April 30 | October 6 | 159 | 2170 | Longer Canadian season |
| #52 |
Granby Quebec, Canada |
May 6 | October 8 | 155 | 1977 | Longer Canadian season |
| #53 |
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Quebec, Canada |
May 6 | October 8 | 155 | 1360 | Longer Canadian season |
| #54 |
Summerside Prince Edward Island, Canada |
May 17 | October 18 | 154 | 1505 | Longer Canadian season |
| #55 |
Charlottetown Prince Edward Island, Canada |
May 17 | October 18 | 154 | 1503 | Longer Canadian season |
| #56 |
Rimouski Quebec, Canada |
May 16 | October 14 | 151 | 1371 | Longer Canadian season |
| #57 |
Sydney Nova Scotia, Canada |
May 22 | October 20 | 151 | 1277 | Longer Canadian season |
| #58 |
Owen Sound Ontario, Canada |
May 12 | October 10 | 151 | 808 | Longer Canadian season |
| #59 |
Stratford Ontario, Canada |
May 8 | October 5 | 150 | 2005 | Longer Canadian season |
| #60 |
Waterloo Ontario, Canada |
May 8 | October 5 | 150 | 1946 | Longer Canadian season |
| #61 |
Cambridge Ontario, Canada |
May 8 | October 5 | 150 | 1176 | Longer Canadian season |
| #62 |
Kitchener Ontario, Canada |
May 8 | October 5 | 150 | 1063 | Longer Canadian season |
| #63 |
Guelph Ontario, Canada |
May 8 | October 5 | 150 | 873 | Longer Canadian season |
| #64 |
Chatham-Kent Ontario, Canada |
May 10 | October 6 | 149 | 873 | Moderate season |
| #65 |
Quebec City Quebec, Canada |
May 10 | October 5 | 148 | 1403 | Moderate season |
| #66 |
Kenora Ontario, Canada |
May 10 | October 2 | 145 | 1911 | Moderate season |
| #67 |
St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
May 28 | October 18 | 143 | 1579 | Moderate season |
| #68 |
Orillia Ontario, Canada |
May 16 | October 5 | 142 | 1873 | Moderate season |
| #69 |
Gander Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
May 31 | October 20 | 142 | 1357 | Moderate season |
| #70 |
Barrie Ontario, Canada |
May 16 | October 5 | 142 | 808 | Moderate season |
| #71 |
St. Albert Alberta, Canada |
May 7 | September 25 | 141 | 912 | Moderate season |
| #72 |
Spruce Grove Alberta, Canada |
May 7 | September 25 | 141 | 803 | Moderate season |
| #73 |
Drummondville Quebec, Canada |
May 12 | September 27 | 138 | 2091 | Moderate season |
| #74 |
Trois-Rivières Quebec, Canada |
May 12 | September 27 | 138 | 1953 | Moderate season |
| #75 |
Repentigny Quebec, Canada |
May 12 | September 27 | 138 | 1952 | Moderate season |
| #76 |
Shawinigan Quebec, Canada |
May 12 | September 27 | 138 | 1527 | Moderate season |
| #77 |
Saint-Hyacinthe Quebec, Canada |
May 12 | September 27 | 138 | 955 | Moderate season |
| #78 |
Chibougamau Quebec, Canada |
May 17 | October 2 | 138 | 758 | Moderate season |
| #79 |
North Bay Ontario, Canada |
May 15 | September 29 | 137 | 1932 | Moderate season |
| #80 |
Elliot Lake Ontario, Canada |
May 18 | October 1 | 136 | 2167 | Moderate season |
| #81 |
Sudbury Ontario, Canada |
May 18 | October 1 | 136 | 1973 | Moderate season |
| #82 |
Morden Manitoba, Canada |
May 15 | September 28 | 136 | 1497 | Moderate season |
| #83 |
Moncton New Brunswick, Canada |
May 19 | October 2 | 136 | 1474 | Moderate season |
| #84 |
Fredericton New Brunswick, Canada |
May 14 | September 27 | 136 | 1140 | Moderate season |
| #85 |
Winkler Manitoba, Canada |
May 15 | September 28 | 136 | 1089 | Moderate season |
| #86 |
Medicine Hat Alberta, Canada |
May 12 | September 25 | 136 | 589 | Moderate season |
| #87 |
Miramichi New Brunswick, Canada |
May 23 | October 5 | 135 | 1523 | Moderate season |
| #88 |
Kentville Nova Scotia, Canada |
May 19 | October 1 | 135 | 1311 | Moderate season |
| #89 |
Sioux Lookout Ontario, Canada |
May 17 | September 28 | 134 | 2999 | Moderate season |
| #90 |
Dryden Ontario, Canada |
May 17 | September 28 | 134 | 2561 | Moderate season |
| #91 |
Sherbrooke Quebec, Canada |
May 19 | September 30 | 134 | 1460 | Moderate season |
| #92 |
Portage la Prairie Manitoba, Canada |
May 19 | September 28 | 132 | 1586 | Moderate season |
| #93 |
Peterborough Ontario, Canada |
May 16 | September 24 | 131 | 1946 | Moderate season |
| #94 |
Forestville Quebec, Canada |
May 20 | September 27 | 130 | 1061 | Moderate season |
| #95 |
Saguenay Quebec, Canada |
May 20 | September 27 | 130 | 955 | Moderate season |
| #96 |
Bathurst New Brunswick, Canada |
May 20 | September 26 | 129 | 1403 | Moderate season |
| #97 |
Amherst Nova Scotia, Canada |
May 27 | October 3 | 129 | 1241 | Moderate season |
| #98 |
Saint John New Brunswick, Canada |
May 21 | September 27 | 129 | 1051 | Moderate season |
| #99 |
Cranbrook British Columbia, Canada |
May 18 | September 23 | 128 | 1099 | Moderate season |
| #100 |
Fort St. John British Columbia, Canada |
May 12 | September 16 | 127 | 679 | Moderate season |
| #101 |
Flin Flon Manitoba, Canada |
May 21 | September 24 | 126 | 1135 | Moderate season |
| #102 |
Bridgewater Nova Scotia, Canada |
May 26 | September 28 | 125 | 1639 | Moderate season |
| #103 |
Red Lake Ontario, Canada |
May 25 | September 27 | 125 | 1530 | Moderate season |
| #104 |
Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, Canada |
May 28 | September 29 | 124 | 2372 | Moderate season |
| #105 |
Wawa Ontario, Canada |
May 28 | September 29 | 124 | 1153 | Moderate season |
| #106 |
Estevan Saskatchewan, Canada |
May 17 | September 17 | 123 | 1461 | Moderate season |
| #107 |
Weyburn Saskatchewan, Canada |
May 17 | September 17 | 123 | 1421 | Moderate season |
| #108 |
Rouyn-Noranda Quebec, Canada |
May 25 | September 25 | 123 | 1156 | Moderate season |
| #109 |
Swift Current Saskatchewan, Canada |
May 19 | September 19 | 123 | 1112 | Moderate season |
| #110 |
Brandon Manitoba, Canada |
May 18 | September 18 | 123 | 1089 | Moderate season |
| #111 |
Dauphin Manitoba, Canada |
May 21 | September 20 | 122 | 1435 | Moderate season |
| #112 |
Brooks Alberta, Canada |
May 22 | September 21 | 122 | 1392 | Moderate season |
| #113 |
Steinbach Manitoba, Canada |
May 23 | September 22 | 122 | 1135 | Moderate season |
| #114 |
Lloydminster Alberta, Canada |
May 18 | September 17 | 122 | 1028 | Moderate season |
| #115 |
Fort Nelson British Columbia, Canada |
May 15 | September 14 | 122 | 854 | Moderate season |
| #116 |
Selkirk Manitoba, Canada |
May 23 | September 22 | 122 | 703 | Moderate season |
| #117 |
Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada |
May 23 | September 22 | 122 | 703 | Moderate season |
| #118 |
The Pas Manitoba, Canada |
May 24 | September 22 | 121 | 1497 | Moderate season |
| #119 |
Yorkton Saskatchewan, Canada |
May 20 | September 18 | 121 | 1227 | Moderate season |
| #120 |
Quesnel British Columbia, Canada |
May 22 | September 19 | 120 | 1610 | Moderate season |
| #121 |
Airdrie Alberta, Canada |
May 21 | September 18 | 120 | 1339 | Moderate season |
| #122 |
Okotoks Alberta, Canada |
May 21 | September 18 | 120 | 867 | Moderate season |
| #123 |
Calgary Alberta, Canada |
May 21 | September 18 | 120 | 841 | Moderate season |
| #124 |
Cochrane Alberta, Canada |
May 21 | September 18 | 120 | 833 | Moderate season |
| #125 |
Cold Lake Alberta, Canada |
May 19 | September 16 | 120 | 833 | Moderate season |
| #126 |
Yellowknife Northwest Territories, Canada |
May 24 | September 21 | 120 | 725 | Moderate season |
| #127 |
Humboldt Saskatchewan, Canada |
May 19 | September 15 | 119 | 1412 | Shorter season |
| #128 |
Saskatoon Saskatchewan, Canada |
May 19 | September 15 | 119 | 901 | Shorter season |
| #129 |
Lethbridge Alberta, Canada |
May 21 | September 17 | 119 | 867 | Shorter season |
| #130 |
Whitecourt Alberta, Canada |
May 20 | September 15 | 118 | 1155 | Shorter season |
| #131 |
Edmundston New Brunswick, Canada |
May 21 | September 15 | 117 | 1184 | Shorter season |
| #132 |
Wetaskiwin Alberta, Canada |
May 20 | September 14 | 117 | 1028 | Shorter season |
| #133 |
Camrose Alberta, Canada |
May 20 | September 14 | 117 | 937 | Shorter season |
| #134 |
Truro Nova Scotia, Canada |
June 1 | September 25 | 116 | 1282 | Shorter season |
| #135 |
Williams Lake British Columbia, Canada |
May 21 | September 14 | 116 | 830 | Shorter season |
| #136 |
Baie-Comeau Quebec, Canada |
May 29 | September 21 | 115 | 2207 | Shorter season |
| #137 |
Peace River Alberta, Canada |
May 21 | September 13 | 115 | 925 | Shorter season |
| #138 |
Melfort Saskatchewan, Canada |
May 23 | September 15 | 115 | 901 | Shorter season |
| #139 |
Mackenzie British Columbia, Canada |
May 26 | September 17 | 114 | 1742 | Shorter season |
| #140 |
Smithers British Columbia, Canada |
May 26 | September 17 | 114 | 1742 | Shorter season |
| #141 |
Regina Saskatchewan, Canada |
May 23 | September 14 | 114 | 901 | Shorter season |
| #142 |
Prince Albert Saskatchewan, Canada |
May 24 | September 15 | 114 | 870 | Shorter season |
| #143 |
Slave Lake Alberta, Canada |
May 26 | September 16 | 113 | 1392 | Shorter season |
| #144 |
Red Deer Alberta, Canada |
May 22 | September 12 | 113 | 589 | Shorter season |
| #145 |
Lacombe Alberta, Canada |
May 22 | September 12 | 113 | 503 | Shorter season |
| #146 |
Chapleau Ontario, Canada |
May 29 | September 18 | 112 | 2134 | Shorter season |
| #147 |
Grande Prairie Alberta, Canada |
May 21 | September 10 | 112 | 912 | Shorter season |
| #148 |
North Battleford Saskatchewan, Canada |
May 26 | September 13 | 110 | 1117 | Shorter season |
| #149 |
Thunder Bay Ontario, Canada |
May 31 | September 16 | 108 | 2260 | Shorter season |
| #150 |
Amos Quebec, Canada |
May 31 | September 16 | 108 | 1952 | Shorter season |
| #151 |
Val-d'Or Quebec, Canada |
May 31 | September 16 | 108 | 758 | Shorter season |
| #152 |
Prince George British Columbia, Canada |
May 22 | September 7 | 108 | 287 | Shorter season |
| #153 |
Edmonton Alberta, Canada |
May 27 | September 10 | 106 | 679 | Shorter season |
| #154 |
Leduc Alberta, Canada |
May 27 | September 10 | 106 | 325 | Shorter season |
| #155 |
Kapuskasing Ontario, Canada |
June 4 | September 17 | 105 | 2285 | Shorter season |
| #156 |
Cochrane Ontario, Canada |
June 4 | September 17 | 105 | 1925 | Shorter season |
| #157 |
Moosonee Ontario, Canada |
June 4 | September 17 | 105 | 1925 | Shorter season |
| #158 |
Matagami Quebec, Canada |
June 18 | September 30 | 104 | 1601 | Shorter season |
| #159 |
New Glasgow Nova Scotia, Canada |
June 10 | September 22 | 104 | 1448 | Shorter season |
| #160 |
Kindersley Saskatchewan, Canada |
May 30 | September 10 | 103 | 640 | Shorter season |
| #161 |
Revelstoke British Columbia, Canada |
May 31 | September 11 | 103 | 585 | Shorter season |
| #162 |
Corner Brook Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
June 10 | September 20 | 102 | 2260 | Shorter season |
| #163 |
Swan River Manitoba, Canada |
June 3 | September 13 | 102 | 1411 | Shorter season |
| #164 |
Fort McMurray Alberta, Canada |
May 29 | September 7 | 101 | 1666 | Shorter season |
| #165 |
Fort Vermilion Alberta, Canada |
May 30 | September 6 | 99 | 1392 | Shorter season |
| #166 |
High Level Alberta, Canada |
May 30 | September 6 | 99 | 1392 | Shorter season |
| #167 |
Sept-Îles Quebec, Canada |
June 7 | September 13 | 98 | 71 | Shorter season |
| #168 |
Meadow Lake Saskatchewan, Canada |
May 30 | September 4 | 97 | 678 | Shorter season |
| #169 |
Timmins Ontario, Canada |
June 7 | September 7 | 92 | 1297 | Shorter season |
| #170 |
Hinton Alberta, Canada |
June 4 | September 4 | 92 | 1107 | Shorter season |
| #171 |
Edson Alberta, Canada |
June 4 | September 4 | 92 | 833 | Shorter season |
| #172 |
Whitehorse Yukon, Canada |
June 3 | August 28 | 86 | 1474 | Shorter season |
| #173 |
La Ronge Saskatchewan, Canada |
June 15 | September 2 | 79 | 1036 | Shorter season |
| #174 |
Thompson Manitoba, Canada |
June 14 | August 28 | 75 | 1129 | Shorter season |
| #175 |
Rocky Mountain House Alberta, Canada |
June 13 | August 25 | 73 | 952 | Shorter season |
| #176 |
Canmore Alberta, Canada |
June 19 | August 23 | 65 | 883 | Shorter season |
| #177 |
Banff Alberta, Canada |
June 19 | August 23 | 65 | 503 | Shorter season |
| #178 |
Hay River Northwest Territories, Canada |
June 20 | August 24 | 65 | 0 | Shorter season |
What this ranking means
A longer frost-free season usually gives gardeners more room, but it does not always mean more heat. Coastal cities can have long frost-free windows while still accumulating less warm-season GDD than hotter inland locations.
Compare with Canadian Cities With the Highest Growing Degree Days and the full Frost Dates by City reference.
Sources and methodology
Official source context for this ranking
This ranking is a GrowByDate interpretation of frost, seasonal heat, crop margin, and timing signals. These links show the official source concepts behind the derived metrics.
- Environment and Climate Change Canada Climate Normals — official Canadian climate-normal context, including frost-free period, frost probabilities, and degree-day elements where available.
- GrowByDate data methodology — how frost, GDD, crop timing, and margin are interpreted on this site.
These links support the reference concepts behind the page. GrowByDate values are planning averages, not live forecasts or guarantees for a specific garden bed.
Methodology
Canadian cities are ranked by frost-free days between the typical last spring frost and first fall frost. Ties use base-50°F GDD as a secondary signal where available.
A longer frost-free season does not guarantee more heat. Cool coastal locations can have long frost-free windows but modest heat accumulation.
Download: longest growing seasons JSON.