Fort McMurray, AB — Planting Guide

Fort McMurray is in Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 27 and the first fall frost is October 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 127 days.

At an elevation of 370 m, Fort McMurray receives approximately 460 mm of rainfall annually. Summer highs average 18°C with winter lows around -20°C. The predominant soil type is Dark Brown Chernozem.

🌡️ Zone

3b (-35°F to -30°F min)

❄️ Last Frost

May 27

🍂 First Frost

October 1

📅 Growing Season

127 days

⛰️ Elevation

370 m

🌧️ Annual Rainfall

460 mm

Fort McMurray, AB Short season

127 days

❄

Last Spring Frost May 27

➔ 127 growing days ➔

❄

First Fall Frost October 1

Fort McMurray Soil Profile

Soil Type

Dark Brown Chernozem

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Last Frost: May 27 First Frost: Oct 1

Soil & Growing Conditions in Fort McMurray

Soil Type

Dark Brown Chernozem

Amend with compost each season to maintain fertility and structure.

Watering Needs

With 18.1 inches annually, regular irrigation is essential. Drip systems and heavy mulching conserve water.

Season Tips

127-day frost-free season

A short season means indoor starts are critical for warm-season crops. Prioritise cold-hardy, fast-maturing varieties and use row covers to extend autumn harvests.

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Recommended for Your Garden

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

📏

Digital pH Meter $10-20

Get instant, accurate soil pH readings to fine-tune your amendments.

🍂

Organic Compost $8-30

Boost soil fertility and structure with rich, well-aged organic compost.

🥬 Vegetables to Grow in Fort McMurray

87 vegetables that grow well in Zone 3b with planting dates for Fort McMurray.

Show all 87 vegetables with planting dates

Plant	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest	Days to Maturity
Acorn Squash	Apr 15	Jun 10	Jun 17	Sep 9 – Oct 14	80–100
Amaranth	Mar 25	Jun 10	Jun 17	Sep 16 – Oct 21	90–120
Arugula	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 1 – Sep 2	30–50
Asparagus	—	—	Jun 10	—	730–1095
Beets	—	May 20	—	Jul 15 – Aug 12	50–70
Belgian Endive	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Sep 16 – Sep 30	110–150
Black Beans	—	Jun 10	—	Sep 9 – Oct 14	90–120
Bok Choy	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 8 – Aug 12	40–60
Broccoli	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 29 – Sep 9	60–90
Broccoli Rabe	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 8 – Aug 12	40–60
Brussels Sprouts	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Aug 26 – Sep 30	90–130
Butternut Squash	Apr 15	Jun 10	Jun 17	Sep 16 – Oct 21	85–110
Cabbage	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 29 – Sep 23	60–100
Carrots	—	May 20	—	Jul 22 – Aug 26	60–80
Cauliflower	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 22 – Sep 23	55–100
Celeriac	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Sep 9 – Sep 30	100–120
Celery	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Aug 19 – Sep 30	80–120
Celtuce	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 29 – Sep 9	60–90
Chard	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 22 – Sep 9	50–60
Chickpeas	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Aug 19 – Sep 30	80–110
Chicory	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 29 – Sep 9	60–85
Chinese Cabbage	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 22 – Aug 19	50–70
Collard Greens	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 22 – Sep 23	55–75
Corn	—	Jun 10	—	Aug 12 – Oct 7	60–100
Cress	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jun 10 – Jul 1	14–21
Crookneck Squash	Apr 15	Jun 10	Jun 17	Aug 5 – Sep 2	45–60
Cucumber	Apr 15	Jun 10	Jun 17	Aug 12 – Oct 7	50–70
Daikon	—	May 20	—	Jul 15 – Aug 12	50–70
Delicata Squash	Apr 15	Jun 10	Jun 17	Sep 9 – Oct 14	80–100
Edamame	—	Jun 10	—	Aug 26 – Oct 7	75–100
Endive	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 15 – Aug 19	45–65
Escarole	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 22 – Aug 19	50–70
Fava Beans	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Aug 12 – Sep 23	75–100
Garlic	—	—	—	—	90–240
Green Beans	—	Jun 10	—	Aug 5 – Sep 30	50–65
Horseradish	—	—	Jun 10	Oct 14	120–180
Hubbard Squash	Apr 15	Jun 10	Jun 17	Sep 30 – Oct 21	100–120
Kabocha	Apr 15	Jun 10	Jun 17	Sep 16 – Oct 14	85–100
Kai Lan	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 15 – Aug 12	45–60
Kale	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 22 – Sep 16	50–70
Kidney Beans	—	Jun 10	—	Sep 9 – Oct 14	85–110
Kohlrabi	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 15 – Aug 19	45–65
Komatsuna	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 1 – Aug 5	35–50
Leeks	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Aug 26 – Sep 30	90–150
Lentils	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Aug 19 – Sep 30	80–110
Lettuce	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 1 – Sep 9	30–60
Lima Beans	—	Jun 10	—	Aug 12 – Sep 23	60–90
Mache	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 8 – Aug 12	40–60
Microgreens	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jun 3 – Jul 1	7–21
Mizuna	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 1 – Jul 29	30–45
Mustard Greens	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 1 – Sep 2	30–50
Napa Cabbage	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 22 – Aug 26	55–75
Onion	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Aug 26 – Sep 30	90–120
Pac Choi	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 8 – Aug 5	40–55
Parsnip	—	May 20	—	Sep 2 – Sep 23	100–130
Patty Pan Squash	Apr 15	Jun 10	Jun 17	Aug 5 – Sep 2	45–60
Peas	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 22 – Sep 16	55–70
Peppers	Mar 11	Jun 10	Jun 17	Aug 19 – Oct 21	60–90
Pole Beans	Mar 25	Jun 10	Jun 17	Aug 12 – Oct 7	55–70
Potatoes	Mar 25	Jun 10	Jun 17	Aug 26 – Oct 21	70–120
Pumpkin	Apr 15	Jun 10	Jun 17	Sep 16 – Oct 21	85–120
Purslane	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 8 – Aug 12	40–60
Radish	—	May 20	—	Jun 17 – Jul 8	22–35
Rhubarb	—	—	Jun 24	—	365–730
Romanesco	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Aug 12 – Sep 23	75–100
Rutabaga	—	May 20	—	Aug 12 – Sep 16	80–100
Salsify	—	May 20	—	Sep 2 – Sep 23	100–130
Savoy Cabbage	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Aug 5 – Sep 30	70–110
Scallions	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 22 – Aug 19	50–70
Scarlet Runner Beans	Mar 25	Jun 10	Jun 17	Aug 19 – Sep 23	60–80
Shiso	Apr 1	Jun 3	Jun 17	Aug 12 – Oct 7	50–70
Snap Peas	Mar 25	Jun 10	Jun 17	Aug 12 – Oct 7	55–70
Snow Peas	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 22 – Sep 16	50–65
Soybeans	—	Jun 10	—	Sep 2 – Oct 14	80–120
Spaghetti Squash	Apr 15	Jun 10	Jun 17	Sep 16 – Oct 14	85–100
Spinach	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 1 – Sep 2	35–50
Squash (Summer)	Apr 15	Jun 10	Jun 17	Aug 5 – Oct 7	45–65
Squash (Winter)	Apr 15	Jun 10	Jun 17	Sep 9 – Oct 21	80–120
Sunchoke	—	—	Jun 10	Sep 30 – Oct 14	110–150
Sunflower	Mar 25	Jun 10	Jun 17	Aug 26 – Oct 14	70–100
Sweet Corn	—	Jun 10	—	Aug 12 – Sep 23	60–90
Tatsoi	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 1 – Aug 5	35–50
Tomatoes	Mar 25	Jun 10	Jun 17	Aug 19 – Oct 21	60–85
Turnip	—	May 20	—	Jul 1 – Aug 5	40–60
Watercress	Apr 15	May 20	May 27	Jul 8 – Aug 12	40–60
Wax Beans	—	Jun 10	—	Aug 5 – Sep 30	50–65
Zucchini	Apr 15	Jun 10	Jun 17	Aug 5 – Sep 30	45–60

🍓 Fruits to Grow in Fort McMurray

15 fruits that grow well in Zone 3b with planting dates for Fort McMurray.

Show all 15 fruits with planting dates

Plant	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest	Days to Maturity
Alpine Strawberries	—	—	Jun 24	Sep 23 – Oct 28	90–180
Aronia	—	—	Jun 24	—	730–1095
Blueberries	—	—	Jun 24	—	730–1095
Cranberries	—	—	Jun 24	—	730–1095
Currants	—	—	Jun 24	—	730–1095
Elderberries	—	—	Jun 24	—	730–1095
Goji Berries	—	—	Jun 24	—	730–1095
Gooseberries	—	—	Jun 24	—	730–1095
Hardy Kiwi	—	—	Jun 24	—	1095–1825
Haskaps	—	—	Jun 24	—	730–1095
Jostaberry	—	—	Jun 24	—	730–1095
Lingonberries	—	—	Jun 24	—	730–1095
Raspberries	—	—	Jun 24	—	365–730
Serviceberries	—	—	Jun 24	—	730–1095
Strawberries	—	—	Jun 24	Sep 23 – Oct 28	90–365

🌿 Herbs to Grow in Fort McMurray

22 herbs that grow well in Zone 3b with planting dates for Fort McMurray.

Show all 22 herbs with planting dates

Plant	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest	Days to Maturity
Angelica	Apr 15	May 20	May 20	—	365–730
Bee Balm	—	—	Jun 3	Sep 2 – Oct 7	90–120
Borage	Apr 15	May 20	May 20	Jul 15 – Sep 2	50–60
Caraway	Apr 15	May 20	May 20	—	365–450
Catnip	—	—	Jun 3	Aug 5 – Oct 7	60–80
Chamomile	Apr 15	May 20	May 20	Jul 22 – Sep 23	60–90
Chervil	Apr 15	May 20	May 20	Jul 1 – Sep 2	40–60
Chives	—	—	Jun 3	Aug 5 – Oct 7	60–90
Cilantro	Apr 15	May 20	May 20	Jul 1 – Sep 2	40–60
Comfrey	—	—	Jun 3	Aug 5 – Oct 7	60–90
Dill	Apr 15	May 20	May 20	Jul 1 – Sep 2	40–60
Echinacea	—	—	Jun 3	Oct 7	120–180
Garlic Chives	—	—	Jun 3	Aug 5 – Oct 7	60–90
Horehound	—	—	Jun 3	Aug 19 – Oct 7	75–90
Hyssop	—	—	Jun 3	Aug 12 – Oct 7	70–90
Lemon Balm	—	—	Jun 3	Aug 5 – Sep 23	60–70
Lovage	—	—	Jun 3	Aug 12 – Oct 7	70–90
Mint	—	—	Jun 3	Aug 5 – Oct 7	60–90
Parsley	Apr 15	May 20	May 20	Jul 22 – Sep 23	60–80
Sorrel	Apr 15	May 20	May 20	Jul 1 – Sep 2	40–60
Valerian	—	—	Jun 3	Oct 7	120–180
Yarrow	—	—	Jun 3	Sep 2 – Oct 7	90–120

Monthly Planting Guide for Fort McMurray

Gardening Guides & Resources

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Pepper Companion Plants

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