Nanaimo, BC — Planting Guide

Nanaimo is in Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 6 and the first fall frost is November 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 250 days.

At an elevation of 30 m, Nanaimo receives approximately 1516 mm of rainfall annually. Summer highs average 36°C with winter lows around 11°C. The predominant soil type is Podzolic Loam.

🌡️ Zone

9a (20°F to 25°F min)

❄️ Last Frost

March 6

🍂 First Frost

November 11

📅 Growing Season

250 days

⛰️ Elevation

30 m

🌧️ Annual Rainfall

1516 mm

Nanaimo, BC Long season

250 days

❄

Last Spring Frost March 6

➔ 250 growing days ➔

❄

First Fall Frost November 11

Nanaimo Soil Profile

Soil Type

Podzolic Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Last Frost: Mar 6 First Frost: Nov 11

Soil & Growing Conditions in Nanaimo

Soil Type

Podzolic Loam

Ideal for most crops — holds moisture and nutrients while draining well.

Watering Needs

With 59.7 inches of annual rainfall, supplemental watering is typically only needed during summer dry spells.

Season Tips

250-day frost-free season

Your long season supports multiple successions and heat-demanding crops like melons, sweet potatoes, and peppers. Plant warm-season crops as soon as soil warms.

Free Garden Planner

Plan your entire garden season — organize planting dates, track what you're growing, and know exactly when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest.

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Recommended for Your Garden

☀️

Garden Shade Cloth $15-35

Reduce heat stress and sun scorch in hot climates with UV-stabilized shade cloth.

🧪

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.

🥬 Vegetables to Grow in Nanaimo

115 vegetables that grow well in Zone 9a with planting dates for Nanaimo.

Show all 115 vegetables with planting dates

Plant	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest	Days to Maturity
Acorn Squash	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 5 – Jul 10	80–100
Amaranth	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 12 – Jul 31	90–120
Artichoke	—	—	Mar 20	Jul 24 – Oct 2	120–180
Arugula	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 10 – Jun 12	30–50
Asparagus	—	—	Mar 20	—	730–1095
Beets	—	Feb 13	—	Apr 10 – May 8	50–70
Belgian Endive	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Jun 26 – Aug 21	110–150
Bitter Melon	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 15 – Jun 26	60–90
Black Beans	—	Mar 13	—	Jun 12 – Jul 31	90–120
Bok Choy	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 17 – May 22	40–60
Broccoli	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 8 – Jun 19	60–90
Broccoli Rabe	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 17 – May 22	40–60
Brussels Sprouts	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Jun 5 – Jul 31	90–130
Butternut Squash	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 12 – Jul 17	85–110
Cabbage	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 8 – Jul 3	60–100
Calabash	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 5 – Jul 31	80–120
Cardoon	—	—	Mar 20	Jul 24 – Sep 4	120–150
Carrots	—	Feb 13	—	Apr 17 – May 22	60–80
Cauliflower	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 1 – Jul 3	55–100
Celeriac	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Jun 19 – Jul 24	100–120
Celery	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 29 – Jul 24	80–120
Celtuce	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 8 – Jun 19	60–90
Chard	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 1 – Jun 19	50–60
Chayote	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jul 17 – Sep 25	120–180
Chickpeas	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 29 – Jul 10	80–110
Chicory	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 8 – Jun 19	60–85
Chinese Cabbage	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 1 – May 29	50–70
Christmas Lima Beans	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 5 – Jul 10	80–100
Collard Greens	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 1 – Jul 3	55–75
Corn	—	Mar 13	—	May 15 – Jul 10	60–100
Cowpeas	—	Mar 13	—	May 15 – Jun 26	60–90
Cress	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Mar 20 – Apr 10	14–21
Crookneck Squash	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 1 – May 29	45–60
Crosne	—	Feb 13	—	Jul 17 – Sep 18	150–200
Cucumber	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 8 – Jul 3	50–70
Daikon	—	Feb 13	—	Apr 10 – May 8	50–70
Delicata Squash	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 5 – Jul 10	80–100
Edamame	—	Mar 13	—	May 29 – Jul 10	75–100
Eggplant	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 22 – Jul 24	65–85
Endive	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 24 – May 29	45–65
Escarole	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 1 – May 29	50–70
Fava Beans	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 22 – Jul 3	75–100
Fennel	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 15 – Jun 26	60–90
Garlic	—	—	—	—	90–240
Ginger	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	Nov 13 – Jan 8	240–300
Green Beans	—	Mar 13	—	May 8 – Jul 3	50–65
Horseradish	—	—	Mar 20	Jul 24 – Oct 2	120–180
Hot Peppers	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 22 – Aug 28	70–120
Hubbard Squash	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 26 – Jul 31	100–120
Jicama	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jul 17 – Sep 25	120–180
Kabocha	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 12 – Jul 10	85–100
Kai Lan	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 24 – May 22	45–60
Kale	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 1 – Jun 26	50–70
Kidney Beans	—	Mar 13	—	Jun 12 – Jul 17	85–110
Kohlrabi	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 24 – May 29	45–65
Komatsuna	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 10 – May 15	35–50
Leeks	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Jun 5 – Aug 21	90–150
Lentils	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 29 – Jul 10	80–110
Lettuce	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 10 – Jun 19	30–60
Lima Beans	—	Mar 13	—	May 15 – Jun 26	60–90
Loofah	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 26 – Aug 28	100–150
Luffa	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 12 – Aug 28	90–150
Mache	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 17 – May 22	40–60
Malabar Spinach	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 8 – Jun 5	55–70
Melon	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 22 – Jul 10	70–100
Microgreens	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Mar 13 – Apr 10	7–21
Mitsuba	Feb 6	Feb 13	Feb 27	Apr 24 – Jun 19	50–70
Mizuna	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 10 – May 8	30–45
Mustard Greens	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 10 – Jun 12	30–50
Napa Cabbage	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 1 – Jun 5	55–75
New Zealand Spinach	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 8 – Jun 5	55–70
Okra	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 8 – Jul 3	50–65
Onion	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Jun 5 – Jul 24	90–120
Pac Choi	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 17 – May 15	40–55
Parsnip	—	Feb 13	—	May 29 – Jul 10	100–130
Patty Pan Squash	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 1 – May 29	45–60
Peas	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 1 – Jun 26	55–70
Peppers	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 24	60–90
Pole Beans	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 8 – Jul 3	55–70
Potatoes	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 22 – Jul 31	70–120
Pumpkin	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 12 – Jul 31	85–120
Purslane	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 17 – May 22	40–60
Radicchio	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 8 – Jun 12	60–80
Radish	—	Feb 13	—	Mar 13 – Apr 3	22–35
Romanesco	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 22 – Jul 3	75–100
Rutabaga	—	Feb 13	—	May 8 – Jun 12	80–100
Salsify	—	Feb 13	—	May 29 – Jul 10	100–130
Savoy Cabbage	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 15 – Jul 10	70–110
Scallions	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 1 – May 29	50–70
Scarlet Runner Beans	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 15 – Jun 19	60–80
Shallot	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Jun 5 – Jul 24	90–120
Shiso	Jan 23	Mar 13	Mar 13	May 8 – Jul 3	50–70
Snap Peas	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 8 – Jul 3	55–70
Snow Peas	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	May 1 – Jun 26	50–65
Soybeans	—	Mar 13	—	Jun 5 – Jul 31	80–120
Spaghetti Squash	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 12 – Jul 10	85–100
Spinach	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 10 – Jun 12	35–50
Squash (Summer)	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 1 – Jul 3	45–65
Squash (Winter)	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 5 – Jul 31	80–120
Sunchoke	—	—	Mar 20	Jul 10 – Sep 4	110–150
Sunflower	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 22 – Jul 10	70–100
Sweet Corn	—	Mar 13	—	May 15 – Jun 26	60–90
Sweet Potatoes	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 12 – Jul 31	90–120
Tatsoi	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 10 – May 15	35–50
Tomatillo	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 24	60–85
Tomatoes	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 24	60–85
Turmeric	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	Nov 13 – Jan 8	240–300
Turnip	—	Feb 13	—	Mar 27 – May 1	40–60
Watercress	Feb 6	Feb 13	Mar 6	Apr 17 – May 22	40–60
Watermelon	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 22 – Jul 10	70–100
Wax Beans	—	Mar 13	—	May 8 – Jul 3	50–65
Winter Melon	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	Jun 12 – Jul 31	90–120
Yam	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	Sep 11 – Jan 8	180–330
Yard Long Beans	Jan 23	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 8 – Jun 19	55–80
Zucchini	Feb 6	Mar 6	Mar 13	May 1 – Jun 26	45–60

🍓 Fruits to Grow in Nanaimo

24 fruits that grow well in Zone 9a with planting dates for Nanaimo.

Show all 24 fruits with planting dates

Plant	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest	Days to Maturity
Alpine Strawberries	—	—	Mar 20	Jun 19 – Oct 2	90–180
Blackberries	—	—	Mar 20	—	365–730
Boysenberries	—	—	Mar 20	—	365–730
Cantaloupe	—	—	Mar 20	May 29 – Jul 3	70–90
Che Fruit	—	—	Mar 20	—	1095–1825
Dragon Fruit	—	—	Mar 20	—	365–730
Elderberries	—	—	Mar 20	—	730–1095
Figs	—	—	Mar 20	—	730–1825
Goji Berries	—	—	Mar 20	—	730–1095
Grapes	—	—	Mar 20	—	730–1095
Ground Cherry	—	—	Mar 20	May 29 – Jul 24	65–80
Guava	—	—	Mar 20	—	365–730
Honeydew	—	—	Mar 20	Jun 12 – Jul 24	80–110
Kiwi	—	—	Mar 20	—	1095–1825
Loquat	—	—	Mar 20	—	730–1825
Mulberries	—	—	Mar 20	—	730–1825
Passion Fruit	—	—	Mar 20	—	365–545
Pawpaw	—	—	Mar 20	—	1095–2555
Persimmon	—	—	Mar 20	—	1095–2555
Pomegranate	—	—	Mar 20	—	730–1095
Quince	—	—	Mar 20	—	1095–1825
Raspberries	—	—	Mar 20	—	365–730
Serviceberries	—	—	Mar 20	—	730–1095
Strawberries	—	—	Mar 20	Jun 19 – Jan 15	90–365

🌿 Herbs to Grow in Nanaimo

40 herbs that grow well in Zone 9a with planting dates for Nanaimo.

Show all 40 herbs with planting dates

Plant	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest	Days to Maturity
Anise	Feb 6	Feb 13	Feb 27	May 29 – Aug 14	90–120
Basil	Jan 23	Mar 13	Mar 13	May 8 – Jul 10	50–75
Bee Balm	—	—	Mar 13	Jun 12 – Aug 28	90–120
Borage	Feb 6	Feb 13	Feb 27	Apr 24 – Jun 12	50–60
Caraway	Feb 6	Feb 13	Feb 27	—	365–450
Catnip	—	—	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 17	60–80
Chamomile	Feb 6	Feb 13	Feb 27	May 1 – Jul 10	60–90
Chervil	Feb 6	Feb 13	Feb 27	Apr 10 – Jun 12	40–60
Chives	—	—	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 24	60–90
Cilantro	Feb 6	Feb 13	Feb 27	Apr 10 – Jun 12	40–60
Comfrey	—	—	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 24	60–90
Cumin	Feb 6	Feb 13	Feb 27	Jun 12 – Aug 14	100–120
Dill	Feb 6	Feb 13	Feb 27	Apr 10 – Jun 12	40–60
Echinacea	—	—	Mar 13	Jul 17 – Oct 23	120–180
Epazote	Jan 23	Mar 13	Mar 13	May 1 – Jun 26	45–60
Fennel (herb)	Feb 6	Feb 13	Feb 27	May 1 – Jul 10	60–90
Feverfew	—	—	Mar 13	Jun 12 – Aug 28	90–120
Garlic Chives	—	—	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 24	60–90
Horehound	—	—	Mar 13	May 29 – Jul 24	75–90
Hyssop	—	—	Mar 13	May 22 – Jul 24	70–90
Lavender	—	—	Mar 13	Jun 12 – Nov 13	90–200
Lemon Balm	—	—	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 3	60–70
Lemon Thyme	—	—	Mar 13	May 22 – Jul 24	70–90
Lemon Verbena	Jan 23	Mar 13	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 24	60–90
Lemongrass	Jan 23	Mar 13	Mar 13	May 29 – Aug 28	75–120
Marjoram	—	—	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 24	60–90
Mint	—	—	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 24	60–90
Oregano	—	—	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 24	60–90
Parsley	Feb 6	Feb 13	Feb 27	May 1 – Jul 3	60–80
Rosemary	—	—	Mar 13	Jun 5 – Oct 23	80–180
Rue	—	—	Mar 13	May 22 – Jul 24	70–90
Sage	—	—	Mar 13	May 29 – Jul 24	75–90
Savory	—	—	Mar 13	May 8 – Jul 3	50–70
Sorrel	Feb 6	Feb 13	Feb 27	Apr 10 – Jun 12	40–60
Stevia	Jan 23	Mar 13	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 24	60–90
Tarragon	—	—	Mar 13	May 15 – Jul 24	60–90
Thai Basil	Jan 23	Mar 13	Mar 13	May 8 – Jul 10	50–75
Thyme	—	—	Mar 13	May 22 – Jul 24	70–90
Valerian	—	—	Mar 13	Jul 17 – Oct 23	120–180
Yarrow	—	—	Mar 13	Jun 12 – Aug 28	90–120

Monthly Planting Guide for Nanaimo

Gardening Guides & Resources

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Pepper Companion Plants

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Companion Plants for Tomatoes

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Zucchini Companion Planting

Zucchini is a strong grower. It spreads fast, produces heavily, and takes over any space it’s given. But it doesn’t...

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🌱

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner — designed to help Nanaimo gardeners in Zone 9a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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