Gardening in St. John's, Newfoundland
Avalon Peninsula · Cool maritime, east-coast exposure
St. John's gardens deal with a slow, cool spring, frequent fog and wind off the Atlantic. Summers are mild rather than hot. That suits leafy greens, brassicas, roots and potatoes. Heat-lovers like tomatoes and peppers need a sheltered, sunny spot or some cover.
Growing season and frost
- Typical last spring frost
- Late May to early June
- average ~May 30
- Typical first fall frost
- Early to late October
- average ~Oct 17
- Average frost-free season
- ~139 days
Ranges show the middle half of years: in roughly one year in four, the last frost comes later than the range, so keep cover handy.
Frost data: Environment Canada climate normals 1981–2010, St. John's A (airport) station. Checked 2026-10-04. Airport station on exposed high ground; sheltered downtown yards often run a little milder. Historical averages are guidance, not a forecast for this year.
How the season is changing
The Climate Atlas of Canada estimates St. John's's frost-free season at about 154 days (1976–2005), with projections well beyond that by mid-century. For gardeners that means more room for warm crops over time, but also hotter spells and heavier rain to plan around.
| St. John's | 1976–2005 | 2051–2080 (range) |
|---|---|---|
| Frost-free season | 154 | ~200 (167 to 238) |
| Below-zero days per year | 163 | ~103 (63 to 137) |
| Days above +25 °C per year | 8 | ~33 (10 to 61) |
| Typical hottest summer day | 26.9 °C | ~30.3 °C (27.7 °C to 33.0 °C) |
| Typical coldest winter day | -17.8 °C | ~-12.0 °C (-16.6 °C to -7.9 °C) |
| Summer precipitation | 267 mm | ~277 mm (176 mm to 394 mm) |
| Winter precipitation | 408 mm | ~462 mm (354 mm to 580 mm) |
Source: Climate Atlas of Canada, St. John's city report (Version 2.0, March 2019), high-carbon (RCP8.5) scenario. Explore the frost days map. These are modelled climate estimates, not a forecast. They differ slightly from the station frost averages above because they use a different period and method. Use the station frost dates for planting this year.
Local gardening challenges
- Cool, damp springs: soil warms slowly, so seeds sown too early can just sit or rot.
- Wind, especially on exposed hills and near the coast. It dries and tears young plants and cools beds.
- Fog and long stretches of damp weather raise the risk of blight on potatoes and tomatoes.
- Frost is possible into June in some years, so tender transplants need a back-up plan.
Wind and exposure
Wind is a defining factor. Exposed hilltop and coastal yards behave very differently from sheltered downtown lots. Sheltered south-facing walls and fenced yards can run noticeably warmer than open ground a short distance away.
What tends to grow well
- Potatoes, turnips, carrots and beets
- Kale, cabbage, broccoli and other brassicas
- Lettuce, spinach and peas through the cool parts of summer
- Garlic planted in fall
- Rhubarb and strawberries
Needs more strategy
- Tomatoes do best against a south-facing wall, in a greenhouse or under row cover
- Peppers almost always need a greenhouse or another warm, protected spot
- Use squash and cucumbers as transplants, not seeds sown directly outside
How St. John's differs
The official frost figures come from the airport, which sits on exposed high ground. Sheltered downtown and east-end yards are often a little milder. Exposed hilltop yards near the airport, in Kenmount Terrace and in the Southlands behave more like the station.
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