Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada
Canadian gardeners (NRCAN)
Natural Resources Canada's map of zones across the country — search by city or region. Edmonton sits around Zone 3b/4a on this map.
Open the map →Before you read the calendar
Find YourZone
The Harvest Calendar is written from my Edmonton backyard (Zone 3b/4a). If you garden somewhere warmer or colder, your dates shift — the first step is knowing which zone you're actually in.
Why your zone matters
A "hardiness zone" is a shorthand for how cold your winters get — and that single number tells you a surprising amount about what will overwinter, when spring actually arrives, and how long your harvest window lasts. It won't capture everything (a south-facing wall, a cold pocket, or a sheltered backyard like mine can nudge you a half-zone warmer), but it's the best place to start when you're adapting someone else's calendar to your own yard.
Look up your zone
Two official maps cover most readers. Pick the one for your country and search your location.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
United States & international reference
Enter your ZIP code to get your exact zone. The standard map most seed catalogues and plant tags refer to.
Open the map →How the calendar shifts by zone
Once you know your zone, use this as a rough guide to nudge the calendar earlier or later. These are generalizations — always pair the zone with what your own garden is telling you.
| Zone | Examples | What it means for harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 2 and colder | Yellowknife, NWT; northern Prairie regions | Harvest starts later (mid-to-late May) and the season is short — push everything a couple of weeks later than this calendar. |
| Zone 3b / 4a | Edmonton, Alberta (Cindy's yard) | The baseline for this calendar — greens in May, fruit in July, the big August rush. |
| Zone 5 | Toronto, ON; southern B.C. interior | A bit warmer and longer — move spring dates a week or two earlier and expect to keep harvesting into October. |
| Zone 6–7 | Vancouver Island, B.C.; southern Ontario | Mild and long. Many crops overwinter; the August glut spreads across a wider window and runs later into fall. |
| Zone 8+ | U.S. Pacific Northwest; Gulf Coast | Near-year-round growing. Use the calendar as a rough rhythm rather than a schedule — your spring greens may start in February. |
A note from Cindy
Don't let the number on the map talk you out of trying something. I garden in a cold zone, on a regular city lot, and I eat out of my yard from May through September — and out of my freezer and pantry the rest of the year. Your zone tells you when to expect things; it doesn't tell you what you're allowed to grow. Watch your own garden, taste as you go, and let the plants teach you the real timing.