Getting your timing right is everything. Start too early and your plants become rootbound and stressed indoors; start too late and you waste precious outdoor growing days. Here is a province-by-province guide based on average last frost dates and regional climate data:

BC Coast (Zones 7–8)

The mildest climate in Canada. Start seeds indoors in late February. Transplant outdoors late March to mid-April once overnight lows stay consistently above 8°C. Coastal growers often get the longest season in the country.

Southern Ontario (Zones 5–6)

Start seeds indoors in early March. Your safe transplant window opens around late April to May 1, though watch for rogue frosts — the Victoria Day weekend (mid-May) is the traditional all-clear for tender annuals.

Quebec (Zones 4–5)

Spring arrives later and less predictably. Start seeds indoors by mid-March and plan to transplant May 15–20. Montreal-area growers can sometimes push a week earlier; northern Quebec should add another week of buffer.

Prairies & Atlantic Canada (Zones 2–4)

The shortest season and latest frosts. Start seeds indoors in late March and do not transplant until late May to early June. In Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Maritimes, frost can strike well into May. Autoflowering strains from Plantation Premium Seeds are a smart choice here — they finish fast enough to harvest before September frosts return.

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