What Can Grow in Nova Scotia?
Nova Scotia has a maritime climate moderated by the Atlantic. Most of the province is Zone 5b-6a; the Annapolis Valley is Zone 6a-6b and one of Canada's premier apple-growing regions.
📅 Planting Calendar for Nova Scotia
When to start seeds indoors and transplant outdoors, based on your frost dates.
| Plant | Start Indoors | Transplant Out | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira) | Mar 4 | Apr 1 | — | May 21 – Jun 15 |
| 🥦 Artichoke | Feb 4 | Apr 1 | — | Jun 25 – Jul 10 |
| 🥬 Arugula | — | — | Apr 1 | Apr 22 – May 11 |
| ❤️ Beets | — | — | Apr 1 | May 21 – Jun 10 |
| 🫑 Bell Pepper | Feb 4 | Apr 1 | — | Jun 10 – Jun 30 |
| 🥬 Bok Choy | Mar 4 | Apr 1 | — | May 16 – May 31 |
| 🥦 Broccoli | Feb 18 | Apr 1 | — | May 31 – Jun 20 |
| 🫛 Brussels Sprouts | Feb 4 | Apr 1 | — | Jun 30 – Sep 28 |
| 🥬 Cabbage | Feb 18 | Apr 1 | — | Jun 10 – Jul 30 |
| 🥕 Carrot | — | — | Apr 1 | Jun 10 – Jun 20 |
| 🥔 Celeriac | Jan 21 | Apr 1 | — | Jul 20 – Jul 30 |
| 🍒 Cherry Tomato | Feb 18 | Apr 1 | — | May 26 – Jun 10 |
| 🌶️ Chili Pepper | Feb 4 | Apr 1 | — | Jun 5 – Jun 20 |
| 🥬 Collard Greens | Mar 4 | Apr 1 | — | May 31 – Jun 20 |
| 🌽 Corn | — | — | Apr 1 | May 31 – Jun 30 |
| 🥒 Cucumber | Mar 11 | Apr 1 | — | May 21 – Jun 10 |
| 🫛 Edamame (Soybean) | — | — | Apr 1 | Jun 10 – Jul 5 |
| 🍆 Eggplant | Feb 4 | Apr 1 | — | Jun 5 – Jun 20 |
| 🫘 Fava Beans | — | — | Apr 1 | Jun 20 – Jul 10 |
| 🌿 Florence Fennel | — | — | Apr 1 | Jun 5 – Jun 30 |
| 🧄 Garlic | — | — | Oct 1 – Oct 31 | Jun – Jul (following year) |
| 🫘 Green Beans | — | — | Apr 1 | May 21 – Jun 5 |
| 🍬 Ground Cherry | Feb 18 | Apr 1 | — | Jun 10 – Jun 25 |
| 🥬 Kale | Mar 4 | Apr 1 | — | May 26 – Jun 15 |
| 🥬 Kohlrabi | Mar 4 | Apr 1 | — | May 16 – May 31 |
| 🧅 Leek | Jan 7 | Apr 1 | — | Jul 10 – Aug 29 |
| 🥬 Lettuce | — | — | Apr 1 | May 1 – May 31 |
| 🌱 Microgreens | — | — | Apr 1 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| 🥬 Mustard Greens | — | — | Apr 1 | May 1 – May 11 |
| 🧅 Onion | Feb 4 | Apr 1 | — | Jun 30 – Jul 30 |
| 🥕 Parsnip | — | — | Apr 1 | Jul 10 – Aug 9 |
| 🫛 Peas | — | — | Apr 1 | May 26 – Jun 10 |
| 🥔 Potato | — | — | Apr 1 | Jun 10 – Jul 30 |
| 🎃 Pumpkin | Mar 11 | Apr 1 | — | Jun 15 – Jul 10 |
| 🔴 Radish | — | — | Apr 1 | Apr 23 – May 1 |
| 🥔 Rutabaga | — | — | Apr 1 | Jun 30 – Jul 15 |
| 🫛 Snap Peas | — | — | Apr 1 | May 31 – Jun 10 |
| 🥬 Spinach | — | — | Apr 1 | May 11 – May 21 |
| 🍠 Sweet Potato | — | — | Apr 1 | Jun 30 – Jul 30 |
| 🥬 Swiss Chard | — | — | Apr 1 | May 21 – May 31 |
| 🫑 Tomatillo | Feb 18 | Apr 1 | — | Jun 15 – Jul 10 |
| 🍅 Tomato | Feb 18 | Apr 1 | — | May 31 – Jun 25 |
| 🫛 Turnip | — | — | Apr 1 | May 16 – May 31 |
| 🥬 Zucchini | Mar 11 | Apr 1 | — | May 16 – May 31 |
| 🌿 Basil | Mar 4 | Apr 1 | — | May 1 – May 31 |
| 💙 Borage | — | — | Apr 1 | May 21 – May 31 |
| 🌿 Cilantro | — | — | Apr 1 | Apr 22 – May 16 |
| 🌿 Dill | — | — | Apr 1 | May 11 – May 31 |
| 🌱 Fenugreek (Methi) | — | — | Apr 1 | Apr 21 – May 1 |
| 🌿 French Tarragon | — | — | Apr 1 | May 31 – Jun 30 |
| 🌼 German Chamomile | — | — | Apr 1 | May 31 – Jun 30 |
| 🍃 Lemon Balm | Feb 18 | Apr 1 | — | May 31 – Jun 10 |
| 🌿 Parsley | — | — | Apr 1 | Jun 10 – Jun 30 |
| 🍉 Watermelon | Mar 4 | Apr 1 | — | Jun 10 – Jun 30 |
| 🌻 Sunflower | — | — | Apr 1 | May 31 – Jun 20 |
Dates are averages based on Zone 6 frost dates (last frost: early April, first frost: late October). Adjust for your specific microclimate.
🥦 Vegetables
- 🌾 Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira) EasyContainer OK
- 🥦 Artichoke
- 🥬 Arugula EasyContainer OK
- 🌿 Asparagus
- ❤️ Beets EasyContainer OK
- 🫑 Bell Pepper Container OK
- 🥬 Bok Choy EasyContainer OK
- 🥦 Broccoli Container OK
- 🫛 Brussels Sprouts
- 🥬 Cabbage Container OK
- 🥕 Carrot Container OK
- 🥔 Celeriac
- 🍒 Cherry Tomato EasyContainer OK
- 🌶️ Chili Pepper EasyContainer OK
- 🥬 Collard Greens EasyContainer OK
- 🌽 Corn
- 🥒 Cucumber EasyContainer OK
- 🫛 Edamame (Soybean) EasyContainer OK
- 🍆 Eggplant Container OK
- 🫘 Fava Beans
- 🌿 Florence Fennel Container OK
- 🧄 Garlic EasyContainer OK
- 🫘 Green Beans EasyContainer OK
- 🍬 Ground Cherry EasyContainer OK
- 🥬 Kale EasyContainer OK
- 🥬 Kohlrabi EasyContainer OK
- 🧅 Leek Container OK
- 🥬 Lettuce EasyContainer OK
- 🌱 Microgreens Easy
- 🥬 Mustard Greens EasyContainer OK
- 🧅 Onion Container OK
- 🥕 Parsnip
- 🫛 Peas EasyContainer OK
- 🥔 Potato EasyContainer OK
- 🎃 Pumpkin EasyContainer OK
- 🔴 Radish EasyContainer OK
- 🌿 Rhubarb EasyContainer OK
- 🥔 Rutabaga Easy
- 🫛 Snap Peas EasyContainer OK
- 🥬 Spinach EasyContainer OK
- 🍠 Sweet Potato Container OK
- 🥬 Swiss Chard EasyContainer OK
- 🫑 Tomatillo Container OK
- 🍅 Tomato Container OK
- 🫛 Turnip EasyContainer OK
- 🥬 Zucchini EasyContainer OK
🍓 Fruits
🌿 Herbs
⚠️ Worth Trying (Marginal)
These plants are outside the ideal zone range but possible with the right approach.
🗺️ Canadian Plant Hardiness Zones
Zone 6 is shown in
this colour
on the map below
Canadian Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2014) — Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada / Canadian Forest Service
Canadian zones run 0–9 (coldest to warmest) — a separate system from USDA zones. Browse all Canadian zones →
Browse Related Zones
Frequently Asked Questions
Nova Scotia has a maritime climate moderated by the Atlantic. Most of the province is Zone 5b-6a; the Annapolis Valley is Zone 6a-6b and one of Canada's premier apple-growing regions. Vegetables like Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira), Artichoke, Arugula, Asparagus, Beets all grow well here.
With 212 frost-free days, you can grow two cool-season crops per year — one in spring (plant after early April) and one in late summer for fall harvest before late October.
Top vegetables for Nova Scotia: Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira), Artichoke, Arugula, Asparagus, Beets. For beginners, Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira) and Arugula are the easiest to start with.
Apple, Blackberry, Blueberry, Elderberry all grow well in Nova Scotia. Zone 6 is suitable for most temperate fruits.
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