What to plant this week in Montreal, QC
With average last frost now at May 1 and temperatures hovering just above the -15°F winter minimum, Montreal gardeners are in a critical transition phase where early spring harvests peak before summer heat sets in. This week marks your final push to pull remaining cold-season crops like carrots, parsnips, and beets while simultaneously preparing for the official start of warm-weather planting.
The next 7 days
Montreal, QCGrowing in Montreal right now
- Montreal's clay-heavy loam retains moisture well but demands careful drainage; ensure raised beds or amended soil are ready before sowing bush beans, cucumbers, and yellow summer squash that can no longer wait. The city's distinct microclimate in valley pockets like Plateau-Mont-Royal creates localized frost risks even after the May 1 average date, so monitor evening temperatures closely for any lingering freezes.
- Given the region's tendency toward wet springs followed by humid summers, this is the ideal window to plant French marigolds and nasturtiums as living mulch; these native-friendly flowers will help deter root-knot nematodes in our heavy soils while providing ground cover before the monsoon season arrives.
- As Montreal transitions from its cool spring to early summer, soil temperatures are finally rising enough for warm-season transplants like eggplant and tomatoes, though we lack a 'transplant now' list this week; wait until next week's warmer forecast or use cold frames to protect these heat-loving crops from our unpredictable late-spring chills.
Sow this week
6 crops- Bush Bean
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Nasturtium
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
55 crops- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cherry Tomato
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Collard Greens
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ground Cherry
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Nasturtium
- Onion
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shishito Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Swiss Chard
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous supply of fresh pods.
- Mulch around heavy feeders like tomatoes and peppers to retain moisture as summer heat sets in.
- Pinch back the tops of young squash plants to encourage bushy growth before they get too large.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are beginning their annual surge on basil, tomato, and peppers as temperatures climb above 75°F during the day, requiring early inspection of undersides of leaves in protected urban gardens.
- Late-season flea beetles often target brassicas like cabbage and collard greens before they bolt, making this a prime time to apply row covers or neem oil if you haven't already started your organic rotation.
- Powdery mildew spores thrive in Montreal's humid summer mornings on cucumbers, squash, and beans; ensure good air circulation by staking tall varieties like pole beans and zucchini now before canopy density increases.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep soil moist but avoid wetting foliage which invites disease on your leafy greens.
Harvest Banana Peppers and Cayenne Peppers now while they are still small for a spicier, more compact fruit.
Montreal gardening questions
3Can I still direct-sow beans and corn this week or do I need to wait?
Yes, this is the perfect time to sow bush beans, cowpeas, pole beans, sweet corn, and sunflowers directly into the ground as soil warmth has stabilized above 10°C. Avoid waiting any longer for these heat-loving crops in our short season, but ensure you clear away the last of your winter cover crops first.
My tomatoes and peppers are struggling with small holes in the leaves; what is causing it?
In Montreal's current climate, this damage is likely from flea beeters or early aphid activity rather than blight, which typically hits later in the season. Spray a diluted insecticidal soap solution in the evening to target pests without harming beneficial pollinators that are already active on your nearby marigolds and zinnias.
When should I stop harvesting my current lettuce and spinach crop?
Since we have passed the last frost date of May 1, you can continue harvesting leafy greens like collard greens and Swiss chard, but watch for bolting as temperatures consistently stay above 20°C. Pull the entire plant once it begins to flower or send up a central stalk, as the heat will significantly reduce leaf quality soon.
Other cities in zone 5b
8See the full zone 5b guide → · Plan your Montreal garden in SproutGuide →