What to plant this week in Quebec City, QC
With the average last frost date passing on May 12, Quebec City gardeners are finally unlocking a rapid spring turnaround as the region moves from late winter dormancy into active growth. This week marks the critical shift where you can aggressively transplant your massive list of warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and squash before the potential for any lingering chill returns.
The next 7 days
Quebec City, QCGrowing in Quebec City right now
- The city's clay-heavy soils in the St. Lawrence lowlands stay cold longer than they look; ensure you have amended these beds with compost to prevent transplant shock on this mild week.
- Take advantage of the unusually warm temperatures by sowing slow-starting crops like fava beans, bush beans, and Swiss chard directly into open ground rather than waiting for perfect soil warmth later.
- Protect your newly transplanted cherry tomatoes and yellow summer squash from sudden temperature drops, as Quebec City weather can still fluctuate wildly between morning frost and afternoon sun.
- Focus on harvesting your established crops like kale, collard greens, and rutabaga before any late spring heatwaves force them to bolt or flower prematurely.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
46 crops- Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)
- Basil
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Cherry Tomato
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Collard Greens
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dill
- Fava (Broad) Bean
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garlic
- German Chamomile
- Ground Cherry
- Kale
- Napa Cabbage
- Nasturtium
- Onion
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Pansy
- Parsley
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shallot
- Shishito Pepper
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sweet Corn
- Swiss Chard
- Thai Basil
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow snap beans or Swiss chard every two weeks to ensure a continuous harvest through summer.
- Mulch around newly transplanted peppers and tomatoes with straw to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool as temperatures rise.
- Thin out carrot tops gently if they are overcrowded to allow the remaining plants to bulge up nicely for harvest.
- Stake tall crops like sweet corn, pole beans, and indeterminate tomato varieties now before heavy winds arrive.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early slug activity on tender transplants like basil and sweet corn, as the damp springs common in Quebec City encourage these mollusks to emerge.
- Monitor brassicas such as cabbage and cauliflower for cabbage loopers, which can appear aggressively once plants break through into active growth this week.
- Check the undersides of bean leaves (pole and bush varieties) for aphid colonies that thrive on the humid air near the St. Lawrence River.
Watering this week
Water deeply at soil level in the morning to prevent fungal issues while ensuring thirsty crops like corn and beans get consistent moisture.
Pull weeds carefully around your garlic and onion beds now, as they are storing energy for bulb development before winter.
Quebec City gardening questions
3When is the absolute latest date to transplant my tomato and pepper seedlings in Quebec City?
While the average last frost is May 12, you should aim to get all hardy transplants like tomatoes and peppers into the ground by this date at the latest. Because our spring weather can be volatile, it is safer to wait until after May 15th if a cold snap threatens.
Can I plant garlic now in Quebec City given the current warm weather?
Yes, you can still sow garlic bulbs or sets this week as they are currently listed for immediate planting. Garlic thrives in our cool autumn and spring cycles but requires firm soil contact to establish roots before the summer heat arrives.
Which vegetables should I prioritize harvesting right now to avoid spoilage?
Focus your harvest efforts on the crops listed as ready soon, particularly your carrots, beets, and snap beans. These items mature quickly in our short season and can deteriorate rapidly if left on the plant too long.
Other cities in zone 4b
3See the full zone 4b guide → · Plan your Quebec City garden in SproutGuide →