Frost dates are important to know because they tell us when the first frost of the year will be, and when the last frost of the year will be. Frost dates are not set in stone, however, they are just estimates based on historical data.
In Barrie, the last frost date is usually around May 12. That means, on average, Barrie won't get any frost after May 12 and you're safe to plant seeds and tender bulbs. However, be sure to check the weather before planting, to make sure a late-season frost isn't forecast. Many people use the May 2-4 weekend as the first planting weekend of the season.
The first frost date in Barrie is around October 7. That means that freezing temperatures are coming and it's a good time to start fall planting. This lines up with the Thanksgiving long weekend. Planting fall bulbs too early can cause the bulbs to start sprouting, and we don't want that to happen until spring. For best results, October/November is a great time to plant fall bulbs.
Remember, you may start seeing seeds and bulbs for sale well outside of the correct planting dates, so it's important to be patient and try not to plant anything until the correct time.
