10 Best Vegetables For Alberta [With Advice For Cold Weather Gardens]

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Alberta’s winters may be harsh enough to freeze your eyelashes! But in the summer, attentive gardeners can still grow a breathtaking backyard bounty worthy of bragging rights. We’re going to show you how.

Let’s discuss the do’s and don’ts for cool-climate gardening and some of the best vegetables to grow in Alberta.

Sound like fun?

Let’s begin!

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Alberta’s Climate

Understanding your climate is vital. Prairie life comes with stunning sunsets, breathtaking cold, and gale-force winds. When designing your garden, choose spots that get sheltered from the strongest gales. Your plants will thank you!

If you’re a numbers person, Calgary is in Zone 4a, and Edmonton is 3b. Interestingly, these numbers got adjusted in 2016 to account for rising annual temperatures due to climate change.

fresh garden veggies on wooden table carrots beets roots — Alberta is a breathtaking Canadian province with a scope of growing zones. Since there’s a range of elevations, Alberta’s growing zones range from 1a to 4b. Look for cold-weather and winter cultivars for the best yields possible.

Alberta Planting Schedule

Alberta’s growing season is relatively short, at 115 days. Most gardening takes place between May and September.

Generally, cool-season crops can get planted in May. Many gardeners use May Long Weekend (Victoria day) as a guide. For warm-season crops, wait until June, when the chance of frost has passed and the nights are warmer.

Alberta’s weather can be fierce, making it difficult to know when it’s safe to transplant frost-tender crops into the ground. If an unseasonably late frost arrives, don’t panic – head to the linen closet. A bedsheet spread over tender seedlings will prevent frost damage.

Best Vegetables to Grow in Alberta

Here are some of the best vegetables to grow in Alberta. Most of these vegetables can handle a bit of cold weather and mature quickly.

Beans
Beets
Carrots
Garlic
Kale
Lettuce
Peas
Radish
Squash
Tomatoes

Let’s also analyze our 10 favorite crops for Alberta in more detail.

1. Beans

ripened black bean pods and black beans on farm — We love black beans! They have tons of fiber, and they’re also excellent for cooking. Try adding them to a fresh garden salad, turkey wrap, or soup. We also wrote an epic guide about growing black beans. They’re easy to grow – and don’t mind moderately-cool weather.

I’m always surprised by how quickly this powerhouse vegetable outgrows its trellis and starts exploring the garden on its own. Beans come in an incredible variety, and even a tiny patch of beanstalks can produce more beans than your family will want to eat. Direct sow the seeds in June when the soil is warm.

2. Beets

fresh organic beets beetroots on the soil — Beets are one of our favorite healthy vegetables that are fun to grow! They’re perfect for Alberta gardens because they love growing when it’s cool outside. And they detest summer weather!

Beets are doubly delightful because the roots and the tops can get eaten. Beets will tolerate some frost, making them an excellent crop for early spring and fall. Sow beets in early May for a July harvest.

3. Carrots

plump orange carrots growing in soil — Carrots are one of the most underrated crops. Not only can you use your leftover carrots for delicious carrot cake – but carrots are straightforward to grow once you sow them. If you give them fluffy soil – they are stress-free. And easy!

The trick to growing carrots is getting them to germinate. Carrots take their sweet time coming up – up to 21 days! Use this as an opportunity to cultivate patience.

Once the seeds germinate, they’ll steadily truck through whatever Mother Nature throws your way. Some years, I’ve even harvested carrots with a dusting of snow on the ground. Direct sow seeds in June.

4. Garlic

white flowering garlic growing wild — Garlic might help keep vampires at bay – and it can also help season your favorite meat and garden veggie dishes. We also love adding fresh garlic into spaghetti sauce and fermented tomatoes. And it’s the best for flavoring meats.

Plant garlic in the fall before the ground freezes. When spring finallycomes, your garlic will be one of the first crops to shoot up stalks. Hardneck garlic grows best in colder climates. It’s perfect for the Canadian gardener. Don’t forget to cut off the scapes in the summer to encourage massive bulb growth. The scapes make a killer pesto!

5. Kale

homegrown vegetables kale — Kale is one of our favorite superfoods. It’s ideal for the Albertan growing season! The seeds germinate in the soil as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Perfect! When your first kale harvest is ready? We recommend baking your fresh batch of kale chips. Kale also tastes delicious when sauteed in a splash of butter – with a dash of sea salt.

Kale is a superfood in more ways than one. Yes, it’s packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, but it’s also gloriously forgiving. This hardy green will survive frost, snow, and drought. Plant kale in early spring, and pick through the summer and fall.

6. Lettuce

butterhead lettuce freshly harvested from garden — Want more yummy greens? You can’t beat adding lettuce to your vegetable garden. While lettuce isn’t the only edible green you can grow – it’s one of the easiest. And fastest! It’s perfect for Alberta because lettuce loves temperatures ranging from 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lettuce grows fast and enjoys brisk weather, making it the perfect crop for early spring and fall. Plant densely for baby greens or provide more space to grow full-sized heads. If growing food through the winter months interests you, baby lettuce will fit well within the confines of a cold frame.

7. Peas

plump peas on the vine green farm garden — Peas are tasty, and they make yummy savory soup. They’re also perfect for cool growing climates. They prefer temperatures of around 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, so cold northern regions (usually) aren’t a problem. They’re famous for handling light frosts – and don’t mind going in the ground soon after the soil thaws in spring.

To me, peas are the taste of spring. Depending on your preference, snow, snap, or shelling peas can be grown. Purple pod varieties like Sugar Magnolia are a flashy addition to the garden. Plant peas in early May and then begin to harvest pods a few weeks later. (They mature quickly – usually within three weeks.)

8. Radish

fresh radish growing in organic garden — Radish loves growing in cold weather, and it’s also one of the most underrated crops for easy yields. Try roasting radishes and adding them as a side to mashed potatoes and sour cream. Or – chop it with fresh garden veggies and make the best salad of the year.

If you happen to be someone who enjoys a bit of kick, I strongly suggest that you grow radishes. They develop quickly in the cool weather, and they take up so little space. I use them between rows of other veggies. Plant in early spring.

9. Squash

homegrown vegetables zucchini — Squash matures quickly enough for the shortest growing climates! You also have oodles of squash medleys to consider sowing. Spaghetti squash is one of our favorites. We also have five squash varieties that we love. We bet you haven’t seen some of these – and they’re easy to grow!

Summer squash such as pattypans and zucchini develop more quickly than most squash cultivars. Their fast-growing rate makes them ideal for shorter growing seasons. Squash are devout sun worshippers, so you want to give them plenty of warm weather and direct sunlight. Plant in late spring when the soil is warm.

If you choose to grow winter squash like butternut or acorn, it’s best to start your seeds indoors a few weeks before the last frost date. Starting them indoors will give them a better likelihood of reaching maturity.

10. Tomatoes

fresh garden tomatoes in raised garden bed — We love growing tomatoes! Add a slice to your next grilled cheeseburger or chop and toss them into your next garden salad. We also recommend having plenty of pasta on-hand when your first tomato harvest is ready. For extra credit? Add some diced white-flowered herbs like basil or garlic into the mix.

What’s a garden without homegrown tomatoes? But – tomatoes like it hot, so it can be tricky to ripen tomatoes in cool climates. Cherry tomatoes and early-maturing varieties ripen more quickly.

As a general rule, determinate-type tomatoes are better for colder climates because the plant will not focus energy on pushing out foliage after a certain point in development.

Plan on transplanting four-week-old seedlings in the garden once the risk of frost has passed.

Ways to Maximize Your Harvests

Because time is of the essence, consider implementing a few of these strategies to maximize your harvest.

Intercropping

Take advantage of the space between rows and sow smaller veggies that don’t require much space. Radishes, baby lettuce, and onions can be good row-fillers.

Choose Early-Maturing Varieties

As the name suggests, some varieties get strategically bred to mature quickly. Thank you, science! In our article on Best Vegetables to Grow in Ontario, we include a list of early-maturing varieties of common vegetables. Check it out for more information!

Transplants

Jumpstart your garden by using transplants. Grow your own indoors, or visit your local garden center.

Extending Your Growing Season

During the spring and fall? I encourage you to think like a thief and steal back a little extra growing time. Ways to prolong your growing season include the following.

Cold Frames

Perfect for keeping a small bed of salad greens alive through the winter. Cold frames are often (fairly) restrictive regarding height, so they are best for low-growing vegetables. There are many clever designs for DIY cold frames that use old windows or transparent patio roofing.

Cloches

Ideal if you only need to keep a few tender seedlings protected. I have used transparent 4-liter milk jugs with the bottoms cut off as cloches. As long as they don’t blow away, they work great.

Floating Row Covers

Floating row covers are one of the most affordable methods for protecting considerable square footage from frost damage. I love the floating row cover because rain and wind pass through it. I have also used floating row covers to deter pests.

Hoop Houses

A hoop house is a simple structure made from a hoop frame and plastic sheeting. Some of the best designs I’ve seen use PVC pipes bent over framing materials set in the ground. Plastic sheeting can get purchased on a roll.

Greenhouses

The most expensive option. But, it’s also the best. Greenhouses are not nearly as likely to collapse under a snow load, and they can be up to 15 degrees Celsius (30 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than outside.

Alberta Gardening FAQs

We know that gardening in Alberta raises unique challenges.

But don’t fret!

We put together the most helpful Alberta gardening questions and answers.

We hope these Alberta gardening FAQs help you!

What Are the Fastest-Growing Vegetables?

Peas, lettuce, radish, beans, and zucchini are some of the fastest-growing vegetables. Your primary limitation is your short growing season. So – look for any fruits and veggies that mature quickly. If they develop in less than 60 days – that’s a good sign.

What Should I Plant in My Vegetable Garden First?

The weather in early spring can be unpredictable. With this in mind, I plant frost-tolerant crops first. That way? I don’t have to worry about a sudden temperature drop damaging my garden.

Here are some frost-tolerant crops. Kale, lettuce, radish, spinach, peas, and mustard.

Testing also helps. Some cultivars may work better in your backyard than others. Remember that elevation also plays a role. Mind your precise growing zone!

What is the Easiest Vegetable to Grow in Your Garden?

I can’t help but love kale. Kale grows best with water, but it will tolerate drought and heat too. Unexpected frosts make it sweeter. The leaves are robust and will stand up to light snows and some hail without much fuss. Salad and microgreens are also perfect for short seasons. Squash is also excellent and matures quickly.

Best Vegetable Seeds for Alberta and Other Short-Season Climates

The price of fresh vegetables has skyrocketed over the last few years!

So – the timing for starting a garden is right now. It’s never been better.

We put together this list of the best seeds for Alberta to help feed you and your family.

Hopefully – these seeds serve you and your homestead well.

We wish you luck!

Glacier Bush Tomato Seeds | Botanical Interests

We love glacier tomatoes for cold weather and short seasons! Glacier tomato plants grow to about three feet tall and don’t mind cool temperatures. They’re frost-sensitive – but cold tolerant. They mature roughly 55 days after transplanting. They produce red, beautifully-round (and tasty) fruits of around two and a half inches.

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