In Vancouver, the average last spring frost is Mar 28 and the average first fall frost is Nov 5, a growing season of about 222 days (zone 9a). Start tomatoes indoors around Feb 14 and move them outside from Apr 11. For a fall and winter garden, sow peas and kale around Aug 27, lettuce around Sep 10, spinach around Sep 17 and radishes around Oct 1.
Vancouver at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Mar 28 (average)
- First fall frost
- Nov 5 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 222 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9a (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Vancouver International (Airport); Pitt Meadows; and Blaine, WA, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Vancouver this month (January)
- Start onions indoors: Jan 17
Coming up in early February: start tomatoes indoors (Feb 14), start peppers indoors (Feb 14), start eggplant indoors (Feb 14) and start lettuce indoors (Feb 14).
What to plant in Vancouver this month (February)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Feb 14
- Start peppers indoors: Feb 14
- Start eggplant indoors: Feb 14
- Start lettuce indoors: Feb 14
- Start kale indoors: Feb 21
- Start broccoli indoors: Feb 21
- Start cabbage indoors: Feb 21
- Start basil indoors: Feb 28
Coming up in early March: direct sow spinach (Mar 7), direct sow peas (Mar 7), direct sow radishes (Mar 7), transplant lettuce (Mar 14), direct sow carrots (Mar 14), start cucumbers indoors (Mar 14), start zucchini indoors (Mar 14) and start winter squash indoors (Mar 14).
What to plant in Vancouver this month (March)
- Direct sow spinach: Mar 7
- Direct sow peas: Mar 7
- Direct sow radishes: Mar 7
- Transplant lettuce: Mar 14
- Direct sow carrots: Mar 14
- Start cucumbers indoors: Mar 14
- Start zucchini indoors: Mar 14
- Start winter squash indoors: Mar 14
- Direct sow beets: Mar 21
- Transplant kale: Mar 21
- Transplant broccoli: Mar 21
- Transplant cabbage: Mar 21
- Direct sow potatoes: Mar 21
- Transplant onions: Mar 28
Coming up in early April: transplant cucumbers (Apr 4), transplant zucchini (Apr 4), transplant winter squash (Apr 4), direct sow beans (Apr 4), transplant tomatoes (Apr 11), transplant peppers (Apr 11), transplant eggplant (Apr 11) and transplant basil (Apr 11).
What to plant in Vancouver this month (April)
- Transplant cucumbers: Apr 4
- Transplant zucchini: Apr 4
- Transplant winter squash: Apr 4
- Direct sow beans: Apr 4
- Transplant tomatoes: Apr 11
- Transplant peppers: Apr 11
- Transplant eggplant: Apr 11
- Transplant basil: Apr 11
What to plant in Vancouver this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Vancouver in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 27.
What to plant in Vancouver this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Vancouver in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 27.
What to plant in Vancouver this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Vancouver in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 27.
What to plant in Vancouver this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 27
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 27
Coming up in early September: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Sep 10).
What to plant in Vancouver this month (September)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Sep 10
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Sep 17
Coming up in early October: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Oct 1).
What to plant in Vancouver this month (October)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Oct 1
Coming up in early November: plant garlic (Nov 12).
What to plant in Vancouver this month (November)
- Plant garlic: Nov 12 to Nov 19
What to plant in Vancouver this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Vancouver in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Jan 17.
Vancouver planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 14 | Transplant Apr 11 | From Jun 28 |
| Peppers | Feb 14 | Transplant Apr 11 | From Jun 22 |
| Eggplant | Feb 14 | Transplant Apr 11 | From Jun 25 |
| Basil | Feb 28 | Transplant Apr 11 | From May 23 |
| Onions (from seed) | Jan 17 | Transplant Mar 28 | From Jul 6 |
| Lettuce | Feb 14 | Transplant Mar 14Fall: direct sow Sep 10 | From Apr 23Fall: from Oct 20 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Mar 7Fall: direct sow Sep 17 | From Apr 16Fall: from Oct 27 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Mar 7Fall: direct sow Aug 27 | From May 6Fall: from Oct 26 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Mar 7Fall: direct sow Oct 1 | From Apr 1Fall: from Oct 26 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Mar 14 | From May 23 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Mar 21 | From May 15 |
| Kale | Feb 21 | Transplant Mar 21Fall: direct sow Aug 27 | From May 15Fall: from Oct 21 |
| Broccoli | Feb 21 | Transplant Mar 21 | From May 25 |
| Cabbage | Feb 21 | Transplant Mar 21 | From May 30 |
| Cucumbers | Mar 14 | Transplant Apr 4 | From May 29 |
| Zucchini | Mar 14 | Transplant Apr 4 | From May 24 |
| Winter squash | Mar 14 | Transplant Apr 4 | From Jul 3 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Apr 4 | From May 29 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Mar 21 | From Jun 9 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Nov 12 to Nov 19 | Around Jun 20 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Vancouver's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready. Garlic follows University of Minnesota Extension (see below).
Fall planting in Vancouver
Plant garlic Nov 12 to Nov 19. That is one to two weeks after Vancouver's average first fall frost of Nov 5, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jun 20 the following summer.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Vancouver:
- Peas: sow Aug 27, ready from about Oct 26
- Kale: sow Aug 27, ready from about Oct 21
- Lettuce: sow Sep 10, ready from about Oct 20
- Spinach: sow Sep 17, ready from about Oct 27
- Radishes: sow Oct 1, ready from about Oct 26
Nearby planting calendars
Vancouver planting questions
When is the last frost in Vancouver?
The average last spring frost in Vancouver is Mar 28, and the average first fall frost is Nov 5, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Vancouver?
Start tomatoes indoors around Feb 14, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Apr 11, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Vancouver in fall?
Fall and winter is a main growing season in Vancouver. Sow peas and kale around Aug 27, lettuce around Sep 10, spinach around Sep 17 and radishes around Oct 1, and plant garlic around Nov 12.