In the garden now (2 November 2026)
Vancouver planting calendar
Bars show when each crop can go in and when a planting from that window is ready. The blue band is the frost season, from the average first autumn frost to the average last spring frost. Hover or tap a crop for details.
Sow indoorsSow or plant outdoorsHarvestFrost seasonToday
Swipe sideways to see the whole year →
Dates by crop
| Crop | Sow indoors | Sow / plant outdoors | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 7 – May 12 | Jun 2 – Jul 9 plant out | Aug 19 – Oct 7 |
| Pepper | Apr 16 – May 8 | Jun 25 – Jul 3 plant out | Sep 12 – Oct 7 |
| Eggplant (aubergine) | No outdoor window passes all the checks here; grow it under cover or try a specialist variety. | ||
| Cucumber | May 17 – Jun 13 | Jun 14 – Jul 24 sow | Aug 12 – Oct 7 |
| Zucchini (courgette) | May 5 – Jun 1 | Jun 2 – Jul 29 sow | Jul 31 – Oct 7 |
| Pumpkin and winter squash | May 5 – May 18 | Jun 2 – Jun 8 sow | Sep 28 – Oct 28 |
| Watermelon | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Sweet corn | – | May 15 – Jul 1 sow | Aug 20 – Oct 7 |
| Green beans | – | Jun 2 – Jul 24 sow | Aug 5 – Oct 7 |
| Peas | – | Feb 27 – Aug 23 sow | Jun 13 – Nov 12 |
| Lettuce | Jan 23 – Feb 20 | Feb 27 – Sep 4 sow | May 29 – Nov 15 |
| Spinach | – | Feb 13 – Sep 12 sow | May 22 – Dec 5 |
| Kale | Jan 9 – Feb 13 | Feb 20 – Sep 1 sow | Jun 7 – Dec 20 |
| Cabbage | Jan 27 – Mar 3 | Mar 17 – Aug 18 plant out | Jun 25 – Nov 26 |
| Broccoli | Jan 27 – Mar 3 | Mar 17 – Aug 24 plant out | Jun 16 – Nov 19 |
| Carrots | – | Mar 17 – Aug 24 sow | Jun 21 – Dec 20 |
| Beets (beetroot) | – | Mar 17 – Aug 29 sow | Jun 12 – Nov 26 |
| Radishes | – | Mar 6 – Sep 26 sow | May 6 – Nov 19 |
| Onions | Dec 19 – Jan 23 | Feb 27 – Jul 26 plant out | Jul 11 – Nov 5 |
| Garlic | – | Sep 26 – Oct 30 sow | Jul 7 – Jul 27 |
| Potatoes | – | Mar 31 – Jul 30 sow | Jul 14 – Nov 5 |
| Swiss chard | – | Mar 31 – Sep 2 sow | Jun 12 – Nov 26 |
| Basil | May 14 – Jun 11 | Jun 25 – Aug 16 plant out | Jul 27 – Oct 7 |
| Cilantro (coriander) | – | Mar 17 – Sep 14 sow | May 24 – Nov 19 |
| Parsley | Feb 3 – Mar 10 | Mar 31 – Aug 19 sow | Jun 29 – Dec 5 |
Dates are for a typical year and the middle of the window is the safest. Sow a little at a time across a window rather than all at once. Cold snaps, heat waves, frost pockets and city warmth all shift the real dates; watch the forecast.
Frost dates in Vancouver
- Average last spring frost
- March 27
- Late frost (1 year in 10)
- April 12 approx.
- Average first autumn frost
- November 5
- Early frost (1 year in 10)
- October 22 approx.
- Frost-free growing season
- 222 days
“Average” is the date with an even chance of a later (spring) or earlier (autumn) frost: a night at or below 0 °C (32 °F) at screen height. Tender crops go out a week or two after the spring date, which brings the risk down to about one year in ten.
Source: ECCC 1981–2010 normals, Vancouver Int'l A.
Climate at a glance
- Hardiness zone
- 9a estimate
- Average coldest winter night
- -6°C20°F
- Warmest month
- August, highs 24°C74°F
- Coldest month
- January, lows 2°C36°F
- Crops with an outdoor window
- 23 of 25
The zone follows the USDA scheme: bands of the average lowest temperature of the year, 10 °F wide, split into a and b halves. Estimated from monthly climate normals; about one city in ten we checked comes out a full half-zone off. It tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow.
Temperature and rain by month
Average highAverage lowRainFreezing point
| Month | High | Low | Mean | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C44°F | 2°C36°F | 4°C40°F | 260 mm10.2 in |
| February | 8°C47°F | 3°C37°F | 6°C42°F | 125 mm4.9 in |
| March | 10°C51°F | 4°C39°F | 7°C45°F | 172 mm6.8 in |
| April | 13°C56°F | 6°C44°F | 10°C50°F | 125 mm4.9 in |
| May | 18°C64°F | 10°C50°F | 14°C57°F | 85 mm3.4 in |
| June | 20°C68°F | 13°C55°F | 16°C61°F | 73 mm2.9 in |
| July | 23°C74°F | 15°C58°F | 19°C66°F | 41 mm1.6 in |
| August | 24°C74°F | 15°C58°F | 19°C66°F | 54 mm2.1 in |
| September | 20°C67°F | 12°C53°F | 16°C60°F | 74 mm2.9 in |
| October | 14°C57°F | 7°C45°F | 11°C51°F | 182 mm7.2 in |
| November | 10°C49°F | 5°C41°F | 7°C45°F | 277 mm10.9 in |
| December | 7°C45°F | 3°C37°F | 5°C41°F | 219 mm8.6 in |
Monthly averages 1991–2020 from TerraClimate (about 4 km grid).